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Question: Are the major thematic elements of the Spalding manuscript similar to those in the Book of Mormon?: Difference between revisions
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===Claim: Both works refer to an ancient record that was found under a stone which was removed by a lever=== | ===Claim: Both works refer to an ancient record that was found under a stone which was removed by a lever=== | ||
====Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript==== | |||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Near the west bank of the Coneaught River there are the remains of an ancient fort. As I was walking and forming various conjectures respecting the character, situation, & numbers of those people who far exceeded the present Indians in works of art and ingenuity, I hapned to tread on a flat stone..... <br><br> | Near the west bank of the Coneaught River there are the remains of an ancient fort. As I was walking and forming various conjectures respecting the character, situation, & numbers of those people who far exceeded the present Indians in works of art and ingenuity, I hapned to tread on a flat stone..... <br><br> | ||
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===Claim: Both works refer to seer stones.=== | ===Claim: Both works refer to seer stones.=== | ||
====Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript==== | |||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Hamack then arose & in his hand he held a stone which he pronounced transparent. Thro' this he could view things present & things to come, could behold the dark intrigues & cabals of foreign courts, & behold discover hidden treasures, secluded from the eyes of other mortals. He could behold the galant & his mistress in their bed chamber, &count all their moles warts & pimples. Such was the clearness of his sight, when this transparent stone was placed before his eyes. He looked fiercely & steadfastly on the stone & raised his prophetic voice. | Hamack then arose & in his hand he held a stone which he pronounced transparent. Thro' this he could view things present & things to come, could behold the dark intrigues & cabals of foreign courts, & behold discover hidden treasures, secluded from the eyes of other mortals. He could behold the galant & his mistress in their bed chamber, &count all their moles warts & pimples. Such was the clearness of his sight, when this transparent stone was placed before his eyes. He looked fiercely & steadfastly on the stone & raised his prophetic voice. | ||
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===Claim: Both works are about an ancient white race=== | ===Claim: Both works are about an ancient white race=== | ||
====Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript==== | |||
===Claim: Both works refer to a group that traveled across the ocean in a boat=== | ===Claim: Both works refer to a group that traveled across the ocean in a boat=== | ||
====Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript==== | |||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
One day he says to me Fabius you must go to Britain & carry an important - - - - to the general of our army there - - - - sail in a vessel & return when she returns. Preparation was made instantly and we sailed - - - The vessel laden with provisions for the army - - - Cloath -- knives and other impliments for their use had now arrived near the coasts of Britain when a tremendous storm arose & drove us into the midst of the boundless Ocean. Soon the whole crew became lost & bewildered. They knew not the direction to the rising Sun or polar Star, for the heavens were covered with clouds; & darkness had spread her sable mantle over the face of the raging deep. | One day he says to me Fabius you must go to Britain & carry an important - - - - to the general of our army there - - - - sail in a vessel & return when she returns. Preparation was made instantly and we sailed - - - The vessel laden with provisions for the army - - - Cloath -- knives and other impliments for their use had now arrived near the coasts of Britain when a tremendous storm arose & drove us into the midst of the boundless Ocean. Soon the whole crew became lost & bewildered. They knew not the direction to the rising Sun or polar Star, for the heavens were covered with clouds; & darkness had spread her sable mantle over the face of the raging deep. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
====Comparison against the Book of Mormon==== | |||
* | |||
===Claim: Both works refer to ocean travelers running into a storm which subsided because of their prayers=== | ===Claim: Both works refer to ocean travelers running into a storm which subsided because of their prayers=== | ||
====Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript==== | |||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Their minds were filled with consternation and despair. & unanimously agreed that What could we do? How be extricated from the insatiable jaws of a watery tomb? Then it was that we felt our absolute dependence on that Almighty & gracious Being who holds the winds & floods in - - - hands. From him alone could we expect deliverance. To him our most fervent desires assended. Prostrate & on bended nees we poured forth incessant Supplication & even Old Ocean appeared to sympathize in our distress by returning the echo of our vociferos cries & lamentations. After being driven five days with incridable velocity before the furious wind the storm abated in its violence. but still the wind blew strong in the strong as I now believe in the same direction. Doubtful whether the wind had not changed her point we gave the ship full sail & let her drive. On the sixth day after, the storm wholly subsided, the sun rose clear and the heavens once more appeared to smile. | Their minds were filled with consternation and despair. & unanimously agreed that What could we do? How be extricated from the insatiable jaws of a watery tomb? Then it was that we felt our absolute dependence on that Almighty & gracious Being who holds the winds & floods in - - - hands. From him alone could we expect deliverance. To him our most fervent desires assended. Prostrate & on bended nees we poured forth incessant Supplication & even Old Ocean appeared to sympathize in our distress by returning the echo of our vociferos cries & lamentations. After being driven five days with incridable velocity before the furious wind the storm abated in its violence. but still the wind blew strong in the strong as I now believe in the same direction. Doubtful whether the wind had not changed her point we gave the ship full sail & let her drive. On the sixth day after, the storm wholly subsided, the sun rose clear and the heavens once more appeared to smile. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
