The  Book  of  Mormon
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Editor Burlington Times:

Apropos of a lecture recently delivered in Burlington, it may be interesting to your readers to have somebody answer two questions: First, What ever became of the "Lost Tribes of Israel?" Second, What was the origin of the Book of Mormon?

As to the first question: It is now definitely known that the ten tribes of Israel were never "lost" in any proper sense. They remained in Babylon after the captivity, and thence migrated in the centuries following to various countries. No doubt many of their descendants were among that crowd which gathered at Pentecost after the death and ascension of our Lord -- "Parthians, and Medes and Elamites" etc. It is certain that many thousands of them were forced at the point of a sword to accept Mohammedanism. It is now admitted by most learned Jews as well as Gentiles, that the theory which is still advanced from time to time that the American Indians are the descendants of those tribes, is without foundation in fact. That theory at present is being kept alive by the Mormons in order to provide a plausible ground for [urging] the acceptance of the Book of Mormon as a revelation supplementary to that contained in the Bible.

What was the origin of the Book of Mormon?

About 1812 an invalid minister of the Congregational Church, Rev. Solomon Spaulding, was in business at Salem, now Conneaut, O. He occupied his leisure hours in composing a romance, written in Biblical phraseology, suggested by the discovery of Indian relics in a mound near his house. This work he entitled "The Lost Manuscript Found." It purported to be the record of the wonderings and afflictions of a portion of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, who, it was claimed, came over to America about 600 B. C., and set up a kingdom. In the course of events a rebellion ensued, and from the rebellious and successful party it is claimed that the American Indians are descended. The book related that among the relics of that ancient Hebrew kingdom were found "some golden plates covered by heiroglyphical writing," of which the "Manuscript Found" was alleged to be a translation. Spaulding tried to induce a Mr. Patterson, a Pittsburgh printer, to publish his book, but unsuccessfully. During a period of some months, while the Mss. was in the office, Sidney Rigdon, who afterwards became prominent, first as a preacher in the Campbellite (or Disciples) church, and later joined Joseph Smith, Jr., in establishing Mormonism, was a printer in the office. It is believed by Spaulding's family, and by all others who know the facts, that Rigdon copied Spaulding's Mss. Before the Book of Mormon appeared, and before Joseph Smith announced himself a prophet of the Lord, Rigdon was known to be inpossession of a Mss., which he studied constantly, and was in the habit of declaring that the times were ripe for the appearance of a new religion. When the first Mormon elders appeared in Ohio, Rigdon was pastor of a Campbellite church at Kirtland. He first opposed the new doctrine, and engaged in a public debate with the Mormons. A few days later he announced his conversion to the [new] faith and his congregation followed him. Shortly afterward we find him actively engaged with Smith in establishing the new church. He was eventually expelled from the Mormon body -- it is believed because he knew too much about the origin of the Book of Mormon. When that book appeared many people were still living who had heard Spaulding read portions of his romance to his family and neighbors, and they were struck by the resemblance in sytle and contents between the Book of Mormon and the unpublished romance of their old friend. Mrs. Ellen E. Dickinson, a grand neice of Spaulding, published a book entitled "New Light on Mormonism," giving an account of her uncle's romance, and in connection therewith the statements of her aunt, Spaulding's widow; of her daughter, of his business partner; of his brother, John Spaulding; of Thurlow Weed, to whom Joseph Smith first applied to have his "Book of Mormon" printed; of the printer who set up the types and printed the first edition of the book; and of sundry others, all well adapted to render cautious people a little indisposed to surrender their church connections and join the church established by Joseph Smith, Jr., in 1830.

The statements of Spaulding's relatives and neighbors agree as to the resemblance in style and contents of the Book of Mormon to the unpublished work of the invalid minister. In addition there is evidence that one D. P. Hurlbut, then associated with the Mormons, who had even then adoped the name of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," obtained a Mss. from Spaulding's widow, professing a desire to compare it with the Book of Mormon, and promising to return it promptly. He never did; and for this fact we have his own admission that he did procure a Mss. from her, which he alleges was intrusted to one Howe, in whose office it was burned when the building burned. Shortly after securing possession of the Spaulding Mss. Hurlbut bought a good farm. Later he forsook Mormonism. If the belief of the Spauldings, that the Book of Mormon was either copied or plagiarized in substance from "The Lost Manuscript Found" is true, we can well see what a motive the Mormons would have to get possession of it and destroy it, and how willing the conspirators would be to pay anybody who could secure the original Spaulding Mss. It is believed that through Hurlbut they archieved their desire.

But for any intelligent person, no further evidence is needed to convince one that the Book of Mormon is not a divine revelation than the first edition of the book itself. It was published "for the author" by E. B. Grandin, of Palmyra, New York, in 1830. Joseph Smith's name appears in the title page (of which we have a facsimile in Kennedy's "Early Days of Mormonism") as "author and proprietor." It is noteworthy that there are no Mormons at Palmyra, where the Smiths were best known, and but one sermon was ever delivered there, which was the last. J. H. Gilbert, the printer, testified that the Mss. brought to them was so full of errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation that they were compelled against the protests at first of those who brought the copy, to make many corrections. This is to say the least, suspicious. Would the Lord inspire a prophet to mispell words, to butcher the King's English and to mispunctuate sentences? An error in grammar appears on the title page of that work, as follows: "I make a record of my proceedings in my days; yea, I make a record in the language in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians," and it is decidedly bad grammar to say, "I know that the record which I make to be true." Good grammar is not a characteristic of the published utterances of the Mormon prophet.

All the evidence available shows fraud, deceit, and unscrupulous imposition on the part of Joseph Smith, Jr., the false prophet, and his accomplices in the great fraud, and boundless credulity on the part of his thousands of dupes. Yet the Mormons now number in their several sects, Strangites, Josephites and Brighamites -- the latter being the largest of all -- more than half a million members. They are winning, even in Alamance county, more converts among the ignorant members of our churches than our churches are winning from the world of the ungodly. They have established congregations at Haw River and Burlington -- the latter holding its meetings in a home on Fisher street -- and would have by this time been building a church here but for the failure of the Alamance Real Estate company. Some years ago a elder and his wife were working at Lakeside Mill. That such a work should have gained large headway argues singular blindness and inertia on the part of some amongst us.

Wm. P. McCorkle.        

