Bokovoy, colophons and superscripts, in testaments. The book of mormon for the least of these will change the way you read the book of mormon, providing a profound and more reflective view of the events, teachings, and characters in the book than is traditional, and also offering a perspective on the book s principles of social justice that is missing in most book of mormon commentaries. The book of mormon also contains work written by more than one author. The book of mormon for the least of these, volume 1 kindle edition by salleh, fatimah, olsen hemming, margaret.
Im not a mormon and i believe the bom sprang from the mind of joseph smith, but i have no sympathy for proponents of the spaldingrigdon theory because it is such a weak, poorlybuttressed alternative explanation. Chiasmus in the book of mormon religious studies center. The book of mormon was written for the intent that we may believe the bible, morm. In recent years the book of mormon has been compared to pseudobiblical texts like gilbert j. Theories of multiple authors posit collaboration with others to produce the book of mormon, generally citing book of mormon scribe oliver cowdrey or sidney rigdon as potential coauthors. Links between the book of mormon and the hebrew bible toelle, ut. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship wikipedia.
The other nine books are attributed to two authors. Explore the book of mormon with the maxwell institute. A closer look, nearly sixteen years ago, his ideas in regard to book of mormon structure, content, and authorship have received widespread notice both within and without the latter day saint community. However, in book of mormon authors, roger keller shows that there is still valuable work to be done. Forest born by shannon hale, river secrets by shannon hale, enna burning by shannon hale, the goose girl by shannon hale. In 1989 vernal holley of roy, utah, issued a revised and enlarged second edition of book of mormon authorship. The writers mostly lds contend that the book of mormon looks more like a 19th century work of inspired fiction than like a genuine ancient document. For the 24 book of mormon authors included in the analysis, see larsen, rencher, and layton, who wrote the book of mormon. These writers use chiasms in practically every possible context, from passages of straight narration or argumentation to others of beautiful poetic eloquence.
Mormon heavenly mother featured in deseret book bestseller. It concluded that our analysis supports the theory that the book of mormon was written by multiple, nineteenthcentury. Sorenson, a retired professor of anthropology at byu, and the author of an ancient american setting for the book of mormon and a series of articles on book of mormon geography that ran in the ensign magazine in september and october 1984. In antiquity, one scholar explained, the beginning andor the end of a literary text was often marked by colophons. The book of mormon is one of the boldest hoaxes of all time. What can stylometry tell us about book of mormon authorship.
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. Find thousands of lds books, movies, music and more. It contains prophecies about the last days, and it presents a history that in many ways is similar to our own. The claim is also made that smith was aided in the creation of the book of mormon by one or more coauthors, such. Both rigdon and cowdery had more formal education than smith. When a distant cousin of one of the three founders of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints lds co authors a book with two other prominent scholars proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that. The statistical study of book of mormon texts is a welltraveled road in book of mormon scholarship. The book of mormon recounts the story of small israelite groups led by lehi and mulek who were brought by the hand of the lord from ancient jerusalem to the american continent approximately 600 bc. Title page of book of mormon, circa early june 1829, page 2.
Wordprint studies of the book of mormon fairmormon. Cleverly designed in the same fun spirit as the show, this official, fullcolor. What influences led to the development of grant palmers golden pot theory of book of mormon origin. Critical theories that sidney rigdon was a book of mormon author or co conspirator summary. A readers guide, have attempted to move the discussion away from polemics to an appreciation for the books. Gutjahr employs his sheer intellectual curiosity to produce a lively, enlightening. And he shows how each of these doctrines was included in the book of mormon specifically for our day. The first gathering of the book of mormon, including this preface, was likely printed by mid. The complete book and lyrics of the broadway musical is a wonderful companion to the must have broadway cast album cd. The various books within the book of mormon differ from each other in historical background, style, and distinctive characteristics, yet are accurate. But the printers manuscript which was used to typeset the book of mormon is almost completely intact. The second coming of jesus religious studies center. Book of mormon authorship the encyclopedia of mormonism. Jan 29, 2015 im not a mormon and i believe the bom sprang from the mind of joseph smith, but i have no sympathy for proponents of the spaldingrigdon theory because it is such a weak, poorlybuttressed alternative explanation.
