There was such a plethora of names, dates, and so forth that it was a little hard to follow sometimes, though because of frequent repetition throughout, i did in the end still get a good grasp of. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship wikipedia. Over the next four years, these men secretly conspired to create the book of mormon which was finally published in 1830. Roberts concluded, assuming a hemispheric geography theory for the book of mormon, sufficient parallels existed that future critics could claim that view of the hebrews had provided a structural foundation for the book of mormon story. Davis, and arthur vinick, is a stunning indictment of the founders of the lds, and thoroughly destroys the entire foundation of the mormon faith itself. It attempted to prove that natives had descended from the ancient israelites. Having read tens of thousands of pages of material, pro and con, here in a nutshell is my current \best guess\, included with a preface that i don\t care what anyone has to \refute\ my position. As joseph smith, the founder of the rapidly growing church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon, tells it in official church writings, the. This book critically examines key historical documents, personal testimonies, and records of 19thcentury mormon history concluding that the book of mormon is an adaptation of an obscure historical novel written by revolutionary war veteran solomon spalding during the war of 1812. It seems after reading these posts that the only possible answer is that the book of mormon happened just like joseph and others claim.
Response to claims made in who really wrote the book of mormon. Solomon spalding wrote a document now called the spalding manuscript. Nov 01, 2016 critics of the book of mormon now seem forced to follow the agenda set out by brodiethey must locate nineteenthcentury sources for all its contents. The 90 blocks of words we used were from joseph smith, w. The spalding enigma, our authors set out to accomplish a monumental task. Threeandonehalf centuries after the birth of christ, mormon realized that his writing would soon come to an end, but he was shown in. For nearly two centuries, faithful members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds. Critics claim that joseph smith did not actually translate ancient plates into the book of mormon, but rather wrote the book. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon.
We also compared the writing in the book of mormon with that of joseph smith and his contemporaries, who wrote in the time period when the book of mormon was published. Jun 16, 2018 in who really wrote the book of mormon. One argument that mormon apologists frequently employ is the claim that joseph smith was intellectually unequipped to write the book of mormon. Who really wrote the book of mormon the spalding enigma. There were no christians in america before columbus. The spalding enigma did an angel of god in the late 1820s really give 18yearold con artist joseph smith mormon bible, as he claimed. Solomon spalding, who died in 1816, had complained against the latterday saints that the book of mormon was really a plagiarized version of an unpublished novel, manuscript found, which the deceased clergyman had written and circulated among. The premise of the authors research is that the book of mormon was lifted from a historical novel by solomon spaulding. Ever since the book of mormon was first published in 1830, its origins have been disputed.
Roberts authored a manuscript titled studies of the book of mormon, comparing the content of the book of mormon with view of the hebrews. Even though its called who really wrote the book of mormon. According to the book itself, this history and the teachings of jesus were abridged and written on gold plates by the prophet mormon. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship. This book attempted to revive the moribund spalding manuscript theory for the book of mormon. Ancient prophets, historians, and leaders engraved their testimonies and history on golden plates. He is working on a book about the origins of the book of mormon. The book reads like investigative history, demonstrating that mormon claims to the supernatural revelation and transcription. By this stage, patience had dispensed with the ouija board, and transmitted her thoughts directly to mrs currans pen. Pratt, sidney rigdon, solomon spaulding, the article paracletes, excerpts.
Martin says it is the responsibility of the christian church to proclaim christ jesus as the savior of the world. Some mormon scholars, like grant hardy, who wrote understanding the book of mormon. The historical mystery here makes for a fascinating tale, even for readers who have no interest in religious books and. Davis as a coauthor of the original version of who really wrote the book of mormon. Who wrote the chapter headings in the book of mormon answers. Or was the book really derived from solomon spalding. Duh however there is serious head in the sand syndrome over the facts but what the heck some people think star wars was a conflict between hollywood and tv. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the.
Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1997. Feb 14, 2006 demonstrating that mormon claims to the supernatural revelation and transcription of the book of mormon are fraudulent. Who really wrote the book of mormon the critics and. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. D, is a professor and senior fellow, woods institute for the environment, stanford university. In just one example, mark twain, in roughing it, accuses joseph smith of having smouched from the new testament and then giving no credit in his composing the book of mormon. According to the book of mormon itself, numerous prophets whose lives cover a period of over a thousand years wrote the book. Later, the prophet joseph smith, by the gift and power of god, translated an abridgment of those original plates. And they must explain how joseph smith was able to locate, digest, winnow, and then fashion these materials into a coherent form.
This book critically examines key historical documents, personal testimonies, and records of 19thcentury mormon history concluding that the book of mormon is. He was raised in utah in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Was the book of mormon given to joseph smith by an angel or created from a work of fiction. Lds scholars should be terrified of this thorough, exhaustive, and downright exhausting examination of the circumstances surrounding joseph smiths discovery. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Lets say that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. Who really wrote the book of mormon part 1 youtube. Indeed, one of the most notable features of the book of mormon is the fact that its fifteen books, all of which are purportedly historical narratives, are attributed to ancient israelite authors who refer to themselves by name explicitly in the first. Lds scholars often point out that smith had received a rudimentary education at best, and did not have access to the works needed to research the book. Apr 10, 2018 opponents to the book of mormon either claim that joeseph wrote the book of mormon or cobbled it together from others like pratt, cowdery, spaulding, or rigdon. The culture and beliefs of the book of mormon arent anything like the traditions of ancient native americans maya, aztec, etc. A readers guide, have attempted to move the discussion away from. He is also titular head of the spalding research associates. Howard davis and arthur vanick, recently published by concordia, the highly respected publishing arm of the lutheran church missouri synod.