Note: The following excerpts were taken from a biographical sketch posted at www.lexisnexis.com: "William Parsons McCorkle (1855-1933), clergyman and religious writer, was born in Talladega, Alabama... a native of Rockbridge County, Virginia... A Presbyterian minister, he preached widely in Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama and helped to found a synodical college for women in Talladega (later the Presbyterian Collegiate Institute and Isabell College)... In 1876, he was licensed to preach by the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and five years later was ordained.... [in] North Carolina in 1888, he became a minister of the Presbyterian church and remained so until his death. After a brief pastorate in a rural church near Charlotte (1888-1889), McCorkle served churches in High Point, Jamestown, and Lexington (1889-1891), Shelby (1891-1896), Graham (1896-1901), Savannah, Georgia (1901-1907), Martinsville, Virginia (1908-1919), and Burlington, North Carolina (1920-1921). From 1921 until his death, he served several churches of the Orange Presbytery in the Burlington area... His interest in the relationship of Christianity to science and the modern world led him to publish one book, Christian Science; or, the False Christ of 1866, and a host of articles in church publications.... McCorkle wrote frequent articles expressing his views in newspapers in Charlotte, Greensboro, and other Piedmont cities... he also was active in mustering the support of Presbyterians for the Poole bill, introduced by Representative D. Scott Poole in 1926 to prohibit the teaching of evolution in the state's schools."

Open  Forum

MORE  ABOUT  THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON
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Editor Burlington Times:

When a Mormon elder, replying to my last article, said "it is not our purpose to entire a controversy over religion," etc., he was for all that, entering into controversy for a double purpose. The first was, to get his account of the Book of Mormon before the people of Burlington, and the second was to discourage the editor from publishing any more "attacks" on Mormonism. Permit me to add to my former statements --

1. That I have not said that the Book of Mormon was copied closely from the work of Spaulding. It may have been a shrewd imitation -- a translation, not from the "Reformed Egyptian," as claimed by Smith, but from the plain English of Spaulding into the awkward counterfeit scriptures of Joseph Smith, Jr. For such an imitation the literary gifts of Rigdon and the prolific imagination of Smith were, jointly and severally, quite sufficient. As to the writing referred to by President Fairchild as being in the Oberlin library in 1885, we have a statement made that same year by Rev. W. H. Rice, of Addison, N. Y., in regard to the same Ms., which was once owned by his father, long resident in Honolulu, to the effect that while "similar in style," it was not "identical" with the Book of Mormon in any part. Absolute identity between the Mormon classic and any writing of Spaulding has never been claimed. But there is ample evidence that Spaulding left several other Mss. besides the one referred to so triumphantly by Mr. Merrill. Nor was that Ms. the one which Hurlbut confessed he had obtained from Spaulding's widow, and did not return to her as he had promised. He is on record as confessing that he was at the time of his mission to Spaulding's widow, a Mormon; that he was sent by them to get the Ms. of "The Lost Manuscript Found, or the Lost Tribes;" and that he believed that Spaulding did write a story from which the Book of Mormon was composed. In addition to that of of sundry other witnesses, we have on record the testimony of John Spaulding, brother of Solomon, who was familiar with his brother's romance. He and a number of others, and among them Solomon's daughter, noticed especially the proper names, "Mormon, Moroni, Lamenite and Nephi," etc., which his brother had invented, and which reappeared in the Mormon "Golden Bible." He "burst into tears" when lamenting that his brother's historical romance had been made the basis of a religious imposture. Spaulding's grand-neice also relates that he uncle once "laughingly remarked to Nathan Howard, a neighbor, that probably a century from that time his account of the early inhabitants of America would be accepted as veritable history." It is mow -- by a deluded sect.

2. That Mr. Merrill's argument confirms my statement as to the fact that the Book of Mormon, like the "Lost Manuscript Found," undertakes to account for the origin of the American Indians. This is significant: the two books were at least in part somewhat on the same line. Again, the priority of the Spaulding work is admitted by everybody. These corroborate the contention of the Spaulding family and their neighbors of a century gone.

As to the extent of the alleged imitation, Mormon prophets have never been accused of lacking natural shrewdness. A sensible man, even if wicked, will not allow his plagiarism to be too patent. Such wisdom accords with that shown by Joseph Smith, Jr., and by his successor, Brigham Young, in the matter of performing miracles. They were commendably prudent. Smith wisely declined to raise John Morse, an old "Saint," from the dead. "I will let him rest," he said: "he is old, and if I raise him from the dead, he will soon die again." So also Brigham Young was shrewd when requested by a one-legged man to restore his lost leg. "I will," said Brigham in effect, "provided you are willing to take the consequences. If I give you a new leg, then at the resurrection, that, together with the one you lost, will be raised and be attached to your body, and so you will have three legs to all eternity." But, of course, the elders stoutly deny all these stories, as also everything that conflicts with the Mormon claim that they and they alone will possess the earth in the latter days.

3. Sidney Rigdon was not the author of the Book of Mormon; Joseph Smith, Jr., with Sidney's approval being witness. Smith published himself as author in the first edition, to which I have referred. It is in evidence that Rigdon had an opportunity to copy Spaulding's work: that he did possess, long before the appearance of the Book of Mormon, a Ms., which he declared "would be a great thing some day;" that he is known to have prepared the way for Smith at Kirtland, by first weakly opposing the new gospel, and then suddenly accepting it and leading his whole flock into the Mormon fold. He was finally expelled from the Mormon church but he remembered the warning of Brigham Young, and took care not to betray their secrets. There were "Danites" even then, which may also account for the steadfastness of some witnesses. However, when Joseph Smith was murdered, he died heroically, but he did not rise from the dead. Jesus did, and "showed himself alive after his passion" to hundreds of witnesses. His gospel suffices us.

4. We are told that "from lack of information" Mr. McCorkle "ridicules the Book of Mormon because the name of Joseph Smith appears on the title page" of the first edition as "author and proprietor," and this, it is said, "was necessary because of the laws of New York required that the publisher's name should be given." Possibly, but no law of New York ever required a man to announce himself as the "author and proprietor" of a book when his claim was simply that he was the discoverer and translator, or even publisher of it. But in fact no publisher is named as such on that title page. At the bottom we read, "Palmyra: Printed for the author by E. B. Grandin, 1830." We may say that Smith published it, but many books are printed by publishers in the same way. The formula means simply that the publishers take no risk in the matter. It was a native [sic - naive?] confession of truth when Smith put his name as "author" on that title page, rather than as translator. It is also plain that the publication was a financial speculation on the part of Smith. Hence his pains to put his name on that page as "proprietor." It did, indeed mark a favorable turning-point in the fortunes of the Smiths, but it spelt disaster for Martin Harris, the ignorant dupe who mortgaged his farm and separated from his wife in order to furnish the funds for the printing bill. The loss of that farm to its owner, and his separation from his wife, were the first fruits of Mormonism.

