Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the. It may be possible for literary analysts to recreate portions of the nephite record attributable to. Spauldings novel provides an engaging view into one mans fanciful reconstruction of native american life. Spaulding s widow recognized in it the writings of her husband. Aug 04, 2008 this theory claimed that sidney rigdon wrote the religious parts of the book of mormon while the historical parts were plagiarized from an unpublished manuscript written in 1812 by solomon spauldingrigdon having secretly acquired the spaulding document from a pittsburgh printer named jonathan h.
Solomon spaulding, the b of mormon joseph smith was. Briefly, the theory states that joseph smith plagiarized or at least used as a source an unpublished book written by. Solomon spaulding and the book of mormon fairmormon. The spalding enigma did an angel of god in the late 1820s really give 18yearold con artist joseph smith mormon bible, as he claimed. Joseph smith was too illiterate to have written the book by himself. There is a small group who hold to the theory that the production of the book of mormon was a conspiracy involving sidney. Although rigdon claimed that he was converted to the. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon. Andrew ainsworth did a post in february on the curious case of solomon spaulding, which talks more about the legal aspects of proving plagiarism. Smith and orson hyde visited conneaut, ohio, and preached from the book of mormon.
By the 1840s, the socalled spaulding theory had become the main antimormon explanation for the book of mormon. In an attempt to impugn hurlbut, mormon apologist richard l. The spaulding fable by common consent, a mormon blog. Nov 01, 2016 doctor philastus hurlbut, an apostate of the church, and eber d.
Mormon stories podcast spaulding theory of book of mormon. Spaulding theorists hold that the production of the book of mormon was a conspiracy involving sidney rigdon, joseph smith, oliver cowdery and others. Jan 29, 2015 im not a mormon and i believe the bom sprang from the mind of joseph smith, but i have no sympathy for proponents of the spaldingrigdon theory because it is such a weak, poorlybuttressed alternative explanation. There are 6765 words consisting of an it came to pass variant, or about 2. However, almost none of these people have actually read manuscript story for themselves. The solomon spalding theory chapter 9 of joseph smiths. Spauldings fiction is about a group of romans blown off course on a journey to britain who arrive instead in america. In 1977 this theory was forcefully presented in the book who really wrote the book of mormon. By comparing the texts of the spalding manuscript and the book of mormon, it is possible to detect underlying linguistic patterns which appear in both documents. One of the earliest theories of book of mormon authorship was that joseph plagiarized the unpublished manuscript of a novel written by the reverend solomon spalding. Since the book of mormon was first published, many have been unwilling to accept joseph smiths account of how it was produced.
Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and founder. Debunking the spaulding manuscript theory mormon heretic. A forum for exmormons and others who have been affected by mormonism to share news, commentary, and comedy about the mormon church. However, i believe the spaulding theory has been thoroughly discredited by these two authors. Spaldingrigdon theory proves the book of mormon is false. Comparison of selected phrases from the oberlin spalding manuscript and book of mormon page 1. I have heard that joseph smith plagiarized the writings of solomon spaulding to produce the book of mormon. Nevertheless, this unique edition will be a useful reference for students of latterday saint history and nineteenthcentury american.
Solomon spaulding 17611816 is considered by some researchers to be the original author of the book of mormon. Did spalding write the book of mormon tanner, jerald. Waynes genealogical quest initially led him to join the church of jesus christ. Fairchild concluded that the theory of the origin of the book of mormon in the traditional manuscript of solomon spaulding will probably have to be relinquished. May 30, 2012 the spalding enigma did an angel of god in the late 1820s really give 18yearold con artist joseph smith mormon bible, as he claimed. The fact that the historical portion of the book of mormon was taken from the work of rev.
