Today, the lds church is most prevalent in the united states, latin america, canada, europe, the. Criticism of mormonismbookswho really wrote the book of. For nearly two centuries, faithful members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. Davis has made numerous public lecture and media appearances on the subject. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and. Lets say that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. 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. More light on who wrote the title page, by clyde j. Sidney rigdons confession to his son about the book of mormon. Lots of answers here with an incredible amount of evidence. According to smiths account and the books narrative, the book of mormon was originally written in otherwise unknown characte.
Josephs father worked as a schoolteacher for a time. Now, some critics also claim that smith gained most of his theories from a manuscript of a novel written by solomon spaulding. As joseph smith, the founder of the rapidly growing church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon, tells it in official church writings, the book is a miraculous translation of reformed. Sidney rigdon, the confession of an apostate paperback february 9, 2019 by john clinton rigdon author see all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The book of mormon is set in north america in the first century. There is a power in the book of mormon which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of it. In the history of the church, joseph smith made an important clarification about the title page of the book of mormon.
The scriptures are called the words of life, and nowhere is that more true than it is of the book. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. 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. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel.
The book of mormon follows two young missionaries who are sent to uganda to try to convert citizens to the mormon religion. The book of mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the old world to the american continents. The first author was the prophet nephi, who left jerusalem with his family in. For the past 200 years, numerous naysayers have taken shots at joseph smith and the book of mormon, with claims ranging everywhere from joseph wrote it himself using a vivid imagination, to his plagiarizing other texts. This musical comedy is about religion and beliefs in general, where the libretto written by trey parker, the words were written by robert lopez, the music done by matt stone. Some mormon scholars, like grant hardy, who wrote understanding the book of mormon. Some have wondered, though, if the book of mormon s different styles are in any way unique or impressive. 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. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 2009, 2536. His book contained reports from missionaries and traders who lived among the indians. Is it possible that a single author wrote the book of mormon. As a co author of the 1977 work who really wrote the book of mormon. First, it utterly lacks historical or archaeological support, and there is overwhelming empirical evidence that refutes it. Learn more about the book of mormon s role in the history of mormonism and how it can bless your life today.
Joseph smith translated the plates into english by the gift and power of god, and the book of mormon was published in palmyra, new york, in 1830. Book of mormon, the lyrics song lyrics for musical. Its coming forth was an essential part of the history of mormonism. 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. Unfortunately, mormon s abridgment of the record of lehi was the material translated in the 116 manuscript pages that were lost, and consequently it is not available in the present book of mormon. Most latterday saints are aware of a minor industry in certain religious circles in the united states devoted to refuting mormonism and to criticizing the book of mormon. He didnt have the time, education or wherewithal to do this. This is important because the latterday saints make such a point about it containing the fullness of.
The book of mormon is a sacred text that was published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr. This book, written by a minister named ethan smith, contained stories and information proposing that the first settlers of ancient america were the lost ten tribes of israel. Jensen, the precise purposes of the book of mormon, in by study and by faith. Badman, and these texts provide extensive narrative. Since the book of mormons publication in 1830, a number of different theories have been proposed concerning its authorship. Some have suggested that joseph smith admitted that he was the author of the book of mormon because the title page of the first edition lists him. Recent research demonstrates that its diversity of styles is unusually high, even greater than the combined. Indeed, one of the most notable features of the book of mormon is the fact that its fifteen books, all of which are purportedly historical narratives. Moroni moroni delivering the book of mormon to joseph smith, lithograph, 1886. For the lord god hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead. Rigdon, the son of sydney rigdon visited utah and spent the winter among the mormons. Prophets of ancient americas who lived 1,500 years ago wrote the book of mormon. Some claim that sidney rigdon authored the book of mormon, and conspired with joseph smith well ahead of time to compose it and start a religion. According to smith, the book is originally written in an otherwise unknown language called reformed egyptian on golden plates and it should be of similar importance as the bible.