Flattering appeal is made by my ctitic to the poverty and ignorance of our plain people, and a plea for silence on the part of evangelical Christians as to the false claims of Mormonism. What a compliment he, like Mother Eddy, pays to those who are so ready to accept a new gospel. He makes them specially good subjects to work on. Undoubtedly this is true. But while poverty does not make a man gullible, ignorance always does. If ignorance be a man's best preparation for accepting a new creed, the reason must lie in the inherant improbability of its claims or doctrines.... We do not believe that Mormons and they alone shall reign with Christ at last, and that all who refuse to obey their gospel shall be damned. In view of such pretensions we decline to be silent. This especially as Mormonism, though cruelly persecuted at first, has so amply revenged itself, and does not now come to use with clean hands.

Wm. P. McCorkle.        

Note: LDS Elder Merrill's first reply, as alluded to above by Rev McCortle, presumably appeared in the Daily Times of June 30, 1830. No copy of his letter has yet been located for transcription.

Open  Forum

THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON  AGAIN

To the Editor of The Daily Times:

Articles have appeared in the Times recently, written by a local minister, Rev. McCorkle, in which he attempts to explain the origin of the Book of Mormon, and in which he slanders the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Whenever intelligent people desire information concerning a subject they turn to a reliable source of information, and we hope we can give that information concerning the Book of Mormon....

As the scriptural part of the Book of Mormon is in exact harmony with the teachings of the Bible, so the historical accounts the book gives, are being vindicated by archaeological discoveries in Mexico and South America. Ruins of ancient cities and buildings have been discovered evidencing that their builders were far advanced in the arts of civilization, just as the Book of Mormon records.

The early Catholic missionaries who followed in the footsteps of Columbus and other explorers of the New World, found that the Indians had a knowledge of the Crucifixion of the Savior, of His Resurrection, of the doctrine of the Atonement, and other teachings of the Bible, and attempted to explain the mystery in the following ways. First that the Apostle Thomas visited the New World, and second, that the Devil has set up a counterfeit system of religion to deceive the people. Both of these theories are false, however, the true explanation being given in the Book of Mormon...

Still there are those who deny the power of God and try to overthrow His work, and advance theories in an effort to persuade men to ignore the Book of Mormon. In any large library are several books written by men who profess to be ministers of the Gospel in which the false statements and puerile conclusions are drawn concerning Mormonism, a type of which have appeared in The Times above the name of Mr. McCorkle...

It is not necessary to refute the charges Rev. McCorkle made against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; they refute themselves, but in passing we might state that the Spaulding manuscript theory concerning the origin of the Book of Mormon is no longer advanced against the book by those who understand the facts, for the following reasons:

First: The Spaulding manuscript has been recovered after a loss of about 70 years, and unbiased men find no resemblance between it and the Book of Mormon.

Second: Sidney Rigdon, who was supposed to be a co-plotter with Joseph Smith, gave his testimony on his death bed, at a time when a man fears God and not man, that he never knew anything concerning the Book of Mormon until it was handed to him, a number of months after it was first published. Sidney Rigdon was a member of the councils of the Church but later drifted away, and became antagonistic to it, yet he always bore an unswerving testimony of the Divine origin of the Book of Mormon...

The [LDS] church does not have a single salaried minister. "The Glory of God is intelligence" and "a man can be saved no faster than he gains knowledge" are Mormon maxims. Intelligence, purity, cleanliness and fear of God are not the fruits of fraud or deceit. We close with a proverb from the Book of Mormon: "Fools mock but they shall mourn."

Eugene H. Merrill,        
N. C. Dist. President.        

Notes: (forthcoming)

Open  Forum

CONFLICTING  TESTIMONY

To the Editor of the Times.

The polite epithets applied, by Mr. Merrill to the evangelical ministries and churches are amusing. We are "puerile," not "enlightened," not "reliable," not even "intelligent," but are in fact guilty of "slanders," and are "fools" who "mock, but shall mourn." Doubtless his pious soul is weeping for us all in secret places. But his last quoted earning shows that the Mormon gospel comes to all non-Mormons with a stern command, "Believe this or be damned." It is the Mormon version of the old evangelism, with its refrain "Turn or burn." That, however, was taken altogether from the Word, and Mormonism teaches much that is additional to the "faith once for all delivered to the saints."

Mr. Merrill grows almost eloquent over the Book of Mormon, and his heat is equal to the July weather. But he does not deny his faith that the Mormon church shall eventually possess the earth and rull all mankind. Just now it rules Utah, and holds the balance of political power in several other states. The zeal and earnestness and self sacrifice of Mormon missionaries are not gainsaid. Their spirit is worthy of a better cause. Yet there is another side to the question. Paul on his missionary tours worked at a trade to eke out his living, and was in part sustained by his brethren left behind him. Mormon missionaries rely upon the hospitality of the people whom they would prejudice against their own churches. They who'd persuade all that unless they accept the new gospel, notwithstanding Paul's warning, "Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, let him be accursed," they will be damned without remedy....

Our Mormon apologist goes into the field of archaeology. But his facts do not prove the inspiration of the Book of Mormon. That Cortez and Pizarro found an old civilization of a high order in Mexico and South America some hundreds of years before the days of Spaulding and Joe Smith, is known to all well-informed people. No Mormon revelation was needed to assure them of that fact....

As to the Spaulding manuscript our apologist uses the old device of the lawyer who had a bad case. In the absence of evidence, he repeats his former assertions. No amount of evidence that a Spaulding manuscript is in existence, and is found not to be identical with the Book of Mormon in its contents can disprove the positive testimony of sundry witnesses who, having become familar with Spaulding's last work, "The Lost Manuscript Found, or the Lost Tribes of Israel," found that the Book of Mormon contained not only the same names invented by Spaulding, but much of the same historical matter. Absolute identity was never asserted by the Spaulding party, but resemblance in style, and substance strong enough to suggest imitation or plagiarism. Henry Lake, Spaulding's former partner, for instance, procured a copy of the Book of Mormon, and was astounded at the similarity between the book and the work of his old fiends. Nor can this fact be gainsaid that Mormons sent Hurlbut to procure the original "Lost Manuscript Found" from Spaulding's widow. For that wehave his own admission. Such facts are enough to give any man ground for caution in listening to the persuasive eloquence of Mormon proselyters.

