Book of mormonauthorship theoriesautomatic writing. An overview of secular authorship theories for the book of mormon. A longitudinal study the spalding theory of book of mormon authorship. There are differing views on the origin of the book of mormon. Though these varieties of objections and theories are still defended in. I just read stan carmacks bad grammar in the book of mormon found in early english bibles in interpreter. Smith translated the text from the writings of ancient prophets, while critics have endlessly recycled inadequate theories 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 One of the earliest theories of book of mormon authorship was that joseph plagiarized the unpublished manuscript of a novel written by the reverend solomon spalding since the book of mormon was first published, many have been unwilling to accept joseph smiths account of how it was produced. The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of mormon was plagiarized in part from an unpublished manuscript. Categories uncategorized tags author, book of mormon, collaborator, oliver cowdery, sidney rigdon, solomon spaulding, spaulding. Why are the words adieu, bible, and baptize in the book of mormon. Insights into the authenticity of the book of mormon. What can stylometry tell us about book of mormon authorship. As a matter of fact, adieu has become part of the english language and was listed in common.
Every writer has a style of writing just as he has his own fingerprints improvement era, nov. One critic of the church even goes so far as to suggest that the church encourages challenging the authorship of the book of mormon. Pratt as key players in the authorship of the book of mormon. Washington in his farewell address, against combinations. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines.
Im new here, so this has probably been way hashed over, but ive been studying latin, some greek, and a little linguistics this semester in school, and came across something interesting. Grant palmers golden pot theory related to the story of moronis visit. Didnt joseph smith just borrow book of mormon names from the bible. The book of mormon is a complex book covering a variety of historical, religious, political, and military events in a variety of ancient communities. The theory first appeared in print in the book mormonism unvailed, published in 1834 by e. Many antis will have us believe that the addition of the word adieu. This is important because the latterday saints make such a point about it containing the fullness of. I know of three theories on how the book of mormon was written. Delusions is significant among book of mormon studies because in many ways it set the agenda for most subsequent critiques of the book of mormon e. When mormon missionaries properly called latter day saints or simply lds come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the book of mormon and tell you about its author, joseph smith. At least one critic of the book of mormon attempts to explain the complexity of the book by suggesting that joseph smith wrote it using a process called automatic writing or spirit writing. The blunder makes no sense if joseph smith were the author. In the category of serious, the book of mormon contains modalistic language that militates against the biblical doctrine of the trinity ether 3.
Joseph smith stated, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts than any other book. Brent anderson many studies have investigated book of mormon authorship because the book presents itself as a composite work of many ancient authors. A number of different authorship theories have been proposed since the book was first published in 1830. Many studies have investigated book of mormon authorship because the book. After enduring the casual dismissals of joseph smith admirers and biographers in the 20th century, the spaldingrigdon theory reemerges as the abductive explanation, as spaldings. At least three computer analyses have been completed to date in an effort to determine who wrote the book of mormon, and whether it was a single individual or a group. Well, the book of mormon is a migration story, similar to the idea of the book of exodus in the old testament, except there are three migrations involved in this. Book of mormon studies the encyclopedia of mormonism. Jacobs usage of the word adieu in the book of mormon. The view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon authorship. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesautomatic writing adieu in. Theories have ranged from the late first temple period eightseventh century bce. New light on ancient origins, published in 1982 by byus religious studies center and also edited by noel reynolds.
Has an artifact that relates to the book of mormon been. Most of you believe that the book of mormon occurred in central america, right. Present at the meeting were the brother and friends of solomon spalding, who had lived in conneaut between 1809 and 1812. Book of mormon 5,000 changes despite the claim that joseph smiths translation was by the gift and power of god, several thousand changes have been made to the book of mormon since its original printing. The book of mormon has helped millions of people feel closer to god. So the book of mormon peoples would not have had the faintest idea of what a bible was. Book of mormon readathon a couple of months ago i read in the newspaper about an lds youth group. One of nibleys analyses demonstrates that king benjamins farewell. It was also a journal entry from joseph smith sr wife, referring to the story told by her husband 19 years prior to the publishing of the book of mormon. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories 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. Nonbelievers produce a variety of theories to explain the existence of the book of mormon.