Bunyan wrote upwards of 60 books, tracts, and pamphlets, including grace abounding, a few sighs from hell, holy war and the life and death of mr. Previous studies have shown that the book of mormon contains multiple distinct writing styles and that those styles are consistent with the authors designated in the text itself. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if josephs story about golden plates is true. Everett collection historicalalamy the book of mormon resembles the bible in its length and complexity and in its division into books named for individual prophets. I wish also to mention here, that the title page of the book of mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or. Williams, journal of book of mormon studies 10, no. The spalding enigma by wayne cowdery, howard davis, and donald scales summary. Joseph smith as the sole author, without intentional assistance, possibly reflecting smiths own life events. Joseph smith wasthe oneresponsible for translating the book of mormon,contrary to speculations that he wrote it.
Conflicting results of computer analyses of the book of mormon. Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon and the gift and power. The book of mormon is about the history of two great civilizations of people who lived in the ancient americas. Later, the prophet joseph smith, by the gift and power of god, translated an abridgment of those original plates. Critics have been quick to give credit to everyone and everything, except the very person the book of mormon writers themselves identified. The mormon religion was officially founded in 1830 when the book of mormon was published. Ancient prophets, historians, and leaders engraved their testimonies and history on golden plates.
Book of mormon charts charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding and appreciation of the book of mormon. One missionary, elder price, is an enthusiastic gogetter with a strong. Who really wrote the book of mormon solomon spalding. The book continues the history of the nephites and the lamanites according to the records of helaman, who was the son of helaman, and also according to the records of his sons, even down to the coming of christ the book of helaman, preface. 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. Designed for multiple use as study guides, handouts, and masters for creating projectable images, the charts convey a wealth of information that will enrich personal study and.
He is also titular head of the spalding research associates. The book of mormon is actually a collection of histories passed down from one writer to another. Maxwell institute at brigham young university as well as interpreter. Who really wrote the book of mormon part 2 youtube. The precise purposes of the book of mormon religious. A readers guide, have attempted to move the discussion away from polemics to an appreciation for the books narrative complexities. The book of mormon claims that moroni, a prophet, originally wrote the book and that it was translated by joseph smith. Response to claims made in who really wrote the book of mormon. This is staggering when you think about it to claim that joseph smith, who could not write a coherent letter, wrote the book of mormon, with all of its historical complexity and profound doctrinal insights, in a single dictation draft in approximately 65 working days with no notes in front of him and with only minor changes mostly grammatical. Lehi wrote an account of his life and spiritual experiences that was included in the large plates of nephi. 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. These groups were led by prophets who recorded their religious and secular histories on metal plates. Several investigations and studies which set out to prove that joseph wrote the book of mormon have actua. Note that even this accusation doesnt state rigdon wrote the book of mormon, but that it was by solomon spaulding.
Critical theories that sidney rigdon was a book of mormon author or coconspirator summary. It seems after reading these posts that the only possible answer is that the book of mormon happened just like joseph and others claim. As with most scripture, however, claims to historical authenticity remain a. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. This book critically examines key historical documents, personal testimonies, and records of 19thcentury mormon history concluding that the book of mormon is. Before i get flamed i would like to point out three of the more glaring anachronistic errors. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon in 1823, moroni appeared to joseph smith as an angel and told him where the plates were buried. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi.
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. Book of mormon authorship the encyclopedia of mormonism. In twelve chapters, the authors lay out the evidence for the assertion that sidney rigdon, oliver cowdery, and joseph smith jr. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. This book attempted to revive the moribund spalding manuscript theory for the book of mormon. There are some accusations by the author, but they amount mostly to paraphrased rigdon stole the manuscript from solomon spaulding and that was turned into the book of mormon. Coauthors arthur vanick and wayne cowdrey discuss their 558page book. Skeptics and most archeologists believe that the book of mormon is a hoax, and that it was written in the early 19th century by joseph smith or. Is it possible that a single author wrote the book of. According to evidence presented by the authors, it was oliver cowdery, who eventually brought rigdon and smith together, and who later served as smiths personal scribe during the process of creating the book of mormon from spaldings manuscript. Onlyone singleword can aptly describe josephstranslationof the book of mormon. Many book of mormon research projects have implications for the continuing issues surrounding the authorship of the book of mormon. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. And josephs distant cousin oliver cowdery, who served as josephs scribe for the majority of the book of mormon, also taught school.