As to Sidney Rigdon, well known to have been a visionary and an erratic genius unreliable in his statements, the evidence of his brother, Dr. L. Rigdon, of Hamilton, O. in a letter to the Baptist Witness of March 1, 1875, is sufficient to break the force of his testimony, living or dying. Referring to an accident which Sidney suffered, and which caused confusion of the brain, Dr. Rigdon says, that the injury to his brother's brain "ever afterwards seriously affected his character and in some respects his conduct." Of the wicked we are told, "there are no bands in their death," and that the ruling passion of fanatics and of insane people should be strong in death, is not to be wondered at.

The Mormon accounts of the fate of the alleged golden plates is illuminating and to any thoughtful soul, quite conclusive. The angel Moroni who has been in hiding ever since, took back the plates and hid them away until the time shall come when they are again to be resurrected. To be sure. He was a wise angel -- just such an one as Joe Smith could create in his own imagination. It was wise in Moroni to hide those plates, rather than allow them to be inspected by our great Egyptologists, who would be able to decipher any ancient writings. And as to the witnesses, men testify that they have merely "hefted" a bundle of plates and turned the leaves are not qualified to testify to their genuineness or to the meaning of the inscriptions thereon. I suspect that any audable voice which assured the other three of the correctness of the "Prophet's" translation was not a divine voice. As to one of those witnesses, we know that a voice -- that of Prof. Charles Anthon, of Columbia college -- told him the writing was a humbug and had not meaning at all.... That Harris was after all persuaded to trust Smith but shows the "deceivableness of unrighteousness." "Be no more children, tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, etc., Eph. 4:15.

Wm. P. M'Corkle.        

Notes: (forthcoming)

Open  Forum

THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON
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To the Editor of The Times:

The several articles recently appearing in the Open Forum have been of interest to me because of the question involved.

The origin of the Book of Mormon seems to be the bone of contention. Both writers doubtless are in earnest and wish to accomplish some good: both citing some affidavits supporting their claims, also quoting some Scripture for teh same purpose. But do these clarify the matter, do the readers KNOW any more after reading the articles than before? Is not the proof of the pudding in the eating? What difference to us whether Smith and Rigdon created it or whether Spaulding fathered it? Its teachings are the important factor, the fruit it bears is the weightier matter. Do we question the authorship of teh first five books of the Bible, did not Moses write them? Yea, verily, we think so without investigation, but consider the evidence: How could Moses give a account of his own death and burial? How could Joshua do the same thing? Are these men really the authors of the books ascribed to them? Who is the author of the Epistle to the Romans, to the Hebrews? Who knows these facts beyond doubt? but mattereth it who wrote them, are not their teachings the main point?

It is claimed that Joseph Smith was unlearned and that he was of low mentality and that Rigdon had suffered an injury which affected his brain, but as with the evidence, what has this to do with the Book of Mormon?...

The idea that Joseph Smith saw an Angel is hooted at and made light of because he took the "golden book" and Smith could not show the "plates" as proof of his claim... It is again argued that several grammatical errors appeared in the early editions of the Book of Mormon and that it should be rejected as being spurious because of these errors. The same rule should apply in all cases where the same purposed [sic] is involved; so applying the same rule of the Gospel of St. John what do we find? In chapter 1 verse 1 and chapter 1 verse 15, we find that the present and past tense are employed relating to the same incident. Is this good grammar? Did God call John to butcher the king's English?

Verily, the words of Jesus are true in all ages of the world for men "gag at a gnat and swallow a camel." Where are we and to where are we going? Who shall we follow as leaders, and why? If there is ANYTHING virtuous, lovely or of good report, think on these things.

Respectfully submitted by

A. READER.              

Notes: (forthcoming)

Open  Forum

THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON
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To the Editor of The Times:

... In the year 1829, John the Baptist came to this earth as a resurrected personage, and laid his hands upon the heads of men: Peter, James and John came as three glorious personages and restored to mortal man the keys of the apostleship, and the authority necessary to organize the Church of Christ on earth. Thus did the messenger predicted by Malachi fulfill his mission and the kingdom of God spoken of by Daniel was set up on earth. The Church of Christ is again on earth, having the same officers, laws and enjoying the same spiritual gifts as existed in the meridian of time....

Lord Kingsborough and other authorities on ancient American history speak of the fragments of Christian teachings in Indian religious ceremonies, yet some people say that because they haven't heard about it, it isn't so. The Book of Mormon, American volume of scripture, explains the origin of these mythologies. But says objector, there are those who found a resemblance between the Book of Mormon and a certain Spaulding manuscript. Those who gave their affidavits to that effect had heard Spaulding read some of his manuscript and then 20 years later read the Book of Mormon, and remember the two were the same. Quite a case of memory, as as much as most of them were people with untrained minds. One who said he remembered the resemblance between the two was asked later concerning it, and admitted that he could remember no resemblance, but said he would rather believe that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon than that he saw an angel. So much for the remarkable memories of the 19th century.

The tablet of stone on which the Law of Moses was engraved was kept in the ark in the "holy of holies" amd only the high priest had the privilege of going there, and then only once a year. When Christ arose from the dead He did not show Himself openly but appeared to chosen witnesses, and instructed them to bear testimony to all nations. There is not a living person who has seen one of the original manuscripts of the Apostles. As in former ages, so in this age, the things of God are sacred and only revealed to a chosen few and not to the whole world. Yet men reject the Book of Mormon because the plates from which it was translated are not in a museum. Twelve men whose testimonies cannot be overthrown, saw the Book of Mromon plates, thus we have more witnesses to this than we have for the Bible.

Martin Harris, while the Book of Mormon was being translated, had an interview with Prof. Charles Anthon, concerning some of the characters copied from the plates. After the interview, Mr. Harris made preparation to obtain money to have the book published. His interview with Anthon was most likely favorable or he would not of financed the publication of the book. Two letters were later written by Anthon, who tried to deny the interview but, the inconsistencies between the two indicate that Mr. Harris' story must be true.

"Of their kind, the pick and flower of England" was Charles Dickins' description of a group of Mormon cemverts bound for America, and the fruits of their labors in turning a desert into a garden, indicate that those who accept Mormonism are not so degraded as some would have us believe.... It is hard to believe that the articles that have appeared in the Times for the purpose of defaming the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are written by a representative of Protestantism but more liekly by one who fits Shakespeare's description of a character with "sans heraring -- sans evertything."

Eugene H. Merrill,        
N. C. Dist. President.        

Notes: (forthcoming)

Open  Forum

"A READER"  REPLIES  TO
ARTICLE  ABOUT  HIM.

To the Editor of The Times:

The tendency of human kind to render excuse or offer alibis is not [-----] confined to any particular age or class, so Mr. McCortle is only following the beaten path when he finds a "pen name" an excuse for not commenting upon my previous article.