Martin quotes 2 corinthians 11 about false ministers with another jesus and other spirit. As joseph smith, the founder of the rapidly growing church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon. The spalding enigma by wayne cowdery, howard davis, and donald scales summary. As a coauthor of the 1977 work who really wrote the book of mormon. An american, james adair, wrote a book a history of the american indians in 1775. So the book of mormon has nothing to do with ancient native americans. Craig criddles address at the exmormon foundation october 2009. Davis has made numerous public lecture and media appearances on the subject. Unfortunately, hes describing what christianity became by the third century ad. Later, the prophet joseph smith, by the gift and power of god. The greatest event recorded in the book is the account of jesus christs visit to the americas after his death and resurrection.
A forum for ex mormons and others who have been affected by mormonism to share news, commentary, and comedy about the mormon church. The work in question is who really wrote the book of mormon. The first author was the prophet nephi, who left jerusalem with. In 1975, after teaming up with howard davis and several others to conduct further research, he joined with dr. Several investigations and studies which set out to prove that joseph wrote the book of mormon have actua. Nephi passed the record to his younger brother jacob, who gave it to his son enos. The theory first appeared in print in the book mormonism unvailed sic, published in 1834 by e. Howe suggested, basing himself on witnesses collected by doctor hurlbut, that the book of. Readers will become aware of a fascinating body of evidence that has continued to accumulate over the years and, despite efforts by pro mormon scholars to deny or dismiss it, has grown to such proportions that it now poses a significant challenge to history itself. Native americans did not come from jerusalem, they came from siberia. It is claimed that a 19th century work by ethan smith, view of the hebrews, provided source material for joseph smiths construction of the book of mormon.
The few who buy into the thesis that the ultimate source of the book of mormon was a historical romance written by solomon spalding love it. From a very early date, the relatives and acquaintances of a retired congregationalist minister, rev. The bible was recorded largely on scrolls in the old world as separate books and copied by scribes for centuries. It deserves neither unqualified praise nor complete dismissal. Although ancient prophets wrote it, it did not come to us as the bible did. Lots of answers here with an incredible amount of evidence. Criticisms related to view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Despite the attempts to suppress it, the book, who really wrote the book of mormon. The first author was the prophet nephi, who left jerusalem with his family in about 600 bc and sailed to the americas.
Howe suggested, basing himself on witnesses collected by doctor hurlbut, that the book of mormon was a revised form of a fictional work written by solomon spalding. Its obvious that it isnt an accurate historical record. He didnt have the time, education or wherewithal to do this. Criticism of mormonismbookswho really wrote the book of. Roberts concluded that, if one assumed that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon himself, that view of the hebrews could have provided him with a foundation for creating the book. Criticism of mormonismbookswho really wrote the book of mormon. The spalding enigma part 1 did an angel of god in the late 1820s really give 18yearold con artist joseph smith the mormon bible, as he claimed. Or was the book really derived from solomon spaldings romantic fantasy novel called manuscript found. The 15 essays in book of mormon authorship revisited present the latest research by lds scholars on the question in an effort to demonstrate that the weight of. The book of mormon is really a clever adaptation of an obscure, unpublished historical novel written during the war of 1812 in conneaut, oh and pittsburgh, pa by a downandout expreacher named solomon spalding, a revolutionary war veteran and bankrupt land speculator who died at amity, washington county, pa in 1816 and lies buried in the. Mormon claims and the inability to supply sufficent evidence to back up those claims is easily understood after reading this book. The evidence for ancient origins, edited by noel b. The sorry tale, a 325,000 word book 50,000 words longer than the book of mormon of the life of a parallel christ was written in 108 days, a rate of 3,000 words per evening. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.
I\ve read both sides many times over, and i can argue the pro mormon side just as easily as the no mormon side, with the prime diference being. As with most scripture, however, claims to historical authenticity remain a central issue. Readers will become aware of a fascinating body of evidence that has continued to accumulate over the years and, despite efforts by promormon scholars to deny or dismiss it, has grown to such proportions that it now poses a significant challenge to history itself. I am about 8 minutes into this and it strikes me as totally irrelevant. The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of mormon was plagiarized in part from an unpublished manuscript written by solomon spalding. Some also postulate a link between ethan smith and oliver cowdery, since both men lived in poultney, vermont while smith served as the pastor of the church that oliver. Who really wrote the book of mormon the spalding enigma by. The theory first appeared in print in the book mormonism unvailed, published in 1834 by e. The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of mormon was plagiarized in part from an unpublished manuscript. The historical mystery here makes for a fascinating tale, even for readers who have no interest in religious books and care nothing about mormonism.
Online orders can be placed at truth publications, inc. Roberts concluded, assuming a hemispheric geography theory for the book of mormon, sufficient parallels existed that future critics could claim that view of the hebrews had provided a. Latterday saints believe that the book of mormon contains. Feb 15, 2010 its obvious that it isnt an accurate historical record. Critics of the book of mormon now seem forced to follow the agenda set out by brodiethey must locate nineteenthcentury sources for all its contents. In fact, many of the issues highlighted by roberts vanish when a limited geography theory is considered.
Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and. Mormons believe that the book of mormon contains the fulness of jesus christs gospel see joseph smithhistory 1. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints view the book of mormon as scripture written by ancient prophets, while critics believe that it is a 19thcentury fraud. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and founder. The book of mormon is actually a collection of histories passed down from one writer to another. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Who really wrote the book of mormon is a great book which gives undeniable evidence to the origin of the book of mormon. Cei bookstore is a retail supplier of bibles, books and other religious materials to the athens community as well as individuals and churches nationwide. Not from the book of mormon, which is, as yet, a sealed book to him. The theory is that a spalding manuscript was stolen by sidney rigdon, who used it in collusion with joseph smith.
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