Andrew spaulding book of mormon

Book of mormon i am africa lyrics by rick whitehead. Joseph smith and his followers declared the book of mormons supernatural. Morton and church of jesus christ of latterday saints page images at hathitrust book of mormon and zions religioliterary society lamoni, iowa, herald pub. 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theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of mormon was plagiarized in part from an unpublished manuscript.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 book of mormon was a plagiarism of an old manuscript by one solomon spaulding, which sidney rigdon somehow secured from a printing house in pittsburgh. After adding much religious matter to the story, rigdon determined to publish it as a newly discovered history of the american indian. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Lead vocals by tom ragen, logan dunstan, sam malseed and aj nerona. The title page of solomon spauldings manuscript found. Spauldings widow, matilda davison, gave the manuscript to hurlburt.

A closer look, zenos publications, ogden, utah, 1983. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship. The spaulding fable by common consent, a mormon blog. While there, they preached from the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of.

My response generated other responses, one of which indicated joseph was a fraud and wrote the book of mormon himself, which was an easy task to do. Evidence for solomon spaulding authorship of the book of mormon. May 04, 2009 but of the authorship of the book of mormon he wrote bluntly. Adding the the drama, mormon writer andrew jenson dramatically presents cowdery\s dying moments as a declaration of his undying faith in mormonism. Ive finally gotten around to researching this oftcited alternative theory about the true origins of the book of mormon, and i was both perplexed and amused by what i found. 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.

Historian richard bushman summarizes its life as follows. An hypothesis as to the social origins and nature of the mormon political kingdom quest for refuge. However, almost none of these people have actually read manuscript story for themselves. In my response i challenged him to write another book just like itsince it was so easy to do. It is claimed by some that joseph smith either plagiarized or relied upon a manuscript by solomon spaulding to write the book of mormon. 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 american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Jun 26, 2012 a few years ago i responded to a news article in which the author stated that joseph was a polygamist. 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. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. Debunking the spaulding manuscript theory mormon heretic.

One of the most damaging refutations of the spaulding theory comes from oliver cowdery, who served as the principal scribe during the majority of the book of mormons translation. The book of mormon expressly claims that its many texts and records were written by several people. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. Andrew ainsworth did a post in february on the curious case of. Dec 18, 2014 village performing arts centre full time 2014 perform turn it off from the book of mormon. Brown when the book of mormon was first published in march of.

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. 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. So, im sure there are people out there who believe the book of mormon is fiction. Andrew ainsworth did a post in february on the curious case of solomon spaulding, which talks more about the legal aspects of proving plagiarism. See his manuscript of solomon spaulding and the book of mormon in magazine of western history 4 mayoctober 1886, pp.

Smith and orson hyde, missionaries for the church of jesus christ, were in conneaut, ohio, where spaulding began writing his manuscript. The problem with the book of mormon, one newspaper editor wrote in 1839, was to account for a work being evidently the production of a cultivated mind, yet found in the hands of an exceedingly ignorant illiterate person. As it turns out, olivers grandfather william cowdery, sr. All of this was long after the book of mormon was translated and published. This list is in no way meant to prove or disprove the spaldingrigdon theory, nor should it be considered exhaustive by any stretch of the imagination. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism.

Solomon spalding and revisionist history mormonthink. 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. Solomon spalding 17611816 was a lapsed calvinist evangelist, a failed new york businessman, and. 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. The book of mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the old world to the american continents. Who really wrote the book of mormon solomon spalding. New vocabulary introduction rates are relatively level throughout the book of mormon, as was also found to be the case in academically translated works. I think even most antimormons gave up on that years ago but you never know. Bushman on spaulding by common consent, a mormon blog. The problem with the book of mormon, one newspaper editor wrote in 1839, was to account for a work being evidently the production of a cultivated mind, yet found in. More than 180 years after its publication, mormonism unvailed, generally considered the very first antimormon book, remains of interest to historians and students of mormonism and 19th. Skeptics have put forth several theories of book of mormon authorship that do not require believing in golden plates delivered by angels and translated by a miracle.

