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.
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon authorship?
- Question: Is the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon authorship credible?
- Question: What do most critics think of the Spalding theory of Book of Mormon origin?
- Edward E. Plowman, Christianity Today: "Mormon archivists have assembled a large amount of evidence -- some of it impressive -- to rebut the Spalding theory"
- Gospel Topics: "Similarities between his manuscript and the Book of Mormon are general and superficial"
- Sidney Rigdon: "in all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but one story"
- Question: Did Solomon Spaulding's doctor state that Spaulding talked to him about the Nephites in his manuscript?
- Eber D. Howe: "I could better believe that Spaulding wrote it than that Joe Smith saw an angel"
- William Smith (1884): "It was not written from the Spaulding Romance. That story is false"
- Roper: "Subsequent variants of this hypothesis have been published from time to time"
- Question: Did Joseph Smith know Sidney Rigdon prior to 1830?
- Critical theories that Sidney Rigdon was a Book of Mormon author or co-conspirator
Early reactions to the Book of Mormon
Summary: The Book of Mormon was met by a storm of criticism from early critics. This page archives examples of these early responses.The Hurlbut Spalding affidavits
Summary: Joseph's neighbors claimed that Joseph had copied the Spalding manuscriptVernal Holley map—Book of Mormon place names from North America?
Summary: Common place names in the region around New York used as Book of Mormon names?To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]
Notes