Solomon spaulding and the book of mormon robert patterson home. Ethan smith, hyrum smith, oliver cowdery, solomon spaulding. In 1833, spalding s brother john and seven other residents of conneaut signed affidavits stating that spalding had written a manuscript, portions of which were identical to the book of mormon. 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. 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. 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. In the early 1830s he was identified by some witnesses and writers as the original author of part of the book of mormon.
Solomon spaulding and the book of mormon fairmormon. Or was the book really derived from solomon spalding. The good news is that this is a very readable book. 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. Believers in the book of mormon felt vindicated by this discovery, and they published spauldings work to show the world it was not the source for the book of mormon. 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. How philosopher emanuel swedenborg, reverend alexander campbell, professor john smith of dartmouth, solomon spalding, and ethan smith influenced sidney rigdon and joseph smith to plagurize the book of mormon from manusript found, view of the. Pattersons printshop agreed to publish them if he would write a forward. Is the book of mormon ancient history or a work of. For a long time this seemed the accepted theory of all nonmormons. Book of mormon by william a, white press staff writer. Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad.
The theory first appeared in print in the book mormonism unvailed sic, published in 1834 by e. What are the pros and cons of the spauldingrigdon theory. The authors present a compelling narrative of the characters and events involved in the creation of book of mormon. Despite the attempts to suppress it, the book, who really wrote the book of mormon. Solomon spaulding, the b of mormon joseph smith was functionally illiterate posted by jlfuller on august 4, 2008 joseph smith jr could not have written the b of m nor could he have used spaulding as the basis for it. Rice, of honolulu, hawaiian islands, formerly an antislavery editor in ohio, and. What are the arguments against the book of mormon being. Who really wrote the book of mormon solomon spalding. A recent study coming from stanford university using linguistics has determined that solomon spalding and. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. In it, the author followed up on indications previously published in ohiobased newspapers that a man named solomon spalding was the real and unwitting originator of the book of mormon this is in contrast to some lds apologists who claim that the author simply.
Many of the passages in the mormon book are verbatim from spaulding, and others in part. Spaldingrigdon theory proves the book of mormon is false. That was the first time that it was suggested that the book of mormon had in part at least, some inspiration that originated. That manuscript is doubtless now in the possession of mr. In it, the author followed up on indications previously published in ohiobased newspapers that a man named solomon spalding was the real and unwitting originator of the book of mormon this is in contrast to. Solomon spaulding penned a manuscript that joseph smith plagiarized. The spalding enigma did an angel of god in the late 1820s really give 18yearold con artist joseph smith mormon bible, as he claimed. Who realy wrote the book of mormon solomon spalding. 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. 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. Historian richard bushman summarizes its life as follows. The complete original religious studies center specialized monograph series, v. Since the book of mormon was first published, many have been unwilling to accept joseph smiths account of how it was produced.
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. Second, the author of the book of mormon wrote this mss. The socalled spaulding story has been for many years past the last refuge of those who have undertaken to prove that the book of mormon is not what it. In the late 1960s, a young latterday saint discovered that an ancient form of middle eastern poetry was found throughout the book of mormon, suggestive of its ancient semitic origins. Inclusion within the bmc archive does not imply endorsement. This library possesses a manuscript which apparently is in the handwriting of solomon spaulding, since it seems to agree with fragments of account books which i have seen, and. Spauldings widow, matilda davison, gave the manuscript to hurlburt. Solomon spalding february 20, 1761 october 20, 1816 was the author of two related texts.
Had hurlbut invented the theory and falsely extracted testimony from his witnesses, he would not have made strenuous efforts to recover spauldings manuscript. Solomon spaulding, the b of mormon joseph smith was. Brodies interpretations have been followed by several other writers. Levi peterson is one of the most important lds authors of the 20th century. Spaulding manuscript mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Naturalistic explanations of the origin of the book of. The spalding rigdon theory was first given wide publicity in 1834 with the publication of the book mormonism unvailed. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesspalding manuscript. View of the hebrews1823 book of mormon 1829 very very. The dartmouth university connections to the book of mormon.
Bryce concludes the interview with his personal take on the veracity of the theory. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. 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. The book and the man, joseph smith, kindled a religion that today numbers over nine million members.
In that year, fawn brodie published no man knows my history. He studied at dartmouth college in new hampshire and was ordained a minister. Manuscript found by solomon spalding the controversy between manuscript found and the book of mormon goes all the back to e. For almost 200 years now, critics have been scrambling to prove that the book of mormon is nothing but a work of fiction. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of mormon was plagiarized in part from an unpublished manuscript. Back to mormon quotes index solomon spaulding was born in ashford, conn. 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. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship. What are the arguments against the book of mormon being written by solomon spaulding. The essay discusses the manuscript found document composed by author solomon spaulding and its possible influence on the creation of the book of mormon, along with its depiction of native american life. The solomon spalding manuscript 1812 by solomon spalding this unpublished manuscript was a work of fiction created by a retired minister, solomon spalding who died in 1816 before being able to publish his work.
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. Hurlbut did not invent the spaulding theory, but was drawn to spauldings former residence in conneaut, ohio, to investigate claims that some residents were making about the book of mormon. 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. 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.
Howes antimormon book mormonism unvailed, family members and other. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship wikipedia. For rarely does one find an alternative theory advanced to expose the true origins of a. The solomon spalding theory chapter 9 of joseph smiths. Solomon spaulding s manuscript for many years i had heard that some people claimed that the book of mormon was not an original work, but was based on a story written by solomon spaulding about 20 years before the publication of the book of mormon. First book published to challenge the claims of the book of mormon and mormonism. As for the book of mormon, history shows that an innkeeper named solomon spaulding, who was a good storyteller, had been convinced by friends to write down some of his stories in 1815 in order to make money during the recession brought about by the war of 1812. However, another theory is that the book of mormon was taken from an unpublished 1812 novel written by a retired minister, solomon spalding or spaulding, who died in 1816 in ohio.
