Solomon spalding february 20, 1761 october 20, 1816 was the author of two related texts. Solomon spaulding s romance, entitled manuscript found. 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. 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. Evidence that the spaulding manuscript is not the source of the book of mormon. It is as certainly smiths fabrication as satan is the father of lies or darkness is the offspring of night. Spauldings reputed romance, the manuscript found, as the groundwork for that divine record. Mormon stories podcast spaulding theory of book of mormon. Spaulding s widow recognized in it the writings of her husband. 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.
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. Chapter 9 of joseph smiths plagiarism of the bible in the book of mormon. He studied at dartmouth college in new hampshire and was ordained a minister. 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. Waynes genealogical quest initially led him to join the church of jesus christ. Briefly, the theory states that joseph smith plagiarized or at least used as a source an unpublished book written by. One of the conspiracy theories that gained traction in the early years of. One of the earliest theories of book of mormon authorship was that joseph plagiarized the unpublished manuscript of a novel written by the reverend solomon spalding. 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 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. Solomon spaulding 17611816 is considered by some researchers to be the original author of the book of mormon. Similarities between his manuscript and the book of mormon are general and superficial. 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. 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. Debunking the spaulding manuscript theory mormon heretic. The book of mormon was not an ordinary translation. By the 1840s, the socalled spaulding theory had become the main antimormon explanation for the book of mormon. Nov 01, 2016 doctor philastus hurlbut, an apostate of the church, and eber d. This is akin to finding a smoking gun for a different crime at a new crime scene.
Solomon spaldingbook of mormon parallels mormons often insist that there are no similarities. There is a small group who hold to the theory that the production of the book of mormon was a conspiracy involving sidney. Apr 29, 2019 they were attempting to explain the book of mormon assuming joseph smith wasnt smart enough. Although rigdon claimed that he was converted to the. Solomon spaulding and the book of mormon fairmormon. Doctor philastus hurlbut, an apostate of the church, and eber d. The theory first appeared in print in the book mormonism unvailed, published in 1834 by e. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and founder.
Spauldings novel provides an engaging view into one mans fanciful. One of the most prominent theories since the 1830s is the spaulding or spalding theory. As it turns out, olivers grandfather william cowdery, sr. What are the pros and cons of the spauldingrigdon 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. 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. A forum for exmormons and others who have been affected by mormonism to share news, commentary, and comedy about the mormon church. 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. 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. Nevertheless, this unique edition will be a useful reference for students of latterday saint history and nineteenthcentury american culture. 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. Smith and orson hyde visited conneaut, ohio, and preached from the book of mormon. However, i believe the spaulding theory has been thoroughly discredited by these two authors. Spaulding theorists hold that the production of the book of mormon was a conspiracy involving sidney rigdon, joseph smith, oliver cowdery and others. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon. Following those words came one of the most powerful apostolic witnesses of the book of mormon.
What does the spauldingrigdon timeline mean exploring. 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. Spauldings novel provides an engaging view into one mans fanciful reconstruction of native american life. 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. The 19th century writers included sidney rigdon, solomon spaulding, joseph smith, w. 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. The spaulding fable by common consent, a mormon blog. 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. 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. The writings of the 18th19th century author solomon spaulding have often been suggested as a possible source of the book of mormon. Comparison of selected phrases from the oberlin spalding manuscript and book of mormon page 1. 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. So, im sure there are people out there who believe the book of mormon is fiction.
However, another theory is that the book of mormon was taken from an unpublished 1812 novel written by a retired minister, solomon spalding. The solomon spalding theory chapter 9 of joseph smiths. 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. In an attempt to impugn hurlbut, mormon apologist richard l. Nm page 144, now to his bitter chagrin he found that the long chase had been vain. The book of mormon claims that moroni, a prophet, originally wrote the book and that it was translated by joseph smith. It is claimed by some that joseph smith either plagiarized or relied upon a manuscript by solomon spaulding to write the book of mormon.
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. In the 1830s book of mormon, you have 268,709 words. The spaulding manuscript is a fictional story about a group of. In every set comparing the book of mormon texts against these three writers, at least seven and often many more rejections were measured.