I stated very frankly in the first paragraph of that article why my interest in the discussion, so why try to show other motives?

It was not my intention to thrust myself into the controversy between the two gentlemen, but merely to express my views on the evidence employed and to try to show the value of such evidence by comparing it with similar evidence found in other accepted and highly prized literature which yteats of man's origin and destiny.

If the seeming "Pertinent points" in that article do not merit his comments without my signature, I am content to let the public draw its own inferences.

I have no desire whatever to enter into any argument or debate with anyone, but I do ask the privilege of expressing my views on any subject appearing in public periodicals and of using "pen name" if I deem it best to do so....

Again, I ask that if there is ANYTHING virtuous, lovely or praiseworthy to think on these things.

A. READER.        

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MORMON   QUIBBLES   ANSWERED.

To the Editor of The Times:

Will you kindly permit me to say, in reply to certain allegations of our Mormon apologist --

1. Did a Harvard professor really endorse the "philosophy of Mormonism? Small wonder, that. Has there been, these 50 years past, any heresy, scientific, theological, philosophical, or any other, but was sponsored by some Harvard professor? We all remember that a few years ago a Harvard professor startled the scientific world by announcing his conviction that man evolved from the lizard.

2. The statements of "Lord Kingsborough" or of any number of transient visitors to America cannot cancel the united testimony of [scores] of Protestant missionaries of life-long service, who found no distinctively Christian traditions among the Indians.

3. As to political conditions in Utah, the state was admitted into the Union by a Republican administration, after due dickering with Republican and Democratic politicians by the church authorities, and has been quite consistently Republican ever since. With 70 percent of its population pledged to obey the priesthood, and inured to accepting advice from the head of their church on all questions, religious, moral or civic, as being the will of God. Utah may and sometimes does elect a non-Mormon (or "Jack Mormon") to high office. Said Bishop Van Dyke at an evening service during a certain campaign, "We want you to feel absolutely free in your voting, but the will of the Lord has come to his peophet that we shall vote the Republican ticket. Who is there here who will be found fighting against God? Now, don't any of you think that the church has any idea of influencing you politically; I am just merely stating God's will." "I only had to wait," says the narrator, "a little while until God's will was fulfilled Eleven western states went Republican." To be sure.

4. As to morals, Mormonism still teaches polygamy as a human right, and has never yet acknowledged the constitutionality of our government's anti-polygamy laws. Even President (and prophet) Snow chose to "take his chances with the law."

5. Does the Book of Mormon "entice to do good?" If it did altogether, nevertheless, its danger lies in the fact that, like Mrs. Eddy's masterpiece, it is sent forth as a revelation of equal authority with the Bible, as being "the gospel of this age," But careful scrutiny shows one that, though purporting to have been written about 400 A. D., the latter parts of the book were composed to support the pretensions of Joseph Smith and the new priesthood which he founded. Its writers betray, not prophetic prescience, using language which oftentimes they did not understand, as was the case with the prophets of the Old Testament, but entire contemporary consciousness of 19th century conditions, and affirm just what Smith declared before he announced the delivery of the plates to him by Moroni. Again, large portions from the Psalms and from the Jewish prophets are quoted in the Book of Mormon, in particular a very large part of Isaiah, together with extracts from the Sermon on the Mount and many other passages from the New Testament. Now the peculiarity of these alleged quotations of the Bible by prophets who never saw an English Bible is this: that though alleged to have been independent translations by the power of God from the "reformed Egyptian" language -- no such language being known to Egyptologists -- there is not only general agreement, save in certain phrases evidently altered by an ignorant reviser, with King James' version, but whole verses and sections are given in the very words of our English Bible. If it be a translation, as alleged, of the Scriptures quoted from independent sources, this is the only instance known among all the many translations done of the Bible, in which such remarkable identity of verbage was achieved by two different translators ages apart. The conclusion of a reasoning mind is, that the "prophet Joseph Smith" had a Bible before him when pretending to dictate those portions to Cowdery, and was not translating but reading. Indeed, the conclusion is irresistable that at such times the curtain between the "seer, revelator and translator" was dispensed with, and that Cowdery copied as Smith directed. If in reply it be said that Smith was inspired to adopt King James' version, then that would make that version inspired, which was never claimed by its makers. That again shows the inconsistency of Smith in undertaking a new translation of the Bible for the "Saints."

6. The efforts to impeach the testimony of Dr. Anthon as to the warning he gave Martin Harris is futile. Dr. Anthon's two letters about the matter are still extant, and though dated seven years apart are in complete agreement with each other as to the facts. It is significant that all these three witnesses, who knew more about the origin of the Book of Mormon than anybodyelse besides Smith and Rigdon, died without retracting their testimony, [but] does not prove their testimony competent or conclusive, or even relevant to the question at issue. Both Rigdon and Harris at one time threatened to expose certain secrets of Mormonism. Harris was long afterwards hunted up by an agent of Brigham Young and furnished with money and spent his old age, well cared for, in Utah. In those days, when other means failed to subdue a recalcitrant "Saint," there were "Danites" ready to perform the sacred rite of "blood atonement." That meant cutting his throat over the grave in which he was to be buried, that his blood might pour into his last bed.

Wm. P. McCorkle.        

Notes: (forthcoming)

Open  Forum

THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON.
________

To the Editor of The Times.

... Rev. McCorkle tells us that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the receptical for the Priesthood of God, is a political organization and that it controls the vote of eleven western states. Aside from Utah, there are not more than 50.000 Mormon voters in the other western states, and yet the handful of people whom Brother McCorkle tells us "are ignorant dupes" control the political destinies of ten states. An Angel of God showed the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated to three witnesses. Last week Brother McCorkle told us that the witnesses were well cared for by the church, in a financial way, while some time ago he said one was expelled because he knew too much about the origin of the Book of Mormon. Brother McCorkle quotes D. P. Hurlburt as an authority on the Book of Mormon. Hurlbut had been excommunicated many months before his famous visits to secure the Spaulding Manuscript. Anyone acquainted with the history of the religion knows that the assertions of an apostate are not reliable, whether he be a Catholic, Methodist or Mormon. Hurlbut obtained the manuscript of Spaulding and finding no resemblance between it and the Book of Mormon did not bring it to light. This manuscript, with Hurlburt's signature on it, and the signatures of three witnesses to the genuineness of it, is now in the Oberlin College library. Brother McCorkle claims that Spaulding wrote other manuscripts. There is no reasonable proof of this. Brother McCorkle has stated that the Book of Mormon attempts to account for the "Lost Ten Tribes." That is false. Bother McCorkle tells us that the Book of Mormon, when [given] in manuscript to the printer was so full of errors in spelling and grammar and punctuation that they were compelled to make many corrections. The manuscript is in the Historian's Office in Salt Lake City and an examination of it shows that Brother McCorkle is mistaken....

