![FairMormon Logo](https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021_fair_logo_primary.png)
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
m (→{{Printed material label}}) |
(m) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Articles FAIR copyright}} {{Articles Header 1}} {{Articles Header 2}} {{Articles Header 3}} {{Articles Header 4}} {{Articles Header 5}} {{Articles Header 6}} {{Articles Header 7}} {{Articles Header 8}} {{Articles Header 9}} {{Articles Header 10}} | {{Articles FAIR copyright}} {{Articles Header 1}} {{Articles Header 2}} {{Articles Header 3}} {{Articles Header 4}} {{Articles Header 5}} {{Articles Header 6}} {{Articles Header 7}} {{Articles Header 8}} {{Articles Header 9}} {{Articles Header 10}} | ||
{{Resource Title|The rise of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship}} | {{Resource Title|The rise of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship}} | ||
− | |||
{{Epigraph|The Mormon Bible.—The origin of this work which it has puzzled many to account for, evidently the production of a cultivated mind, yet found in the hands of | {{Epigraph|The Mormon Bible.—The origin of this work which it has puzzled many to account for, evidently the production of a cultivated mind, yet found in the hands of | ||
exceedingly ignorant and illiterate persons is at length explained.<br><br>— {{CriticalWork:Trumpet and Universalist:18 May 1839:Mormon Bible|pages=n.p.}}}} | exceedingly ignorant and illiterate persons is at length explained.<br><br>— {{CriticalWork:Trumpet and Universalist:18 May 1839:Mormon Bible|pages=n.p.}}}} | ||
+ | == == | ||
+ | {{Criticism label}} | ||
Initial critics of the Book of Mormon tended to take one of two stances—either: | Initial critics of the Book of Mormon tended to take one of two stances—either: | ||
# The Book of Mormon was a [[Book of Mormon/Early reactions to/Clumsy or obvious forgery|clumsy, obvious forgery]] upon which [[Book_of_Mormon/Early_reactions_to/No_intelligent_person|no intelligent person]] would waste time; and/or | # The Book of Mormon was a [[Book of Mormon/Early reactions to/Clumsy or obvious forgery|clumsy, obvious forgery]] upon which [[Book_of_Mormon/Early_reactions_to/No_intelligent_person|no intelligent person]] would waste time; and/or | ||
# Joseph Smith was the Book of Mormon's [[Book_of_Mormon/Early_reactions_to/Joseph_Smith_obvious_author|obvious author]]. | # Joseph Smith was the Book of Mormon's [[Book_of_Mormon/Early_reactions_to/Joseph_Smith_obvious_author|obvious author]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == == | ||
+ | {{Response label}} | ||
Ironically, with the appearance of the [[Book_of_Mormon/Authorship_theories/Spalding_manuscript|Spalding theory]], critics quickly began to claim that Joseph Smith [[Book of Mormon/Early reactions to/Joseph Smith not the author|could not have]] written the Book of Mormon, and attributed the Book of Mormon's writing to Spalding and (usually) [[Book_of_Mormon/Authorship_theories/Sidney_Rigdon|Sidney Rigdon]]. | Ironically, with the appearance of the [[Book_of_Mormon/Authorship_theories/Spalding_manuscript|Spalding theory]], critics quickly began to claim that Joseph Smith [[Book of Mormon/Early reactions to/Joseph Smith not the author|could not have]] written the Book of Mormon, and attributed the Book of Mormon's writing to Spalding and (usually) [[Book_of_Mormon/Authorship_theories/Sidney_Rigdon|Sidney Rigdon]]. | ||
Line 14: | Line 18: | ||
{{CriticalSources}} | {{CriticalSources}} | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
{{Articles Footer 1}} {{Articles Footer 2}} {{Articles Footer 3}} {{Articles Footer 4}} {{Articles Footer 5}} {{Articles Footer 6}} {{Articles Footer 7}} {{Articles Footer 8}} {{Articles Footer 9}} {{Articles Footer 10}} | {{Articles Footer 1}} {{Articles Footer 2}} {{Articles Footer 3}} {{Articles Footer 4}} {{Articles Footer 5}} {{Articles Footer 6}} {{Articles Footer 7}} {{Articles Footer 8}} {{Articles Footer 9}} {{Articles Footer 10}} | ||
[[fr:Book of Mormon/Authorship theories/Spalding manuscript/Difficult to explain before]] | [[fr:Book of Mormon/Authorship theories/Spalding manuscript/Difficult to explain before]] |
The Mormon Bible.—The origin of this work which it has puzzled many to account for, evidently the production of a cultivated mind, yet found in the hands of exceedingly ignorant and illiterate persons is at length explained.
— “The Mormon Bible,” Trumpet and Universalist Magazine (Boston) 11, no. 48 (18 May 1839), n.p.. off-site
Initial critics of the Book of Mormon tended to take one of two stances—either:
Ironically, with the appearance of the Spalding theory, critics quickly began to claim that Joseph Smith could not have written the Book of Mormon, and attributed the Book of Mormon's writing to Spalding and (usually) Sidney Rigdon.
It is interesting to note the after-the-fact admission from critics that prior to the Spalding theory, the Book of Mormon was difficult to account for. Unfortunately for the modern critic, the collapse of the Spalding theory means that they are likewise ill-placed to attribute the Book of Mormon's text to Joseph Smith.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back.
Donate Now