Did sidney rigdon write the book of mormon

Rigdon, the son of sydney rigdon visited utah and spent the winter among the mormons. Pratt, was a former member of his congregation who had returned to share the book of mormon and news. Who really wrote the book of mormon part 1 youtube. The theory that sidney rigdon was the true author of the book of mormon first.

Sidney rigdon his connection with the spaulding manuscript and book of mormon. Sidney rigdon, american churchman, an early convert to mormonism 1830 and first counselor to its founder, joseph smith. Joseph translated by the gifts objects and the power of god. Be a prophet of god living on the american continents between 2000 bc and 400 ad. John whitmer historical association best book award mormon history association best biography january, 2006. Wherefore his writing is not acceptable unto the lord. The historical case against sidney rigdons authorship of the book. Rigdon s father was a farmer and a native of harford county, maryland.

That text first appeared as an article in the cleveland leader of march 14, 1886 under the heading. Brewster carried on a correspondence with fellow oberlin graduate rev. Desnews did sidney rigdon write the book of mormon. Sidney rigdon acquired a copy of this manuscript while in pittsburgh, spent years. After the mormons moved to missouri 1838 and then to nauvoo, ill. Sidney rigdon was accused of being the brains behind the book of mormon.

Segments of the book of mormon, namely 2 nephi chapters 7, 8, and 1224, matches nearly wordforword the chapters 50, 5152. Examining a misapplication of nearest shrunken centroid classification to investigate book of mormon authorship. Anyone who teaches this theory today betrays deliberate dishonesty or pitiful lack of knowledge concerning the whole matter. Roberts work, do you know the original source text. It is claimed by some that joseph smith either plagiarized or relied upon a manuscript by solomon spaulding to write the book of mormon. But the simplest and arguably most popular theory is that joseph himself was the. When smith was murdered 1844, however, rigdon attempted to become head of the. We first became acquainted with him a palmyra, in the spring of 1828, shortly after the plates from which the book of mormon is said to have been translated, were found. The book of mormon is not an ancient document but a 19th century work of fiction.

After a century of fruitless hunting, sidney rigdon is really the only person who has been charged with being a helper to joseph smith in the writing of the book of mormon. A portrait of religious excess is an outstanding study of one of the most significant early leaders of mormonism. Young sidney rigdon seeking fame and fortune through religion. Sidney rigdon had absolutely nothing to do with the creation of the book of mormon and never claimed he did.

These plates were handed down from prophet to prophet until the last prophet, moroni, hid the plates in a stone box beneath the ground in the 400s a. In 1888, walter sidney rigdon, sidney rigdons grandson, said that his grandfathers role in fabrication of the book of mormon was a family secret. When smith was murdered 1844, however, rigdon attempted to. The qualifications for writing the book of mormon are as follows. He was the youngest of four children of william and nancy rigdon. Traditionally, wordprint studies have used a statistical technique known as the delta method. Rigdon, was he a member of one of the mormon traditions, im assuming he wasnt in utah. Was sidney rigdon more qualified to write the book of mormon than joseph smith. Oct 31, 2012 some mormon scholars, like grant hardy, who wrote understanding the book of mormon. Whitsitt then proceeds to fit the known facts to match that assumption.

But the new narratives did not explain the foundation narrative of my tribe where did it come from. That sidney rigdon ever saw the prophet joseph smith before the book of mormon was published has been disproved. I could swear that this book was written by one man. As before, 9 selected words were used for the distance calculations. Jun 16, 2018 but if the theory is to hold water, sidney rigdon had to have known joseph smith prior to the publication of the book of mormon. Sidney rigdons final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon john w. Those making a case for rigdon often include a missing spalding manuscript. Jun 18, 2015 this theory says much of the story of the book of mormon was plagiarized from an unpublished manuscript written by solomon spalding. Sidney rigdon february 19, 1793 july 14, 1876 was a leader during the early history of the. Sidney rigdons final words about joseph smith and the origin.