One of the most prominent theories since the 1830s is the spaulding or spalding theory. It is as certainly smiths fabrication as satan is the father of lies or darkness is the offspring of night. In my previous post about unconventional book of mormon geography theories, doug g made a comment claiming that the book of mormon is related to the solomon spaulding manuscript, so i want to address this theory. Spaulding s novel provides an engaging view into one mans fanciful reconstruction of native american life. What does the spauldingrigdon timeline mean exploring. Solomon spalding 17611816 was a lapsed calvinist evangelist, a failed new york businessman, and hopeful author of a prehistoric american epic story giving an account of the vanished mound builders of the ohio valley. This theory claimed that sidney rigdon wrote the religious parts of the book of mormon while the historical parts were plagiarized from an unpublished manuscript written in 1812 by solomon spaulding rigdon having secretly acquired the spaulding document from a pittsburgh printer named jonathan h. This theory claimed that sidney rigdon wrote the religious parts of the book of mormon while the historical parts were plagiarized from an unpublished manuscript written in 1812 by solomon spauldingrigdon having secretly acquired the spaulding document from a pittsburgh printer named jonathan h.
It is our purpose in this article to demonstrate from the book of mormon itself, the absurdity of the spaulding story and the utter impossibility of the prophet joseph smith ever having used mr. It is eminently fitting, therefore, that a history of washington county, pa, in one of whose villages. As it turns out, olivers grandfather william cowdery, sr. His preparation, thorough research, and absolute brilliance are on display as bryce gives us the context surrounding the solomon spaulding manuscript theory of the book of mormoneven including some of the apologetic arguments against the theory. Believing mormons often state that solomon spaldings manuscript story if you are unfamiliar with the spaldingrigdon theory, click here for a brief background has absolutely nothing in common with the book of mormon. Howe, a newspaper editor who was hostile to the church, had heard rumors that there were some similarities between the solomon spaulding manuscript and the book of mormon, so they obtained the manuscript from mr. The spaulding theory remained the standard explanation of the book of mormon for more than a century. Solomon spaulding s romance, entitled manuscript found. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship wikipedia. There is a small group who hold to the theory that the production of the book of mormon was a conspiracy involving sidney rigdon, joseph smith, oliver cowdery and others. Nm page 144, now to his bitter chagrin he found that the long chase had been vain. Spaulding manuscript the encyclopedia of mormonism. The writings of the 18th19th century author solomon spaulding have often been suggested as a possible source of the book of mormon. The theory first appeared in print in the book mormonism unvailed, published in 1834 by e.
As long as thirty and forty years after the book s publication, new witnesses were discovered, linking rigdon to the manuscript and verifying the resemblances between the two works. In every set comparing the book of mormon texts against these three writers, at least seven and often many more rejections were measured. It is claimed by some that joseph smith either plagiarized or relied upon a manuscript by solomon spaulding to write the book of mormon. 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. Solomon spaldingbook of mormon parallels mormons often insist that there are no similarities. Howes antimormon book mormonism unvailed, family members and. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Chapter 9 of joseph smiths plagiarism of the bible in the book of mormon. Believing mormons often state that solomon spaldings manuscript story if you are unfamiliar with the spaldingrigdon theory, click herefor a brief background has absolutely nothing in common with the book of mormon. Cowdrey is an exmormon whose interest in the origins of the book of mormon derives from his familys tradition that they are relatives of the oliver cowdery who figures so prominently in the spalding enigma.
Smith and orson hyde, missionaries for the church of jesus christ, were in conneaut, ohio, where spaulding began writing his manuscript. Nehemiah king, a resident of conneaut who knew spalding when he lived there, felt that the mormon text resembled the story written by spalding years before. The spalding rigdon 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. Sidney rigdon, said the compilers, was the real author of the mormon conspiracy. There is a theory that sidney rigdon helped joseph smith create the book of mormon based on a manuscript written by a man named solomon spaulding. As long as thirty and forty years after the books publication, new witnesses were discovered, linking rigdon to the manuscript and verifying the resemblances between the two works. I have read every word of both it and the book of mormon, and i compiled a list of. An ongoing study of shared language in spaldings manuscript pages and the book of mormon demonstrates that certain sections of the book of mormon overlap the known spalding writings to a greater degree than do other sections of that book.
Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship. April 22, 2019 join us now as we interview bryce blankenagel of naked mormonism podcast to discuss the solomon spaulding theory of book of mormon authorship. Evidence that the spaulding manuscript is not the source of the book of mormon. Evidence for solomon spaulding authorship of the book of. Solomon spalding february 20, 1761 october 20, 1816 was the author of two related texts. Looking at the spaulding manuscript mormon heretic. According to elder holland, preeminent in the lords arsenal to combat the evils of the world is the book of mormon, as the book is infused with the power of christ to counter all troubles in all timesincluding the end of times.
Now, some critics also claim that smith gained most of his theories from a manuscript of a novel written by solomon spaulding. Doctor philastus hurlbut, an apostate of the church, and eber d. Apr 29, 2019 they were attempting to explain the book of mormon assuming joseph smith wasnt smart enough. Mar 30, 2020 the book of mormon claims that moroni, a prophet, originally wrote the book and that it was translated by joseph smith. Were excited to finally bring on bryce blankenagel of the naked mormonism podcast to mormon stories. Im not a mormon and i believe the bom sprang from the mind of joseph smith, but i have no sympathy for proponents of the spaldingrigdon theory because it is such a weak, poorlybuttressed alternative explanation. But it will not take long for readers to see that it bears no resemblance to the book of mormon. The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of mormon was plagiarized in part from an unpublished manuscript. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. The most interesting literary controversy of the time, and the only one which has important practical bearing, is raging around the book of mormon, sometimes but incorrectly called the mormon bible. What are the pros and cons of the spauldingrigdon theory of. The theory is that a spalding manuscript was stolen by sidney rigdon, who used it in collusion with joseph smith and oliver cowdery to produce the book of mormon. Nevertheless, this unique edition will be a useful reference for students of latterday saint history and nineteenthcentury american culture.
These results yield strong statistical evidence that the wordprints of joseph smith, oliver cowdery, and solomon spaulding are not measurable in the book of mormon. In the 1830s book of mormon, you have 268,709 words. For the 24 book of mormon authors included in the analysis, see larsen, rencher, and layton, who wrote the book of mormon. Soon after the publication of the book of mormon, critics believed that joseph must have plagiarized it from another source.
Spauldings reputed romance, the manuscript found, as the groundwork for that divine record. By the 1840s, the socalled spaulding theory had become the main anti mormon explanation for the book of mormon. Spauldings manuscript, lost for fortyfive years, was among items shipped from the office of the ohio painesville telegraph, owned by eber d. Like other attempts to discredit the book of mormon, the theory of the spaulding manuscript is based on the belief that an unlearned man such as joseph smith. Jeff lindsay on his web site, also pointed out that there are more similarities between walt whitmans leaves of grass and the book of mormon, than there are between the book of mormon and spauldings manuscript or the golden pot. Inside of both the spaulding document, and in the book of mormon, are movements that appear to be copied out of an earlier text about george washington. Spauldings widow, matilda davison, gave the manuscript to hurlburt. Anderson has compared hurlbuts palmyramanchester affidavits to those hurlbut also collected from witnesses in ohio and pennsylvania in september and august 1833 pertaining to the socalled. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and. Mormon stories podcast spaulding theory of book of. Following those words came one of the most powerful apostolic witnesses of the book of mormon. Jan 02, 2016 after recounting how hyrum smith read from the book of mormon ether 12. One of the conspiracy theories that gained traction in the early years of. Anderson has compared hurlbuts palmyramanchester affidavits to those hurlbut also collected from witnesses in ohio and pennsylvania in september and august 1833 pertaining to the socalled spaulding theory of the book of mormon s origin.
The book of mormon was not an ordinary translation. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. The complicated production of the book of mormon, from its original writing by nephi, mormon, moroni, and others to its most recent editings and printings, is a human process that has been well described. The authorship of the book of mormon has been hotly debated since it was first published. Book of mormon wordprint studies have been used by both critics and apologists to provide valuable insights into the text of the bom.
Similarities between his manuscript and the book of mormon are general and superficial. So, im sure there are people out there who believe the book of mormon is fiction. An analysis of wordprints, book of mormon authorship, 181. See his manuscript of solomon spaulding and the book of mormon in magazine of western history 4 mayoctober 1886, pp.