Spaldingrigdon theory proves the book of mormon is false. Solomon spaulding, the b of mormon joseph smith was. 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. Mormon stories podcast spaulding theory of book of. The final chapter of mormonism unvailed advanced the spauldingrigdon theory of the origin of 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.
However, almost none of these people have actually read manuscript story for themselves. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the. What are the pros and cons of the spauldingrigdon theory of. Evidence for solomon spaulding authorship of the book of mormon. But it will not take long for readers to see that it bears no resemblance to 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. 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. Nevertheless, this unique edition will be a useful reference for students of latterday saint history and nineteenthcentury american. Evidence for solomon spaulding authorship of the book of. 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 authorship of the book of mormon has been hotly debated since it was first published. 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. Since the book of mormon was first published, many have been unwilling to accept joseph smiths account of how it was produced. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is. The spaulding theory remained the standard explanation of the book of mormon for more than a century. 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. While there, they preached from the book of mormon. In 1977 this theory was forcefully presented in the book who really wrote the book of mormon. There are 6765 words consisting of an it came to pass variant, or about 2. Spauldings widow, matilda davison, gave the manuscript to hurlburt. 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 authority for the above important statement is the rev. Spaulding manuscript mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. I have heard that joseph smith plagiarized the writings of solomon spaulding to produce the book of mormon.
Joseph smith was too illiterate to have written the book by himself. Smith and orson hyde, missionaries for the church of jesus christ, were in conneaut, ohio, where spaulding began writing his manuscript. I have read every word of both it and the book of mormon, and i compiled a list of. May 04, 2009 but of the authorship of the book of mormon he wrote bluntly. 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. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and.
Spaulding s manuscript, lost for fortyfive years, was among items shipped from the office of the ohio painesville telegraph, owned by eber d. 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. Spauldings fiction is about a group of romans blown off course on a journey to britain who arrive instead in america. Andrew ainsworth did a post in february on the curious case of solomon spaulding, which talks more about the legal aspects of proving plagiarism. Did spalding write the book of mormon tanner, jerald. Spauldings manuscript, lost for fortyfive years, was among items shipped from the office of the ohio painesville telegraph, owned by eber d. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the founder of their religion, joseph smith. One aspect not addressed in the research is that spalding engages in an acceptable practice of the day, namely heavy borrowing and outright plagiarism. Jan 02, 2016 after recounting how hyrum smith read from the book of mormon ether 12. An analysis of wordprints, book of mormon authorship, 181.
Or was the book really derived from solomon spalding. 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. Solomon spauldings romance, entitled manuscript found. In the early 1830s he was identified by some witnesses and writers as the original author of part of the book of mormon. Solomon spauldings manuscript found was clearly and undeniably established in my article published in the watchman, boston, sept. 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. It may be possible for literary analysts to recreate portions of the nephite record attributable to. Book of mormon vs spaulding manuscript book of mormon facts.
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. The fact that the historical portion of the book of mormon was taken from the work of rev. It is eminently fitting, therefore, that a history of washington county, pa, in one of whose villages. 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. For almost 200 years now, critics have been scrambling to prove that the book of mormon is nothing but a work of fiction. Were excited to finally bring on bryce blankenagel of the naked mormonism podcast to mormon stories. 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. Mar 30, 2020 the book of mormon claims that moroni, a prophet, originally wrote the book and that it was translated by joseph smith.
Book of mormon wordprint studies have been used by both critics and apologists to provide valuable insights into the text of the bom. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship. 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.
Looking at the spaulding manuscript mormon heretic. Sidney rigdon, said the compilers, was the real author of the mormon conspiracy. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship wikipedia. 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. Believers in the book of mormon felt vindicated by this discovery, and they.
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. 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 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. 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. For the 24 book of mormon authors included in the analysis, see larsen, rencher, and layton, who wrote the book of mormon. Spaulding manuscript the encyclopedia of mormonism. 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. 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. Toward the naturalistic roots of the book of mormon.
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. By the 1840s, the socalled spaulding theory had become the main anti mormon explanation for the book of mormon. Spauldings manuscript is considerably shorter than the book of mormon. 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. 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. See his manuscript of solomon spaulding and the book of mormon in magazine of western history 4 mayoctober 1886, pp. Spaulding s novel provides an engaging view into one mans fanciful reconstruction of native american life.
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