His mental powers did not seem to be impaired, but the equilibrium in his. Reports that in bainbridge, ohio, sidney rigdon engaged in seancelike sessions with others in adjacent places to produce the book of mormon. But the simplest and arguably most popular theory is. Sidney rigdon the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Could joseph smith have authored the book of mormon.

Sidney rigdon, the confession of an apostate paperback february 9, 2019 by john clinton rigdon author see all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. He did not endorse the principle of plural marriage, although he. There is good reason for believing that this material, from frederick a. They grew up together near pittsburg and remained friends but not agreed through the developing years of mormonism. Additionally rigdon, who was a preacher, weaved his own religious views into the story.

Nov 22, 2016 sidney rigdon forgotten hero of mormonism bryce blankenagel. Reassessing authorship of the book of mormon using delta and nearest shrunken centroid classification. Nutting and it seems that nutting was aware of brewsters initial research into cliams that sidney rigdon wrote a portion of the book of mormon at bainbridge, during his 182627 tenure in that geauga co. The idea is that sidney rigdon got a hold of the manuscript and used it to author the book of mormon. Textual and theological evidence implicating rigdon. A portrait of religious excess the rise and fall of one of early mormonisms most influential leaders, who broke with the church after the death of joseph smith to organize his own religion based on early mormon revelations and communal living. Having been an active mormon for 35 years, and semiactive for another seven, i feel i have a pretty good picture of the lds church, its history, and motives. Sidney rigdon, the confession of an apostate english edition ebook.

Van wagoner shows how rigdon contributed to church policy and was a lightning rod for backlash to it in. The book claims that nephi quoted the prophet isaiah from the brass plates which were brought with them out of jerusalem. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and founder. Sidney rigdon american religious leader britannica. An american, james adair, wrote a book a history of the american indians in 1775. Cousin of sidney rigdon the famous mormon theologian and counselor to the mormon prophet joseph smith. Sep 24, 2015 in late october of 1830, roughly six months after the publication of the book of mormon, four lds missionaries including parley pratt, who had known sidney rigdon previously came through kirtland, ohio, where sidney had built up a communal church, and introduced him to both the book of mormon and mormonism. The traditions of mormon samesex marriage advocates encounter boyd k. The history of sidney rigdon the history of joseph smith. Rigdon s powerful rhetoric helped bring thousands to mormonism. The historical case against sidney rigdons authorship of. The spaulding theory of the origin of the book of mormon has been thoroughly demolished.

In the early 1800s sidney rigdon, like many other preachers, were constructing their own views on church practices like baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. The prophet malachi had said that before christ came, he would send his messenger, and he should prepare the way before him. The entire book is based upon whitsitts initial assumption that rigdon and spalding wrote the book of mormon. Overview joseph smith was intelligent enough to write the book of mormon and so no. The historical case against sidney rigdon s authorship of the book of mormon. In the spring of 1833 or 1834, at the house of samuel baker, near new portage, medina county, ohio. Sidney rigdon after losing the power struggle with brigham young for control of the mormon lds church. Some historians believe that rigdon, rather than smith, wrote the book of mormon, but proof is lacking. Feb 11, 2008 and it came to pass that rigdon collaborated with joseph smith to write the book of mormon. Sidney rigdon wrote the book with a little help from friends. For a time, antimormons have claimed that sidney rigdon had a hand in writing the book of mormon, since they suppose that joseph smith was too uneducated to have done so.

Rigdon, sidney s son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if josephs story about golden plates is true. The theory that sidney rigdon was the true author of the book of mormon first appeared in print in a february 15, 1831 article. Sidney rigdon embraced mormonism without much investigation. Joseph smith was to translate the book of mormon, and sidney rigdon. Clair township, allegheny county, pennsylvania, about 10 miles south of pittsburgh. They do, however, rely upon early works such as a 1908 book written by william heth whitsitt called sidney rigdon, the real founder of mormonism.