I have read every word of both it and the book of mormon, and i compiled a list of. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. What can stylometry tell us about book of mormon authorship. The historical record indicates that sidney rigdon first learned of the book of mormon from parley p. But, in fact, the fabius story has parallels not only with the book of mormon, but.

Jul 18, 2009 see his manuscript of solomon spaulding and the book of mormon in magazine of western history 4 mayoctober 1886, pp. He explains this similarity by claiming that both spalding and smith drew. Or, the book of mormon and the claims of the mormons by charles augustus shook 1910 a fourfold test of mormonism by henry clay sheldon 1914 the origin of the spaulding story, concerning the m a n u s c r i p t f o u n d. Village performing arts centre full time 2014 perform turn it off from the book of mormon.

Joseph smiths negotiations to publish 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. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible. There were certain similarities between the book of mormon which, though. Many of the passages in the mormon book are verbatim from spaulding, and others in part. Cbs, book of mormon llc, the harry fox agency, warner chappell. Book of mormon musical opening number hello youtube. Evidence that the spaulding manuscript is not the source of the book of mormon. The 19th century writers included sidney rigdon, solomon spaulding, joseph smith, w. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. Featuring many online historic texts and excerpts cowderys bookshelf old newspapers smiths history vault old spalding library new spalding library special collections for many historic mormonism texts on check out. Naturalistic explanations of the origin of the book of mormon. The spalding enigma, our authors set out to accomplish a monumental task. 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.

This knowhy is the first in a series which discusses stylometry and its relevance to questions of book of mormon authorship. A few years ago i responded to a news article in which the author stated that joseph was a polygamist. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. 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. The book of mormon spooky mormon hell dream lyrics by azmad202. However, i believe the spaulding theory has been thoroughly discredited by these two authors.

The spalding studies site solomon spalding home page. Andrew rannells from the book of mormon performs i believe at the 2011 tony awards the book of mormon musical was created by the same people that create the show south park. For years allegations have been made that the book of mormon is the reworked manuscript of solomon spaulding. It is as certainly smiths fabrication as satan is the father of lies or darkness is the offspring of night. The book of mormon andrew scott rannells born august 23, 1978 is an american actor, voice actor, and singer. It is claimed that oliver cowdery admitted to his law partner that the book of mormon was a hoax, and that it was derived from the spalding manuscript. It was alleged joseph smith used this rewritten spaulding manuscript to create the book of mormon and that joseph had probably received it or information about it from sidney rigdon even though joseph did not meet sidney until after publication of the book of mormon. Tom ragen turn it off from the book of mormon village.

The first antimormon book gets a reprint with commentary. Since the book of mormon was first published, many have been unwilling to accept joseph smiths account of how it was produced. Aug 04, 2008 joseph smith jr could not have written the b of m nor could he have used spaulding as the basis for it. 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. In the early 1830s he was identified by some witnesses and writers as the original author of part of the book of mormon. Solomon spalding february 20, 1761 october 20, 1816 was the author of two related texts. A recent attempt to revive the spaulding theory is the 45page work of vernal holley, book of mormon authorship. Spaldings account may have said that the sides of the artificial cave were lined. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship wikipedia. Joseph smith jr could not have written the b of m nor could he have used spaulding as the basis for it. Solomon spaulding and the book of mormon fairmormon. Did oliver cowdery privately admit to his law partner that. Schroeder articles deals with the spaulding manuscript theory of the book of mormon. Rannells was nominated for the tony award for best performance by a leading actor in a musical for his performance as elder price in the 2011 broadway musical the book of mormon.

Nm page 144, now to his bitter chagrin he found that the long chase had been vain. Dirkmaat and michael hubbard mackay, joseph smiths negotiations to publish the book of mormon, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. For rarely does one find an alternative theory advanced to expose the true origins of a. Spaudling never claimed that the book of mormon was a plagiarism of something hed previously written. An analysis of wordprints, book of mormon authorship, 181. Why i believe the book of mormon to be the word of god salt lake city, c1918, by william a. I have recently examined the book of mormon, and find in it the writings of solomon spaulding from beginning to end, but mixed up with scripture and other religious matters which i did not meet with in the manuscript found. I have heard that joseph smith plagiarized the writings of solomon spaulding to produce the book of mormon. You try spraying, scrubbing, and still were left with so many persons whose testimonies of the physicality of the golden plates, angels, and other artifactsnever wavered. Lots of good information, but really starts to drag because they cite so many letters and documents to prove their point. Who really wrote the book of mormon the spalding enigma. He forthrightly affirmed, i wrote, with my own pen, the entire book of mormon save a few pages. Wordprints and the book of mormon book of mormon central.