But concerning Mormonism, that remarkable, living virile religious organization, should we believe the Savior and His prophets who foretold of its coming forth, and were responsible for it coming into existence, of William Jennings Bryan, Theodore Rooseveldt, Thomas Marshall, and other leaders who defended its doctrines and declared to its complete and thorough organization; or should we believe priestly hirelings who have misrepresented and lied about it?

Eugene H. Merrill,        
924 South 4th St.        
Louisville, Ky.        

Notes: (forthcoming)

Open  Forum

SOME  PECULIAR  DOCTRINES  OF  MORMONISM.

Editor Burlington Times.

The Mormon system is a new religion. Said Brigham Young, "Had not Joseph Smith a right to promulgate a different, a new religion? Every one must admit that he had." Of course, under our civil law every man has such a right; but such language proves that Young knew and admitted frankly that Mormonism was a new religion, different from Christianity. Yet, for all that, he affirmed that "we may know by revelation that Joseph Smith was called of God to establish His kingdom on earth." (Journal of Discourses, 14:209). Thus the Mormon fanatic put the word of his prophet, if not his own visions and dreams, above the Scripture, which warns us plainly against new gospels and extra-scriptural "revelations."

The uninformed are led to believe that the gospel taught by the "Saints" is much like ours, only affording greater joy and certainly because of the revelations for this age "give," as claimed, through Smith. But their doctrines are different. I mention only a few.

1. As to God, Mormons do not believe with us that God subsists in "three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost * * * these three, one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory." Professing faith in a Triune God, they ridicule the doctrine, and teach that there are many gods. Rigid literalists, they humanize God, affirming that both the Father and the Son are finite material beings, "personages" with "bodies, parts and passions" like our own, "about the size of a man," occupying but a few cobic feet of space each, under necessity of going up and down, here and there -- the very doctrine that Elijah ridiculed on Carmel. Their gods are mere supermen, with the exception of the Holy Spirit, whom they represent as an infinite mass of intelligent matter, and not a person. Our Savior is, we believe, in His humanity, "at the right hand of God," yet also, as He promised to be with His people everywhere and "always, even unto the end of the world," by virtue of His deity. "God is a spirit," He said: and John tells us, "No man hath seen God..."   (remainder of article under construction)

Wm. P. McCorkle.        

Notes: (forthcoming)

Open  Forum

REVELATION  FROM  GOD

Editor Daily Times.

Why should the Lord reveal His will to man now as in former ages? Why should He not visit men upon the earth and talk with them as he did with Abraham, Moses and others? Why does He not call men directly by His voice as He did Moses, Samuel and Paul? Why should he not send angels to deliver heavenly mesages to men now as He did to Gideon, Zacharias and Cornelius? ... In every age when the gospel has been upon the earth and tehre have been disinely authorized ministers on earth the gift of revelation has been enjoyed.

What right have men to say that this is no longer necessary? When ever a law that has always been enjoyed is to be changed, it must be done by divine authority. We challenge Brother McCorkle to bring forth the repeal law. It is not in the Bible and the Reverend declares that no more revelations should be received than is contained in the Bible...

Does the Bible clearly teach whether the Sabbath would be on Saturday or Sunday, if so then why all the confusion about the day to worship on if the Bible does not settle this question it is not a sufficient guide. Does the Bible clearly define the duties of a priest, point out the responsibilities of an elder, or tell us how much a preacher should be paid, or if he should be paid for preaching?

Brother McCorkle says that spiritual gifts no longer follow true believers, that they have been done away with, thus he is making the Savior a falsifier...

Brother McCorkle was misinformed again when he wrote that Sidney Rigdon acted as John the Baptist and came to the prophet Jos. Smith in Kirtland, and that Jos. Smith later admitted the fraud. John the Baptist did come [---- ---- ---- --] many months before Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon had ever seen each other and in the western part of New York state and not Kirtland, Ohio. John laid his hands upon the heads of Jos. Smith and his assistant Oliver Cowdry, and authorized them to baptize for the remission of sins, fulfilling the prediction of Malachi 3:1...

Brother McCorkle will no doubt continue his foolishness against Mormonism, as he seems to have lost the spirit of God, and Satan has invented other lies about this church, and is always glad to use agents to promulgate them.

Eugene H. Merrill,        
N. C. District President.        

Notes: (forthcoming)

Open  Forum

MORE  ABOUT  MORMON  FICTIONS.
______

To the Editor of The Times:

Refering to Mr. Merrill's last effusions, permit me to say --

1. That it is begging the question to reiterate the alleged history and revelations contained in the Book of Mormon, when the only question at issue is, Is the Book of Mormon genuine and true?

We are asked to believe that our Lord favored the aborigines of America above the inhabitants of England and Europe; that while our ancestors in England and on the continent were painted savages there was in America a Christian church, called Christian, and proclaiming quite a complete gospel and practicing baptism centuries before Christ: that when Christ arose from the dead He appeared in America and established His church with all apostolic rites, orders and rituals: that this church flourished more or less for four centuries, and then became extinct: and that of all this splendid Christian civilization which had its last [mad] struggle in New York, nothing remains -- no cities, churches, monuments or records -- save only the golden plates that were "hid up unto the Lord" at the "Hill Cumorah," near Palmyra, which were at last put into the hands of Joseph Smith to be translated, and when translated by him were taken back by Moroni and again hidden. Some stories are too thin: this one is too "thick." It is no more credible than the tale circulated in Missouri in the later 1830s when "Zion" was being built up at Independence -- that very soon the melting of the ice barriers at the North Pole would release the rest of the "Lost Tribes of Israel" who were still living there in isolation, as it had been revealed to "the prophet," and they would gather at Zion, bringing with them immense quantisies of gold and silver, etc. Ninety years ago there were plenty of people who were ready to believe such stuff. But long before Byrd flew over both poles any intelligent man would have said, if asked to credit such fictions, "Tell that to the Marines." During the swelling period of the Kirtland bubble "it was preached throughout western New York that the state would be sunk within two years and that only such places as were designated Stakes of Zion [would] escape." Martin Harris prophesied that "within four years from September, 1882, there will not be one wicked person left in the United States," and that "there will be no President over the United States after that time." Possibly there may still be some benighted persons living who can be influenced by such insane ravings. For such our Mormon friends are hunting.