====Comparison against the Book of Mormon==== | |||
* | |||
===Claim: Both works refer to groups that came to the americas and started 2 major civilizations=== | ===Claim: Both works refer to groups that came to the americas and started 2 major civilizations=== | ||
====Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript==== | |||
====Comparison against the Book of Mormon==== | |||
* | |||
===Claim: Both works refer to a great religious leader who came and taught them great wisdom=== | ===Claim: Both works refer to a great religious leader who came and taught them great wisdom=== | ||
====Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript==== | |||
====Comparison against the Book of Mormon==== | |||
* | |||
===Claim: Both works describe the two civilizations fighting battles and wars until they were almost destroyed=== | ===Claim: Both works describe the two civilizations fighting battles and wars until they were almost destroyed=== | ||
====Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript==== | |||
====Comparison against the Book of Mormon==== | |||
* | |||
===Claim: Both works contain similar grammatical mistakes and nomenclature.=== | ===Claim: Both works contain similar grammatical mistakes and nomenclature.=== | ||
====Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript==== | |||
====Comparison against the Book of Mormon==== | |||
* | |||
Revision as of 18:32, 21 November 2010
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Spalding manuscript parallels
==Questions
== Critics claim that the major thematic elements between the extent Spalding manuscript (also known as the Obelin manuscript) and the Book of Mormon are same.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]
==Detailed Analysis
== We examine parallels between the Spalding manuscript and the Book of Mormon in the following sections.
Claim: Both works refer to an ancient record that was found under a stone which was removed by a lever
Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript
Near the west bank of the Coneaught River there are the remains of an ancient fort. As I was walking and forming various conjectures respecting the character, situation, & numbers of those people who far exceeded the present Indians in works of art and ingenuity, I hapned to tread on a flat stone.....
With the assistance of a leaver I raised the stone....
I discovered that its ends and sides rested on stones & that it was designed as a cover to an artificial Cave. ....
I prepared myself with necessary requisites for that purpose and decended to the Bottom of the Cave. ....
Here I noticed a big flat stone fixed in the form of a doar. I immediately tore it down and Lo, a cavity within the wall presented itself it being about three feet in diamiter from side to side and about two feet high. Within this cavity I found an earthen Box with a cover which shut it perfectly tite. The Box was two feet in length one & half in breadth & one & three inches in diameter. ....
When I had removed the Cover I found that it contained twenty-eight rolls of parchment -- & -- that when - - - appeared to be manuscrips written in eligant hand with Roman letters & in the Latin Language.
Claim: Both works refer to seer stones.
Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript
Hamack then arose & in his hand he held a stone which he pronounced transparent. Thro' this he could view things present & things to come, could behold the dark intrigues & cabals of foreign courts, & behold discover hidden treasures, secluded from the eyes of other mortals. He could behold the galant & his mistress in their bed chamber, &count all their moles warts & pimples. Such was the clearness of his sight, when this transparent stone was placed before his eyes. He looked fiercely & steadfastly on the stone & raised his prophetic voice.
Claim: Both works are about an ancient white race
Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript
Claim: Both works refer to a group that traveled across the ocean in a boat
Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript
One day he says to me Fabius you must go to Britain & carry an important - - - - to the general of our army there - - - - sail in a vessel & return when she returns. Preparation was made instantly and we sailed - - - The vessel laden with provisions for the army - - - Cloath -- knives and other impliments for their use had now arrived near the coasts of Britain when a tremendous storm arose & drove us into the midst of the boundless Ocean. Soon the whole crew became lost & bewildered. They knew not the direction to the rising Sun or polar Star, for the heavens were covered with clouds; & darkness had spread her sable mantle over the face of the raging deep.
Comparison against the Book of Mormon
Claim: Both works refer to ocean travelers running into a storm which subsided because of their prayers
Excerpts from the Spalding manuscript
Their minds were filled with consternation and despair. & unanimously agreed that What could we do? How be extricated from the insatiable jaws of a watery tomb? Then it was that we felt our absolute dependence on that Almighty & gracious Being who holds the winds & floods in - - - hands. From him alone could we expect deliverance. To him our most fervent desires assended. Prostrate & on bended nees we poured forth incessant Supplication & even Old Ocean appeared to sympathize in our distress by returning the echo of our vociferos cries & lamentations. After being driven five days with incridable velocity before the furious wind the storm abated in its violence. but still the wind blew strong in the strong as I now believe in the same direction. Doubtful whether the wind had not changed her point we gave the ship full sail & let her drive. On the sixth day after, the storm wholly subsided, the sun rose clear and the heavens once more appeared to smile.
Comparison against the Book of Mormon