Jun 07, 2011 the only official companion book to the tony award winner for best musical from the creators of south park and the co creator of avenue q. May 27, 2010 the person most often associated with this theory is john l. Explorations in critical methodology by brent metcalfe. Andersons appealing adaptation is titled easytoread book of mormon estes book co. The book of mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, ether 5. Mormon words of mormon through book of mormon 7 and his son moroni book of. What are the pros and cons of the spauldingrigdon theory. Prophets who taught of christ were called from among this people for over a. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone first staged in 2011, the play is a satirical examination of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints beliefs and practices that ultimately endorses the positive power of love and service.
The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. Conversations between a devoted conservative and a diehard liberal. Six criteria can demonstrate the presence of similarity or distinctiveness amon. Phil neisser state university of new york, potsdam that was featured on nprs this american life. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship. Some have found strong linguistic correspondence and declared that there is an authorial relationship. The theory first appeared in print in the book mormonism unvailed sic, published in 1834 by e. Previous studies have shown that the book of mormon contains multiple. The book of mormon for the least of these, volume 1.
A biography is very readable and portrays the mormon position well. Popular mormon fiction books meet your next favorite book. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. A comprehensive study of the similarities between the book of mormon and the writings of solomon spaulding. Jss history stated that the title page was taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated. The book of mormon pokes fun at the confidence anyone might harbor in a literal interpretation of a genesis. These famous mormon authors have incredible writing abilities. The title page of his interesting little booklet says that it is. An analysis of wordprints, book of mormon authorship, 181. An understanding of chiasmus will also greatly enhance interpretation of book of mormon scriptures. Detractors, on the other hand, assume the book of mormon to be. Smith gave at that conference 107 years ago could apply equally to current disputes over book of mormon geography. Most mormons give the spaldingrigdon theory little credence, believing that it has, as asserted by the maxwell institute, fallen on hard times. This book really changed my views about the book of mormon.
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, are attributed to ancient israelite authors who refer to themselves by name. First staged in 2011, the play is a satirical examination of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints beliefs and practices that ultimately endorses the positive power of love and service. The only official companion book to the tony award winner for best musical from the creators of south park and the co creator of avenue q. Oct 31, 2012 some mormon scholars, like grant hardy, who wrote understanding the book of mormon. Preface to book of mormon, circa august 1829, page iv. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone. Vernal holleys book of mormon authorship annotated. The book of mormon for the least of these, volume 1 kindle. The script, lyrics, and music were written by trey parker, robert lopez.
The writings or speeches of jesus christ, isaiah, captain moroni, and zenos, for example, all add significantly to. See book of mormon central, how was a void in leadership dangerous for the nephites. The book of mormon narrative claims egyptian ties, 102 probably quite similar to the mercantilistic connections of the greeks in egypt. 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. The claim is also made that smith was aided in the creation of the book of mormon by one or more co authors, such as sidney rigdon or oliver cowdery. Some writers argue that it isnt important for the book of mormon to be historical. She is the founder of joseph smiths legacy and the producer or director of six documentary films. Robin scott jensen co edited the printers manuscript for the joseph smith papers project. At first glance this name looks like it might be jaredite in origin, because it begins with an otherwise exclusively jaredite name element, kish. We carry a variety of book of mormon books, from 1830 heritage editions to journals and study guides. Beginning with the pioneering work of hugh nibley,1 scholars have noticed that the book of mormon contains what are called colophons from the greek word kolofon, meaning summit, top, or finishing. Is it possible that a single author wrote the book of mormon. Trey parker, matt stone and robert lopez, writers of the book of mormon.
Full of interesting info, pictures, dialogue and lyrics the book of mormon. Jacob later co authored a book on liberalconservative dialogue with dr. In addition to directing joseph smith foundation projects for over a decade, she is often invited to speak on various radio and video programs. To explain this booknow published in 150 million copies in 110 languagesgutjahr recounts the life of joseph smith, whose status as the prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints rests upon his claim that he translated the book of mormon from ancient gold plates delivered to him by an angel. The 19th century writers included sidney rigdon, solomon spaulding, joseph smith, w. Some mormon scholars, like grant hardy, who wrote understanding the book of mormon. Conflicting results of computer analyses of the book of mormon. This may indicate that the title page was recorded as the last page of the plates that constituted the book of mormon. The book of mormon is actually a collection of histories passed down from one writer to another. Explorations in critical methodology, edited by brent lee metcalf. Aug 25, 2016 this phrase appears only three times in the book of mormon. He is also titular head of the spalding research associates. Trey parker, matt stone and robert lopez, writers of the.