He studied at dartmouth college in new hampshire and was ordained a minister. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesspalding manuscript. Believers in the book of mormon felt vindicated by this discovery, and they. Spauldings novel provides an engaging view into one mans fanciful. Or was the book really derived from solomon spalding. According to the latterday saints official historical account, the book of mormon bom was the work of ancient american jewish prophets who wrote their inspired accounts on plates of gold. For almost 200 years now, critics have been scrambling to prove that the book of mormon is nothing but a work of fiction. Solomon spauldings manuscript found was clearly and undeniably established in my article published in the watchman, boston, sept. The spaulding witnesses who said the book of mormon reads the same except for the religious parts were unaware that they were reading a rewrite that had replaced the lost beginning of the book of mormon. This timeline is a summary of all events that indicate that this theory may be true based on my notes collected over a sixyear period. The 19th century writers included sidney rigdon, solomon spaulding, joseph smith, w. Toward the naturalistic roots of the book of mormon. While there, they preached from the book of mormon. What are the pros and cons of the spauldingrigdon theory.
The spaulding manuscript is a fictional story about a group of. One aspect not addressed in the research is that spalding engages in an acceptable practice of the day, namely heavy borrowing and outright plagiarism. In the early 1830s he was identified by some witnesses and writers as the original author of part of the book of mormon. When rice, fairchild, and several others compared the spaulding manuscript with the book of mormon they could detect no resemblance between the two, in general or detail. The theory first appeared in print in the book mormonism unvailed sic, 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 written by solomon spalding. Winter did not read an y part of it, and paid no more attention to it until after the book of mormon appeared, when he heard that mr. May 04, 2009 but of the authorship of the book of mormon he wrote bluntly. Therefore, during the past thirty years some non mormon scholars, realizing the weakness of the spaulding manuscript theory, have postulated that joseph smith might have gained some of the ideas for the book of mormon from a book by ethan smith entitled view of the hebrews, first published in vermont in 1823, with a revised, enlarged edition. Spaulding s manuscript, lost for fortyfive years, was among items shipped from the office of the ohio painesville telegraph, owned by eber d. Jul 17, 2019 for almost 200 years now, critics have been scrambling to prove that the book of mormon is nothing but a work of fiction. These plates were handed down from prophet to prophet until the last prophet, moroni, hid the plates in a stone box beneath the ground in the 400s a.
Therefore, during the past thirty years some nonmormon scholars, realizing the weakness of the spaulding manuscript theory, have postulated that joseph smith might have gained some of the ideas for the book of mormon from a book by ethan smith entitled view of the hebrews, first published in vermont in 1823, with a revised, enlarged edition. Book of mormon vs spaulding manuscript book of mormon facts. The most interesting literary controversy of the time, and the only one which has important practical bearing, is raging around the book of mormon, sometimes but. Spauldings widow with the intent to print it and expose the book.
Cowdrey is an ex mormon whose interest in the origins of the book of mormon derives from his familys tradition that they are relatives of the oliver cowdery who figures so prominently in the spalding enigma. However, another theory is that the book of mormon was taken from an unpublished 1812 novel written by a retired minister, solomon spalding. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is. Oct 14, 20 inside of both the spaulding document, and in the book of mormon, are movements that appear to be copied out of an earlier text about george washington. Spauldings manuscript is considerably shorter than the book of mormon. The authority for the above important statement is the rev. Solomon spauldings romance, entitled manuscript found. One of the earliest theories was that the book of mormon was based on a manuscript by solomon spaulding also spelled spalding, a fictional story about early inhabitants of america. Evidence for solomon spaulding authorship of the book of mormon. Apr 23, 2020 book of mormon wordprint studies have been used by both critics and apologists to provide valuable insights into the text of the bom. The final chapter of mormonism unvailed advanced the spauldingrigdon theory of the origin of the book of mormon. Spaulding manuscript mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the founder of their religion, joseph smith.
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