Archaeological and historical evidence where did the book. Disproves mormonism using the bible, mormon scripture, statistical analysis and common sense. Book of mormon by william a, white press staff writer. For my analysis of the brodiebush argument, see book of mormon. Preface to book of mormon, circa august 1829, page iii. The spalding or spaldingrigdon theory gained traction from a number of testimonies by individuals who had known spalding and who said that the book of mormon was very similar to spaldings lost manuscript. Presentation about the spalding rigdon theory and the authorship of the book of mormon. Who really wrote the book of mormon the spalding enigma s. He also made many attempts in business, but failed. 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. Although rigdon claimed that he was converted to the. There is an excellent book on it called who really wrote the book of mormon the spalding enigma available at amazon and other fine book stores. Introducing the true author of the book of mormon solomon spalding.
Solomon spaulding, the b of mormon joseph smith was. 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. Presented by robert hancock of the southern utah post mormon association, dec. The back cover of our 2005 book, who really wrote the book of mormon. Innumerable arguments have failed to settle this question. Solomon spalding, had unknowingly written a large part of the published book of mormon text. Spaulding manuscript mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs.
With him he carried important statements he had just obtained from of john and martha spalding in crawford county. 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. 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 hebrews, the late war, the golden pot, and the bible. Asked in the book of mormon who was rev solomon spalding born 1771 died in 1809 and how is he related to the book of mormon. Full text of the manuscript story of reverend solomon. This claim has been discredited many times by people inside and outside of the church. 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. I know this has been refuted before, but can you help me understand this issue and get to the bottom of it. Solomon spauldings romance, entitled manuscript found.
The spalding or spalding rigdon theory gained traction from a number of testimonies by individuals who had known spalding and who said that the book of mormon was very similar to spalding s lost manuscript. That was the first time that it was suggested that the book of mormon had in part at least, some inspiration that originated. Who wrote the chapter headings in the book of mormon answers. Unique textual parallels from the oberlin spalding manuscript. However, almost none of these people have actually read manuscript story for themselves. At that time sidney rigdon was an ordained baptist minister who had never even heard of solomon spalding or his manuscript. What is in the book of mormon and is it really true historical scriptural history. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. Points out the contradictions between the bible and book of mormon as well as errors in translation in the king james version kjv of the bible that were copied into the book of mormon.
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. Solomon spalding february 20, 1761 october 20, 1816 was the author of two related t. Believing mormons often state that solomon spalding s manuscript story if you are unfamiliar with the spalding rigdon theory, click here for a brief background has absolutely nothing in common with the book of mormon. 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. 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. Introduction, near the west bank of the coneaught river there are the remains of an ancient fort. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship. Whether the spalding book of mormon parallels are charted by gross common word count for the two books, distribution of their common words, or distribution of their common word groupings, alma remains the one book of mormon text most like spalding. Similar analysis showed that the sound correspondences in the names sidney rigdon, parley pratt, oliver cowdery, ethan smith, and solomon spalding individuals proposed as book of mormon authors were different than correspondences with joseph smith in the unique names of the book of mormon, but not enough to identify any as a possible author. Who was rev solomon spalding born 1771 died in 1809 and. 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.
Which is why he translated it behind a curtain, so no would would see what he was doing. However, a manuscript by spalding discovered in 1884 turned out not to have any significant similarities to the book of mormon. This course seemed to be rendered necessary by the fact that joe did not know how to write. The way out of this embarrassing predicament was given in a revelation in.
The presence of such ideas in the book of mormon and spaldings novel may have. Solomon spalding was born in 1761 in ashford, connecticut. How soon after joseph smith claimed to have received the revelation. Mormon challenges could the book of mormon story have. One of the earliest theories was that joseph plagiarized the unpublished manuscript of a novel written by the reverend solomon spalding 17611816. The fact that the historical portion of the book of mormon was taken from the work of rev. Solomon spalding and revisionist history mormonthink. 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. Even the spalding manuscript, which appears to be an experimental, unpolished, and unfinished story, seems to qualify as an ancient work according to the requirements proposed by scholars. Jun 16, 2018 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. Howes antimormon book mormonism unvailed, family members and other. Historians and scholars can no longer acquiesce in perpetuating the myth that the spalding theory has been refuted, repudiated, demolished, or disproved. Who was rev solomon spalding born 1771 died in 1809 and how. Howes antimormon book mormonism unvailed, family members and.