It is claimed by some that joseph smith either plagiarized or relied upon a manuscript by solomon spaulding to write the book of mormon. In these episodes, we continue our deep dive into explaining the authorship of the book of mormon including these topics. Investigating the mysterious origin of the book of mormon wayne l cowdrey, arthur vanick, howard a davis on. Solomon spaulding and the book of mormon publications matthew b. I searched to see if this had been discussed and had not found anything, which could be my poor computer search skills. It was not long, however, before a number of people realised that the view of the hebrews and the book of mormon had some rather startling similarities. Additional information from part 1 of joseph smiths plagiarism of the bible in the book of mormon, pages 3738 in 2008 another computer study was done by matt jockers, craig criddle and daniela witten, comparing various authors word prints, including solomon spalding and sidney rigdon, with that of the book of mormon.
I think even most antimormons gave up on that years ago but you never know. His book entitled the backslider is perhaps the most significant piece of mormon fiction ever written. The theory of the origin of the book of mormon in the traditional manuscript of solomon spaulding will probably have to be relinquished. As it turns out, olivers grandfather william cowdery, sr. Introduction, near the west bank of the coneaught river there are the remains of an ancient fort. Bushman on spaulding by common consent, a mormon blog. Mental illness expanded smiths abilities to write the book of mormon. It may be possible for literary analysts to recreate portions of the nephite record attributable to. Anthony shows up and attempts to steal the valuable book, brandon must use his newfound knowledge of the book of mormon to confront real dangers. In 1834, four years after its first appearance, an effort was made to show that the book of mormon was a plagiarism from an unpublished novel of solomon spaulding. The spaulding manuscript in the oberlin college library. Smith created the book of mormon through automatic writing. Nm page 144, now to his bitter chagrin he found that the long chase had been vain.
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. 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. As joseph smith, the founder of the rapidly growing church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon. However, almost none of these people have actually read manuscript story for themselves. Wirth the number seven had several connotations to the precolumbian communities of mesoamerica. 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. Spauldings novel provides an engaging view into one mans fanciful reconstruction of native american life. The myth of the manuscript found, by elder george reynolds. The spalding studies site solomon spalding home page. 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.
I know this has been refuted before, but can you help me understand this issue and get to the. By relying on the appendices and end notes, they leave the story uncluttered by all of the details. Evidence for solomon spaulding authorship of the book of. Solomon spalding february 20, 1761 october 20, 1816 was the author at least two related texts. But it will not take long for readers to see that it bears no resemblance to the book of mormon. Items in the bmc archive are made publicly available for noncommercial, private use. When applied to the book of mormon, wordprinting reveals that the word patterns of the book of mormon differ significantly from the personal writings of joseph smith, solomon spaulding, sidney rigdon, and oliver cowdery, who served as joseph smiths scribe. 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. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Spaulding manuscript the encyclopedia of mormonism. Solomon spalding manuscript found rough draft for the. While there, they preached from the book of mormon. Who was solomon spalding and what connection did his manuscript have with joseph smith. Revisiting the seven lineages of the book of mormon and the seven tribes of mesoamerica diane e.
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. Revisiting the seven lineages of the book of mormon and the. Brandons reward for solving the puzzle is to be a rare copy of the original edition of the book of mormon. Was the famous book of mormon written under another title by rev. 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. 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. Readers edition where did the book of mormon come from. The view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon authorship.
The solomon spaulding manuscript theory of book of mormon authorship. Smiths intellect was sufficient for him to dictate the words in. 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. Full text of the manuscript story of reverend solomon spalding. 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. The book repudiated the rigdon spaulding theory, revived the alexander campbell thesis that joseph smith alone was the author of the book, and postulated that view of the hebrews following riley, 1903 provided the basic source material for the book of mormon. This makes it a must read book for every thinking person on the planet. Characters, plot, structure, style, names and religious content all paralleled the book of mormon. Ever since the book of mormon was first published in 1830, its origins have been disputed. Since 1946, no serious student of mormonism has given the spaulding manuscript theory much credibility. Jul 18, 2009 see his manuscript of solomon spaulding and the book of mormon in magazine of western history 4 mayoctober 1886, pp. 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. For years now ive heard people offhandedly dismiss the book of mormon as a known plagiarism of the solomon spaulding manuscript.
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. Solomon spalding manuscript found rough draft for the book of mormon. There are similarities in the explanation for the origins of both manuscript found and the book of mormon. Prior to 2008, no published authorship study results linked sidney rigdon to writing of the book of mormon. Evidence for solomon spaulding authorship of the book of mormon. The curious case of solomon spaulding mormon matters. Contains statements of various neighbors of the smiths detailing their magic and money digging involvement.
Toward a history of the book in early mormon culture david j. Was the book of mormon given to joseph smith by an angel or created from a work of fiction. 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 spalding rigdon theory because it is such a weak, poorlybuttressed alternative explanation. Contents letters vi articles presidential address the web of print. Debunking the spaulding manuscript theory mormon heretic. 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. Collaborators assisted smith in writing the book of mormon. Smith and orson hyde, missionaries for the church of jesus christ, were in conneaut, ohio, where spaulding began writing his manuscript. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. Who was solomon spalding and did he have a connection with.