While smith continued to produce religious texts, the book of mormon remained his most creative, ambitious work in scope and originality. Eric johnson, christian research journal paul gutjahr has written the perfect book on the book of mormon. Explore the book of mormon with the maxwell institute podcast. This blog was launched after a group of friends started an informal mindfulness and mormons discussion group in 2009. The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of mormon was plagiarized in part from an unpublished manuscript written by solomon spalding. Most of the original manuscript of the book of mormon was tragically destroyed by the elements long ago. The solomon spalding manuscript 1812 by solomon spalding this unpublished manuscript was a work of fiction created by a retired minister, solomon spalding who died in 1816 before being able to publish his work. However, comparative linguistic studies performed to date h.
In golden answers, john bytheway addresses the book of mormons fundamental doctrines such as the fortunate fall, the nogaps atonement, exposing the enemies of christ, and gathering the scattered. From fantasy, to romance, these writers have done it all. In golden answers, john bytheway addresses the book of mormon s fundamental doctrines such as the fortunate fall, the nogaps atonement, exposing the enemies of christ, and gathering the scattered. Ancient israelite authors often used a rare word or phrase like this from an earlier story as a way of alluding back to the previous story. David persuitte highlights a revelation of smiths from march 1829, that apparently limited smiths power to translation. Who really wrote the book of mormon part 1 youtube. Since the appearance of holleys first edition of book of mormon authorship. The doctrine of the second coming of jesus christ is clarified by the book of mormon.
The advent of the computer and the internet allows joseph smith as the author of the book of mormon to be compared to other authors and their books in ways essentially impossible even a couple of decades ago. As a co author of the 1977 work who really wrote the book of mormon. As early as 1831, eber howe, in his antimormon book mormonism unvailed. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Many concepts from the book of mormon are present in this book notably 2000 stripling warriors, a liahonalike description of a metal device, the freeman movement, rod of iron, standard of liberty, brass plates, cataclysmic earthquakes followed by great darkness, chiasmus, and many, many more. Chiasms may appear anywhere in the book of mormon, although they primarily typify the style of only three of the numerous authorsnephi, benjamin, and alma the younger.
The book of mormon clarifies, confirms, and expands the truths we learn from the holy bible. The book of mormon clarifies the doctrine of the second coming in at least four ways. A readers guide, have attempted to move the discussion away from polemics to an appreciation for the book s. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of mormon for the least of these, volume 1. The biggest broadway hit in decadesthe brilliant brainchild of south park creators trey parker and matt stone, and avenue q co creator robert lopezthe book of mormon is delighting theatergoers nightly with its outrageous irreverent humor and surprising heart.
The spalding enigma part 1 did an angel of god in the late 1820s really give 18yearold con artist joseph smith the mormon bible, as he claimed. Many items in the book of mormon that critics had previously claimed as impossible or anachronistic in ancient native america have since been shown to have existed for some examples, see matthew ropers article right on target. Shes not a fragile wallflower, but a goddess in might and dignity. Davis has made numerous public lecture and media appearances on the subject. A study of colophons, headers, and source indicators, journal of book of mormon studies 2, no. The book of mormon geography conference was held at brigham young academy on may 2324, 1903. Docket on back of sheet in unidentified handwriting. Among other reasons, these authors were chosen because they are.
The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. If the ancient authors of the book of mormon consciously set particular elements parallel to each other, then these elements must be considered together in order. Critics who wish to reject josephs account of the book of mormons production must therefore identify multiple authors for the text, and then explain how joseph acquired it and managed to pass it off as his own. The book is entitled, youre not as crazy as i thought but youre still wrong. Sep 11, 2008 turley and his co authors confirm the storys basic framework. Although i originally purchased this book thinking it was the vocal score, i am still happy to place it into my music book library. The first author was the prophet nephi, who left jerusalem with. Charting the book of mormon, 1999 welch, welch, farms omni 1. Typical of attempts to discredit the authenticity of the book of mormon are an as yet unpublished manuscript recently sent to the author by a professional journal for evaluation and an earlier work by hal hougey entitled the truth about the lehi treeoflife stone. What are the pros and cons of the spauldingrigdon theory of. In other words, joseph smith recited the book of mormon when he was in his mid twenties, but many other authors of similar age and younger. Features the complete script and song lyrics, with 4color spot illustrations throughout, an original introduction by the creators, and a foreword by mark harris.