In 1888, walter sidney rigdon, sidney rigdons grandson, said that his grandfathers role in fabrication of the book of mormon. My name is john rigdon great nephew of sidney rigdon. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if josephs story about golden plates is true. Sidney rigdon religionwiki fandom powered by wikia. Sidney rigdons final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon. Pratt told rigdon about the book of mormon and the restoration of the. This theory says much of the story of the book of mormon was plagiarized from an unpublished manuscript written by solomon spalding. Joseph smith was to translate the book of mormon, and sidney rigdon was to take it, and gather israel. Critical theories that sidney rigdon was a book of mormon author or coconspirator summary. Rigdons role as author was also proposed in an august 1831 article by james gordon bennett, who had visited the palmyramanchester area and interviewed several residents. Book of mormon wordprint studies have been used by both critics and apologists to provide valuable insights into the text of the bom. Sidney wrote what fell from his lips as the words appeared. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesspalding manuscript.

Sidney rigdon was influential in the early days of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as an orator and as the first counselor in the first presidency. The authors concluded that major portions of the book of mormon exhibited sidney rigdon and solomon spauldings writing style, thus creating a resurgence of interest in the spaulding theory. Sidney rigdons confession to his son about the book of mormon. In 1888, walter sidney rigdon sidney rigdons grandson said that his grandfathers role in fabrication of the book of mormon was a family secret. Sidney rigdon mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Sidney rigdon, orator and first counselor for the mormon church. He once testified under oath that his cousin sidney did not write the book of mormon. Joseph smith, emma smith, martin harris, sidney rigdon, oliver cowdery, etc.

It attempted to prove that natives had descended from the ancient israelites. Ridgons role as author was also proposed in an august 1831 article by james gordon bennett, who had visited the palmyramanchester area and interviewed several residents. Sidney rigdon s final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon. Also, where did these quotes come from if they were in the 1860s why so long before they were written, and how did they get into the b. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and. Sidney rigdon quotes regarding book of mormon and joseph.

Solomon spaulding and the book of mormon fairmormon. Was sidney rigdon more qualified to write the book of mormon. Joseph smith said that sidney rigdon was that messenger. Was sidney rigdon more qualified to write the book of. 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.

At that time jo smith had a mere handful of followers, most of whom were as destitute of character and intelligence as. Pratt, was a former member of his congregation who had returned to share the book of mormon and news of the restoration with his mentor. Parleys books were responsible for bringing in 1,000s of early converts to the church. The spaldingrigdon theory proposes that the unpublished writings of solomon spalding a dartmoutheducated man who died in 1816 came into the possession of sidney rigdon, a reformed baptist campbellite preacher, and that rigdon inserted into those writings his literalistic, premillennial, restorationist christian theology, along with other information useful for his purposes, to create the 1830 version of the book of mormon. 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. Sidney rigdon was a christian minister, and one of the visitors, parley p. If joseph smith did not translate the book of mormon as a work of ancient origin, then i would move heaven and earth to meet the real nineteenthcentury author. According to the latterday saints official historical account, the book of mormon bom was the work of ancient american jewish prophets who wrote their inspired accounts on plates of gold. Rigdon read the book of mormon, proclaimed its truthfulness, and was. I wrote it myself, as it fell from the lips of the prophet. And many resorted unto him, and said, john did no miracle. I have heard 2 ex mormons say sidney rigdon had the means and motive to conspire with joseph smith in its creation, because he took a manuscript from a printers office written by a guy named spalding. Sidney rigdon was born on february 19, 1793, near pittsburgh, pennsylvania.