2. Mr. Merrill makes another effort to discredit Dr. Anthon. He charges that Anthon admitted that he gave Harris a certificate and then denied it. This is a specious cavil. Two certificates are in question. Anthon gave Harris a certificate for the benefit of the "man behind the curtain" to let him know that his trick had been discovered. It set forth that the so-called "Egyptian characters" were meaningless and evidently invented for purposes of deception. This he never denied. He did deny the tale set afloat by Mormons that he had given Harris a certificate endorsing the "translation" of parts of those characters by Smith. Mr. Merrill's labors upon the point show that he perceives that the reliability of the Book of Mormon hinges upon the question, Did Dr. Anthon tell the truth, or those who spread the story that he endorsed their prophet? Harris was, as his prophecies above cited show, of doubtful sanity. The Mormon story is a myth upon its face. Smith, we are told, hid himself behind a curtain while translating the "golden plates." Why such concealment? The whole tale is fishy.

3. I have not said that all the "witnesses" were cared for. Harris was, in his old age. Whitmer was visited by Mormon brethren when on his death-bed. Both had been concerned in the printing of the Book of Mormon, and had made great sacrifices for the church. But I repeat: It is significant that all four of the men who knew more than anybody else except Smith about the production of the Book of Mormon were in the 15 years following expelled from the church and allowed to sink into obscurity. This fact is significant, whatever its explanation.

4. That William J. Bryan, Theodore Rooseveldt and Thomas Marshall "endorsed Mormon doctrines" is a falsehood made plain by its indefiniteness. We are not told what doctrines. They certainly did not endorse such doctrines as the pre-existence of the human spirit, the propriety of "plural marriage," Adam worship, polygamous gods, and baptism for the salvation of the dead. That they praised the Mormon organization is not incredible. The organization has no equal outside of Soviet Russia and Fascist Italy -- both dictatorships. The Mormon hierarchy controls its constituency better than Rome does.

5. Another quibble anent the Spaulding Manuscript shows sensitiveness in regard to the doubt thrown on the authenticity of the Book of Mormon by reason of the testimony as to the former composition. The priority of the Spaulding manuscript is admitted, and its resemblance to the Book of Mormon as to scriptural phraseology , names and certain features of its historical matter is well established. There is proof, too, all assertions to the contrary notwithstanding, that Spaulding did write other manuscripts besides the "Lost Manuscript Found" which an emissary procured from his widow and never returned. That a genuine Spaulding manuscript which is not "identical" with the Book of Mormon is or was at Oberlin, is no proof that another Spaulding manuscript, the existence and character of which was vouched for by severak witnesses, was not made the basis of the Mormon classic. Negatives cannot be absolutely proven.

6. It is interesting to know that the "original Ms." of the Book of Mormon is now in the Mormon archives. But if, at least in its first part, it is not full of errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation, such a fact would give rise to the reasonable conclusion that it is a corrected draft of the original Ms. We have the evidence of the printers as to the bad grammar and spelling, and the total lack of punctuation in the Ms. from which the type was set, when the first edition was printed. Bad grammar shows on the first page of the first edition, a fac-similie of which is in my possession. But one thing is certain: that the first part of the Book of Mormon "as is," is not the same as the first part originally written. Mrs. Harris stole the first one hundred and sixteen pages of that Ms. before the translation was finished, and [either destroyed or effectually concealed them]. This disaster put a stop to the process of "translation" for near nine months. Smith's celestial (?) helper seemd puzzled for a time as to what should be done under the circumstances. AT last, in July, 1829, having had ample time for deliberation, he revealed to Joseph a plan by which he might excape further embarassament. The lost pages had been translated from the plates of Lehi; a new translation, this time from the plates of Nephi, until he came to the point in the history where the first translation was interrupted. His inspiration, it seems, was not like that given Jeremiah, sufficient to enable him to reproduce "all the former words." Provision must be made against charges as to discrepancies. Mrs. Harris might make trouble for the prophet, if he should make another translation of the pages she had seized, even though he still had the same "plates." Hence delay and puzzlement, both in heaven and on earth! But by switching the process of translation from Lehi's to Nephi's plates for the part of the translated record which had been lost, the devil was outwitted. How delightfully simple! This story, so sweet and so childlike, appears in the preface of the first edition of the Book of Mormon: "If I should bring forth the same words again, or in other words, if I should translate the same over again," explains the honest prophet, careful to correct himself so as to make it plain that he was "translating" and not composing, "they would publish what they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation that they might not receive this work, but behold, the Lord said unto me, * * * thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi, until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained; and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words. * * * yea, I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil," etc. There it stands, in the old book still kept in the Astor library. For some mysterious reason this original and delightful preface does not appear in later editions of the book.

7. Passing by the fact that the words quoted by Mr. Merrill from John Wesley's 94th sermon are not in my copy, I note his outburst of temper in the course of an argument is an unconscious confession of defeat. But as to our salaries, while, like Paul, we have accepted "wages," none of us have felt constrained to compel the church to build him a house and pay him a salary, as Joseph Smith did in Kirtland.

Wm. P. McCorkle.        

Notes: (forthcoming)

Open  Forum

MORMON  FLINGS  AND  MORMON  LITERALISM.
______

To the Editor of The Times:

In his manifesto of August 25, Mr. Merrill, using the word "brother" in speaking of me, reveals his great love of a shrewd attempt to create suspicions as to my honesty. His indictment, which is another confession of his failure in argument, is false in every particular. My quotations can be relied on. They are quite "full" enough, are not misquotations, and in no case have I "destroyed" or even weakened the meaning of an author or speaker quoted by failure to quote in full.... I have made a careful study of Mormonism, and have gotten my information from the Book of Mormon, from "The Discourses of Brigham Young" published by the church in 1925...; from Cowley's "Talks on Doctrine"; from John D. Lee's autobiography, which the church vainly tried to suppress; from Dr. T. C. Johnson's volume on "Modern Isms," from the International Encylcopedia and the Encyclopedia Brittanica, and from several standard works on Mormonism. From Dr. Johnson I derived my quotations from Orson Pratt, which I find corroborated by the teachings of Cowley on the same points, and also one quotation of Young given by Mrs. Stenhouse, which I found corroborated by the official report of Young's sermons. I have been careful to do justice to all. I have stated Mormon doctrine fairly.

Wm. P. McCorkle.        

Notes: (forthcoming)

Open  Forum

A  WORD  IN  CONCLUSION.
______

Editor Burlington Times:

Will you kindly allow me to say a few things in concluding my discussion with Mr. Merrill. Unable to deny the correctness of my statement as to certain doctrines of his church which, in accordance with the directions of the "prophet Joseph Smith" (see Book of Doctrine and Covenants, Section 19, Paragraph 22,) he has been persistently holding back, he has cunningly sought to insinuate doubt as to my veracity and even as to my sanity. There is no need that I should defend myself on either score.... Nor have I quoted "many things that were not said." I have had good authority for every word...

