The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship

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Criticism

Critics have claimed that Joseph Smith either plaigerized or relied upon a manuscript by Solomon Spaulding to write the Book of Mormon.

Source(s) of the Criticism

• Eber D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (New York : AMS Press, 1834 [1977]).
• William Alexander Linn, The Story of the Mormons (New York: Macmillan, 1902).

Claimed the existence of a second Spaulding manuscript when the first theory failed:

• George B. Arbaugh, Revelation in Mormonism (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1932).
• Wayne L. Cowdery, et.al., Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon (Santa Ana, Ca.: Vision House Publishers, 1977.)

Response

Many critics have rejected the Spaulding theory as unworkable:

• Davis H. Bays, The Doctrines and Dogmas of Mormonism Examined and Refuted (St. Louis: Christian Publishing, 1897), 22, 25

[This theory is] "erroneous, and it will lead to almost certain defeat. . . . The facts are all opposed to this view, and the defenders of the Mormon dogma have the facts well in hand. . . . The Spaulding story is a failure. Do not attempt to rely upon it--it will let you down."

• Fawn Brodie, No Man Knows My History (New York, A. A. Knopf, 1945).
• Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Did Spaulding Write the Book of Mormon? (Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1977).

Conclusion

A summary of the argument against the criticism.

Further reading

FAIR web site

• FAIR Topical Guide:Spaulding Theory
• Matthew B. Brown, "Solomon Spaulding and the Book of Mormon" *
• Daniel C. Peterson, "The Divine Source of the Book of Mormon in the Face of Alternative Theories Advocated by LDS Critics" *
• John K. Wise, "Clouds Without Water, Zeal Without Knowledge" *

External links

• Lester Bush, "The Spalding [sic] Theory Then and Now," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 10 no. 4 (Autumn 1977), 40–69.*
• Jeff Lindsay, "Plagiarism in the Book of Mormon: Is It Derived from Modern Writings?, jefflindsay.com (accessed 5 October 2005).
• L. Ara Norwood, "Book of Mormon Authorship: A Closer Look," FARMS Review of Books 1/1 (1989): 80–88. *
• Gary F. Novak, "Naturalistic Assumptions and the Book of Mormon," Brigham Young University Studies 30 no. 3 (1990), 23–40.*GospeLink

Printed material

Over the years many Latter-day Saints have responded to the "Spaulding Theory" as well.

• B.H. Roberts, "Counter Theories of Origin," New Witnesses for God, Vol. 3, Chapter XLIV, (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1909), 347–406.GospeLink
• B.H. Roberts, "A Brief Debate on the Book of Mormon," Defence of the Faith and the Saints, Vol. 1, (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1907), 365.

GospeLink

• B.H. Roberts, "The Origin of the Book of Mormon," Defence of the Faith and the Saints, Vol. 2, (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1907), 95–229.GospeLink

*Benjamin Winchester, The Origin of the Spaulding Story, Concerning the Manuscript Found, (Philadelphia: Brown, Bicking & Guilfert, 1840).

• Dean C. Jessee, 'Spalding theory' re-examined,' Church News, 20 August 1977, pp. 3-5.
• Orson Scott Card, 'Spaulding Again?' Ensign, 7 (September 1977), pp. 94-95.