For years now ive heard people offhandedly dismiss the book of mormon as a known plagiarism of the solomon spaulding manuscript. James, rory omalley, michael potts, lewis cleale the book of mormon music. Who really wrote the book of mormon the spalding enigma by. I have read every word of both it and the book of mormon, and i compiled a list of what i thought were the most noteworthy similarities between the two books. When the book of mormon appeared, all who heard him were satisfied that he referred to it. 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. Robert lopez, trey parker, matt stone, stephen oremus, andrew rannells, josh gad, nikki m. Spaulding manuscript mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Naturalistic explanations of the origin of the book of. Is the book of mormon like any other nineteenth century book.

Solomon drew upon his knowledge of ancient history, arthurian romances. Jun 10, 2012 opening number to the 66th tony awards. According to the text, the nephites and the lamanites initially spoke hebrew 600 bc and might have spoken a modified semitic language until at least 400 ad, when the book of mormon ends. Dec 12, 2017 for the 24 book of mormon authors included in the analysis, see larsen, rencher, and layton, who wrote the book of mormon. Thereafter, the spaulding theory became popular with other authors and investigators. The spalding studies site dedicated to exploring the solomon spalding authorship claims for the true origin of the book of mormon who was solomon spalding. It may be possible for literary analysts to recreate portions of the nephite record attributable to. Oliver cowdery just before breathing his last, asked his attendants to raise him up in bed that he might talk to the family and his friends, who were present. Dec 26, 2015 a very plausible lost and missing novel by solomon spalding manuscript found, separate and distinct from the oberlin manuscript has not been ruled out by mormon apologists. I get it, when talking to someone who denies the claims that the foundation for mormonism is a stolen story from a mediocre writer no one has ever heard of you have to show an overwhelming amount of evidence, but holy cow. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. Oliver cowdery, and solomon spaulding are not measurable in the tested sections of the book of mormon. An additional criticism of the historical authenticity of the book of mormon concerns linguistics. Apr 26, 2009 evidence that the spaulding manuscript is not the source of the book of mormon.

For my analysis of the brodiebush argument, see book of mormon authorship. These groups were led by prophets who recorded their religious and secular histories on metal plates. 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. 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. Other online mormon texts collections our sister sites. Mar 02, 2018 but, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses.

Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. The curious case of solomon spaulding mormon matters. Evidence for solomon spaulding authorship of the book of. In the book, howe reproduced eight affidavits from spaulding acquaintances who recalled remarkable similarities between manuscript found and 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 written by solomon spalding. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by the mainstream. The book of mormon issues page this link takes you to our page which contains numerous articles relating to issues about the book of mormon.

Solomon spaulding, the b of mormon joseph smith was. A very plausible lost and missing novel by solomon spalding manuscript found, separate and distinct from the oberlin manuscript has not been ruled out by mormon apologists. Pratt and his missionary companions in november 1830, and that rigdon did not meet joseph smith until december of that same year. I have recently examined the book of mormon, and find in it the writings of solomon spaulding, from beginning to end, but mixed up with scripture and other religious matter, which i did not meet with in the manuscript found. For two years before the book of mormon appeared rigdons sermons were full of declarations and prophecies that the age of miracles would be restored, and more complete revelations, than those in the bible, would be given. This first article explains what stylometry is and gives readers a short history of stylometric studies performed on the book of mormon. Chapter 27 did solomon spaulding write the book of mormon cumorah revisited. 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. I know this has been refuted before, but can you help me understand this issue and get to the bottom of it. Dirkmaat, firsthand witness accounts of the translation process, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. Although riley only mentioned ethan smiths book in passing in his own work, subsequent authors drew. Firsthand witness accounts of the translation process. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesspalding manuscript.