It intrigued me, but i was sure that our youth group. Including the mormon churches conflicting results of computer analyses of the book of mormon. Howe each alleged joseph smith used the book of mormon as part of an elaborate scheme to defraud the public. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship. Those who reject joseph smiths claim that he translated the book through divine power assume that he or one of his contemporaries wrote the book. A foundational premise of the jockers study was that the once prominent, though long discarded, spauldingridgon theory of book of mormon authorship might actually be valid. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. A journal of latterday saint faith and scholarship 36 2020, pp. And if an lds scholar could not have written the book of mormon. Adieu in the book of mormon book of mormon translation. Theories that the book of mormon essentially wrote itself with no help from joseph smith. Its always been an open question if you werent a true believer. Furthermore, and very importantly for the book of mormons historicity, as with the rare discovery of the nihm altars in southern arabia linked to ishmaels death and burial,7 with the even rarer discovery of this small, inscribed seal, it is quite possible that an archaeological artifact of a book of mormon personality has been identified. Byu studies, naturalistic explanations of the origin of the book of mormon.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Mormons claim the book of mormon is the most perfect book ever written. Is the book of mormon true notes on the debate book of. Its been over a year since someone posted something on book of mormon geography, so i think its about time. The book of mormon is, in steinbergs view, a work of fan fiction, a way to imbue a new. Is the book of mormon like any other nineteenth century. The book of mormon is a second witness, confirming the validity of biblical doctrine and verifying the divinity of christ through the inspired words of other sheep in christs fold see john 10. In 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of. 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. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. First, it utterly lacks historical or archaeological support, and there is overwhelming empirical evidence that refutes it. Three early critics set the agenda for the first sustained criticisms of the book. Mormon writer helen hinckley jones, commenting on the authorship of the book of mormon, said.
The first onefourth of spauldings manuscript story pp. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up in a hill in new york in the early 1800s. As early as 1831, eber howe, in his antimormon book mormonism unvailed, noted the use of names desolation and bountiful from pilgrims progress reappear in the book of mormon. It occurred to me there is a fifth possible reason why the text of the book. Book of mormon authorship revisited is a sequel to book of mormon authorship. I have often heard critics of the book of mormon make a big stink over the word adieu in the book of mormon. This video discusses all of the main theories critics try and point to for alternative ways the book of mormon could be produced and how these arguments fall apart when the details are explored. Psychological tests for the authorship of the book of mormon jstor.
Miraculous origins theories generally accept joseph smiths own account, that he translated an ancient record compiled and abridged by mormon, a precolumbian resident of the western hemisphere. This is a transliteration of the greek word epistolos, and would also have been unknown by the book of mormon people. Scholars today have varying theories about the true authorship of the book of mormon, but most conclude that smith composed the book himself, possibly with the help of oliver cowdery and sidney rigdon, drawing from information and publications available in his time, including the king james bible, the wonders of nature, and view of the hebrews. Please select ok if you would like to proceed with this. We might suspect, then, that either the text of the book of mormon was not translated into english by a 19th century american farm boy, or that adieu is not french. The book of mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the old world to the american continents. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesoverview fairmormon. Though latterday saints have long known that the book of mormon is an important religious text, it is encouraging to see it considered as such by a prestigious american university.
This page is a continuation of book of mormon evidences, part one and part two. Washburnthe contents, structure and authorship of the book of mormonwas published in 1954. The view of the hebrews theory was examined in detail by b. Does the book of mormon exhibit evidence of divineancient origins or humanmodern origins. Book of mormon evidences, part 3 presents further evidence supporting the book of mormon as an ancient document. What authorship theories are proposed by nonbelievers to account for the authorship of the book of mormon. Book of mormon authorship the encyclopedia of mormonism. I was amazed to read that brother washburn had a similar idea come to him that somehow the specific words of the book of mormon were evidence of its truthfulness.
Although rigdon claimed that he was converted to the. Examining the book of mormon a christian view probe. There are three theories as to the origin of that book. An overview of secular authorship theories for the book of mormon jump to subtopic. Ancient prophets on the american continent kept records over many centuries, and then the prophethistorian mormon compiled the records onto gold plates. 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. The book of mormon reference companion deseret book. Book of mormon students have only recently begun to appreciate the effect. Never before has a reference work of this scope been created to help both the. Contrary to the claims of our critics, there are impressive findings that make it difficult to explain away the book of mormon as a nineteenthcentury fraud from joseph smith.
Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship wikipedia. The person who proposes this idea, scott dunn, gives us the following definition of automatic writing. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesspalding manuscript. A biography, then paul gutjahr is a particularly wellqualified nonmormon writer. 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.
The ethan smith theory in 1832 a mormon missionary read passages from the book of mormon at a public meeting in conneaut, ohio. In light of the growing body of significant insights into the antiquity of the book of mormon, this volume refreshes, updates, and extends the discussion begun sixteen years ago. Brandt, associate director, salt lake institute of religion. The tree of life vision of the book of mormon is an important piece in mormon culture and the book of mormon. Visual overview of the flow of events in the book of mormon.
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