Solomon spalding, who died in 1816, had complained against the latterday saints that the book of mormon was really a plagiarized version of an unpublished novel, manuscript found, which the deceased clergyman had written and circulated among. It should be noted that solomon spalding lived in pittsburgh. Since the book of mormon was first published, many have been unwilling to accept joseph smiths account of how it was produced. It must be admitted, purely as an academic possibility that the tanners may be correct in theorizing that dr. One source that supposedly supports the arguments of critics that the book of mormon is not authentic is a 175page manuscript known as the manuscript story also entitled manuscript found in some editions which was written by solomon spaulding sometimes spelled spalding in the early 1800s. This theory holds that early in the 19th century a minister by the name of solomon spalding wrote a manuscript entitled, manuscript found. The solomon spalding theory chapter 9 of joseph smiths. Solomon spalding suspects sidney rigdon 1820 of taking his missing manuscript later found. Latin by solomon spalding, was the source of the book of mormon thomas 1999, 6768. An ongoing study of shared language in spalding s 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. How did joseph smith translate the book of mormon answers. 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. It was unpublished and joseph smith had the manuscript. Solomon spalding with the authorship of the book of mormon, mr.
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. The manuscript story of reverend solomon spalding, or. Davis and arthur vanick in consultation with dale r. The story is that a printer in pittsburgh copied a story written by rev. 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. Excerpt from the manuscript story of reverend solomon spalding, or manuscript found. 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. Solomon spauldings manuscript found was clearly and undeniably established in my article published in the watchman, boston, sept. Oh and collects statements from eight people claiming that the historical content of the book of mormon is from solomon spalding s manuscript. As i was walking and forming various conjectures respecting the character, situation. Solomon spaulding before us italics ours, that we compared with the mormon bible. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesspalding manuscript. In the early 1800s, a man named solomon spaulding wrote a fictional story.
Solomon spaldingbook of mormon parallels mormons often insist that there are no similarities. The tanners and william heth whitsitt sidney rigdon. Pretty damaging evidence, from a this rock article from a very early date, the relatives and acquaintances of a retired congregationalist minister, rev. The manuscript story of reverend solomon spalding, or manuscript found. Some critics of the church have claimed that joseph smith used the manuscript to write the book of mormon. Those who do not accept the book of mormon as scripture offer many theories about its origin. Solomon spalding, who died in 1816, had complained against the latterday saints that the book of mormon was really a plagiarized version of an unpublished novel, manuscript found, which the deceased clergyman had written and circulated. Solomon spalding, who died in 1816, had complained against the latterday saints that the book of mormon was really a plagiarized version of an unpublished novel, manuscript. The theory of the origin of the book of mormon in the tra ditional manuscript of solomon spaulding, will probably have to be relinquished. Solomon spalding wrote a document now called the spalding manuscript.
Solomon spalding, but was claimed by joseph smith as a direct revelation to him by the angel mormon. Evidence for solomon spaulding authorship of the book of mormon. Whitsitt stooped to the deceitful act of forging antimormon documents. Indeed, it is ironic that the very arguments meant to authenticate the book of mormon point to solomon spalding as the book s author. After examining it, he makes the following statement concerning the connection of rev. The book that spaulding wrote which later became the book of mormon. Some time since, i became the owner of the book of mormon, i put it into the hands of mr. Davis, and arthur vanick have conducted extensive research into the origin of the book of mormon.