A collection of facts relative to the course taken by elder sidney rigdon, 1844, pg 35. Apr 22, 2019 it depends on who you ask and who and what you believe, and whether or not your bosom burns. Cluster analysisbook of mormon and nonbook of mormon authors combined. So considering the author is mormon lds, this book creates a good standard of unbiased literature on mormon history. The book shows by citing signed affidavits and letters from the people of palmyra, that joseph smith and sidney rigdon did indeed know each other prior to the publication. Jan 09, 2020 he was trained as a minister by sidney rigdon and was an excellent speaker. Sidney rigdon provided by the lds church history library in late october of 1830, roughly six months after the publication of the book of mormon, four lds missionaries including parley pratt, who had known sidney rigdon previously came through kirtland, ohio, where sidney had built up a communal church, and introduced him to both the book of mormon and mormonism. The bedeviling paradox for many regarding the nancy rigdon incident, is that while smiths fame as a prophet of god makes the charges against him hard to believe, her steadfast reputation makes them. Howe attacked the authenticity of the book of mormon by adopting philastus hurlbuts argument that sidney rigdon purloined the manuscript story of solomon spaulding see spaulding manuscript, plagiarized it to compose the book of mormon, and gave it to joseph smith to publish under his name.

The spalding enigma, our authors set out to accomplish a monumental task. Did sidney rigdon steal a manuscript then conspire with. How joseph created the book of mormon mormonism exposed by isthechurchtrue. One said theres testimony by friends and relatives of this author saying the book of mormon has the same names scenarios but his was written as a historical. In 1839, rigdon wrote a letter denying his role in the composition of the book of mormon. And his novel did have the a peculiar characteristic of using the word and exceedingly often. Joseph translated by the giftsobjects and the power of god. There is a small group who hold to the theory that the production of the book of mormon was a conspiracy involving sidney rigdon, joseph smith, oliver cowdery and others. In 1817, rigdon was caring for his widowed mother, and joined a church. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or. Sidney rigdon 17931876 was one of joseph smiths closest friends and advisers. The next step is to study the background and motivations of those responsible for its production. Hebraisms in the book of mormon book of mormon mormon.

Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship wikipedia. According to this theory, rigdon obtained from a pittsburgh publisher a manuscript for a historical novel written by solomon spalding, and by reworking it and adding a theological component, had created the book of mormon. On october 29, 1830, two visitors came to the home of sidney and phebe rigdon. The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of. I was browsing through van hales website tonight and i ran across an interesting debate between van hale and wayne cowdry who was with two other writers that do research together and the four of them discussed the spaulding theory and the book who wrote the book of mormon. Sidney rigdons final words about joseph smith and the. In this book i explore the real genesis of the book of mormon relying on family documents and published affidavits of people who witnessed first hand the creation of the book of mormon men and women who knew joseph smith and sidney rigdon personally over their entire lifetime. The handwriting evidence did not support a connection between solomon. A readers guide, have attempted to move the discussion away from polemics to an appreciation for the books. The theory that sidney rigdon was the true author of the book of mormon first appeared in print in an august 31, 1831, article by james gordon bennett, who had visited palmyramanchester area and interviewed several residents. How much was sidney rigdon involved with the creation of. The window of opportunity during which rigdon achieved coequal billing with joseph smith, lasted from 1839. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and founder of.

Rigdon moved to friendship, new york, where he spent the rest of his life living off the charity of his relatives. The historical case against sidney rigdons authorship of the. All 33 authors were used in this analysis, with one replication per author which consisted of all blocks combined for that author. The lord had said, in the book of mormon, that he would raise up to joseph smith a spokesman. Henrys 1942 book, provided the stimulus for professor brewsters 1945 manuscript, did. And it came to pass that many years later, a mormon apologist noticed that some of the sentences in the book of mormon also contained the word if.

He was not favorably impressed with lds religious life, and also came to the conclusion that the book of mormon. Joseph smith didnt even write the book, which is what most liberal mormons assert when the historical claims are refuted via archaeological and other scientific evidence. How much was sidney rigdon involved with the creation of the. And as joseph smith is a very ignorant man and is called the author on the title page, i cannot doubt.