AS to my quotation from the preface of the first edition of the Book of Mormon, as given by Kennedy, the following letter from the Librarian of Princeton Theological Seninary will speak for itself:

Rev. Wm. P. McCorkle,
Burlington, N. C.
Dear Sir:

In reply to yours of the 11th inst., I would say that we have the first edition of the Book of Mormon, Palmyra, 1830. In it on pages 3, 4 is the preface as Kennedy gives it on page 48 of his early days of Mormonism.

Sincerely yours,        
J. H. Dulles, Librarian.,        

As to Mormon doctrines, quotations from Mormon leaders, all but one were made from the official publications of the church....

As to my quotations from John D. Lee, Mr. Merrill seeks to break their force by intimating that the testimony of apostates is unreliable. His position, even if it were conceded that Lee was an apostate, is like that of a defendent's lawyer in a bootlegging or counterfeiting case, who seeks to impeach the testimony of a criminal who secures immunity by becoming a witness for the state. Under the law such testimony is admissable, if sufficiently corroborated. Lee's is corroborated by the church itself.

Lee was made a scape-goat for the church by Brigham Young and was executed by the government in 1877 for leading the force which perpetrated the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857.... The immediate provocation of this horrible massacre was the murder of Apostle Parley P. Pratt, who had lured Mrs. Hester McLean from her home and added her to his harem....

The [Lee book's] publisher's preface informs us that an effort was made to suppress the book, every available copy of the first edition being bought up, together with the stereotype plates. Fortunately two copies were saved, and a second edition was published by a patriotic society. Mormons, of course, pronounce the volume a forgery, or else deny its truthfulness on the ground that nothing said by an apostate is to be trusted. But some of my readers will see in his words, written the day before his death, a proof of his sincerity. "There is no hope," he wrote, "for the widow's son."

I may add Lee's testimony as to the time when polygamy was first practiced and taught in Nauvoo is corroborated by the date of the revelation as given in the official compilation...

In conclusion, I thank the Times for its generous allowance of space for this discussion.

Wm. P. McCorkle.        

Notes: (forthcoming)

Historical Study Presents
New Challenge to Mormons

By BRUCE H. SHAFFER
______

Exploring the historical origins of a major religion is always a tricky business. Take Mormonism for example. If you happen to be a Latter-day Saint, you no doubt accept The Book of Mormon as a divinely inspired text revealed to prophet Joseph Smith Jr. in 1827 by an angel named Moroni. On the other hand, those not of the Mormon persuasion generally know little or nothing about the religion itself or its sacred book, which Mormons believe enjoys equal footing with the Holy Bible. Every person of faith, however, ought to be righteously concerned when historians turn up facts about a religion which seem to contradict those that have previously passed for truth. In the words of John Dominic Crossan, "you can have history without faith, but you cannot have faith without history."

One should not therefore be too surprised to learn that some professing Mormons have recently been troubled by the appearance of a scholarly new study which painstakingly dissects the historical origins of their revered text, and dares to conclude that the real story of events leading up to the publication of The Book of Mormon in 1830 fails to support the claims made for it by its modern proponents. The work in question is "Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon: The Spalding Enigma," by Wayne Cowdrey, Dr. Howard Davis and Arthur Vanick, recently published by Concordia, the highly respected publishing arm of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

Lest anyone be misled, this is a scholarly undertaking, not a religious work. One finds little discussion here about Mormon theology, either pro or con. Rather, its scope has been strictly limited to an in-depth examination of the people and circumstances surrounding the forthcoming of The Book of Mormon itself. The result raises serious and very troubling questions about what currently passes for the official history of those who style themselves Latter-day Saints.

According to this study, The Book of Mormon is really a clever adaptation of an obscure, unpublished novel written during the War of 1812 by a down-and-out ex-preacher named Solomon Spalding, a Revolutionary War veteran and bankrupt land speculator who died at Amity, PA., in 1816 and lies buried in the churchyard there. Prior to his death, Spalding had complained to friends and relatives that a draft of his novel, "A Manuscript Found," had been stolen from the shelves of Pittsburgh, PA., publisher R. & J. Patterson, by one Sidney Rigdon. This same Rigdon later became one of the three principal founders of the Mormon religious movement, joining Joseph Smith, Jr., and Smith's cousin Oliver Cowdery, an itinerant book peddler and occasional printer of questionable background. Evidence indicates it all began as an elaborate get-rich-quick scheme which Smith himself referred to in 1829 as "the Gold-Bible business."

At the time of the alleged conspiracy, Smith and Cowdery lived in western New York. Rigdon resided in the Pittsburgh area until 1818, and then spent the next dozen years in various locations around western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. It was Cowdery who eventually brought Rigdon and Smith together, and then later served as Smith's personal scribe during the process of creating The Book of Mormon from Spalding's manuscript. Co-author Wayne L. Cowdrey, an ex-Mormon, is Oliver Cowdery's second cousin five generations removed, and has been privately accumulating research on his family's involvement in Mormonism for more than three decades.

Although questions concerning Solomon Spalding, Sidney Rigdon, and the origin of The Book of Mormon have persisted for many years, Mormon historians have always dismissed them by arguing that Spalding died in 1816 and that Rigdon therefore could not have known him since he did not arrive in Pittsburgh until 1822. However, as co-author Dr. Howard Davis points out, "Documentary evidence published for the first time in our study, clearly establishes that Rigdon was well-known in Pittsburgh as early as 1812 and that he and other members of his family regularly received mail at the local Post Office, as did Solomon Spalding."

According to "Who Really Wrote... ," Oliver Cowdery first introduced Sidney Rigdon to Joseph Smith in 1826. Over the next four years, these men secretly conspired to create The Book of Mormon which was finally published in 1830. Shortly afterwards, Smith and Cowdery founded the religious organization now known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was headed by Smith as "President, Prophet, Seer and Revelator" until his brutal assassination by an irate Illinois mob in 1844.

Upon reading this study, historian Dale R. Broadhurst, an ex-Mormon and a recognized authority on the origins of the Latter-day Saints, said that it "brings the historical study of Mormon origins to an entirely new level."

Was The Book of Mormon created from Solomon Spalding's work of fiction, or was it really given to Joseph Smith by an angel as alleged? Based upon evidence presented in this 560-page report, the former explanation now seems far more likely.


Note: Copyright © 2006 The Ponca City News