Solomon spalding was the author of two related texts. John spalding solomon s brother,martha spalding johns wife,henry lake solomon s partner in the forge business,john n. While revelations that js dictated in 1828 and 1829 referred to the lost manuscript in generic terms, jss mention of 116 pages in the preface to the book of mormon was the first time he specified the number of. The question of book of mormon authorship cannot be solved by dismissing or excising solomon spalding from mormon. What are the pros and cons of the spauldingrigdon theory. Prior to 2008, no published authorship study results linked sidney rigdon to writing of the book of mormon. May 01, 2003 from a very early date, the relatives and acquaintances of a retired congregationalist minister, rev. 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.
I have heard that joseph smith plagiarized the writings of solomon spaulding to produce the book of mormon. From a very early date, the relatives and acquaintances of a retired congregationalist minister, rev. This theory became the principal nonlds theory for the origins of mormonisms keystone, but since the publication of fawn brodies famous no man knows my history, it has fallen. Solomon spalding, but was claimed by joseph smith as a direct revelation to him by the angel mornion. Sidney rigdon in some way obtained this document and it eventually was used by rigdon and smith to create the book of mormon. This theory was presented in the 1834 book, mormonism unvailed, by e. Sidney rigdon computerized enhancement sidney rigdon as john the baptist and smiths angelic messenger. Mormons, isnt it true that the book of mormon is actually. Exactly how did joseph smith rip off reverend solomon. Spalding died in 1816 and his manuscript was never published. Spauldings manuscript is considerably shorter than the book of mormon.
It seems rather obvious that anyone wishing to establish the nature and scope of textual. Full text of the manuscript story of reverend solomon spalding. In the early 1830s he was identified by some witnesses and writers as the original author of part of the book of mormon. I have read every word of both it and the book of mormon, and i compiled a list of. After spaldings death, a number of individuals suggested that spaldings work was used as a source by joseph smith for the book of mormon, a scripture in the latter day saint movement. 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. Preservation and transmission until it came solomon spaulding on. The spalding enigma, provides this brief attribution. 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. 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. It is now pretty well established that the book of mormon was written in 1812 by the rev. In the early 1800s, a man named solomon spaulding wrote a fictional story about ancient romans who came to north america. Solomon spalding february 20, 1761 october 20, 1816 was the author of two related texts.
Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship wikipedia. Solomon spalding, who died in 1816, had complained very vocally against the latterday saints that their new bible, that is the book of mormon was really a plagiarized version of an unpublished novel, manuscript found, which was written by. Manuscript found by solomon spalding the controversy between manuscript found and the book of mormon goes all the back to e. In 17 85 and 1787, he graduated from dartmouth college in receiving the degree of a. Brown when the book of mormon was first published in march of. Their statements said that johns late brother, the rev.
Solomon spalding february 20, 1761 october 20, 1816 was the author at least two related texts. Otherwise the book might have gone to the printer in the handwriting of old mormon himself. Was the famous book of mormon written under another title by rev. Evidence for solomon spaulding authorship of the book of. It may be possible for literary analysts to recreate portions of the nephite record attributable to. Lambdin wants spalding to write a preface and provide funds to print it. Books published as early as 1834 discount the origins of the book of mormon and place solomon spalding as the true author. Critics claim that joseph smith did not actually translate ancient plates into the book of mormon, but rather wrote the book. From a verbatim copy of the original now in the library of oberlin. The spalding studies site solomon spalding home page. Spalding sometime between 1809 and 1812 about twenty years before the book of mormon came to press a reverend solomon spalding also spelled spaulding wrote a novel about a group of ancient roman sailors who were blown off course and landed in america.
Solomon spaulding and the book of mormon fairmormon. 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. Pratt who brought me the book of mormon, passed before my eyes with his heart open, and it was as pure as an angel. The spalding rigdon theory was first given wide publicity in 1834 with the publication of the book mormonism unvailed. Sources and composition of the book of mormon an introduction. Solomon spalding manuscript found rough draft for 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. Solomon spalding manuscript found rough draft for the.