Solomon Spalding: Difference between revisions
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The Rev. '''Solomon Spalding''' ([[1761]]-[[1816]]) was a lapsed Calvinist clergyman, a failed businessman, and the would-be author of a pre-historic American epic story explaining the lost civilization of the "Mound Builders." He graduated with the [[Dartmouth College]] class of 1785. Since 1833 he has been credited by some scholars and writers as being the original author of a portion of the [[Book of Mormon]]. |
The Rev. '''Solomon Spalding''' ([[1761]]-[[1816]]) was a lapsed Calvinist clergyman, a failed businessman, and the would-be author of a pre-historic American epic story explaining the lost civilization of the "Mound Builders." He graduated with the [[Dartmouth College]] class of 1785. Since 1833 he has been credited by some scholars and writers as being the original author of a portion of the [[Book of Mormon]]. |
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In [[1884]] an authentic Solomon Spalding manuscript was recovered in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]] and taken to to the [[Oberlin College|Oberlin College Library]] in Ohio. This unfinished story bears only occasional resemblance to the Book of Mormon text and is not claimed by any literary critics has having formed the basis for the LDS scriptures. The text was published by the [[Reorganized LDS Church]] in 1885 and a transcript is available on-line. Whether or not Mr. Spalding wrote any other fictional history about ancient Americans remains a matter of scholarly debate. Despite the existence of |
In [[1884]] an authentic Solomon Spalding manuscript was recovered in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]] and taken to to the [[Oberlin College|Oberlin College Library]] in Ohio. This unfinished story bears only occasional resemblance to the Book of Mormon text and is not claimed by any literary critics has having formed the basis for the LDS scriptures. The text was published by the [[Reorganized LDS Church]] in 1885 and a transcript is available on-line. Whether or not Mr. Spalding wrote any other fictional history about ancient Americans is unclear and remains a matter of scholarly debate. Despite the existence of evidence in support of this thesis, no such story, closely resembling the Book of Mormon, has ever been uncovered that might verify the old "Spalding-Rigdon" authorship claims, consequently most historians reject the Spalding thesis as a genuine explanation of the origin of the Book of Mormon. |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Revision as of 23:33, 12 April 2006
The Rev. Solomon Spalding (1761-1816) was a lapsed Calvinist clergyman, a failed businessman, and the would-be author of a pre-historic American epic story explaining the lost civilization of the "Mound Builders." He graduated with the Dartmouth College class of 1785. Since 1833 he has been credited by some scholars and writers as being the original author of a portion of the Book of Mormon.
In 1884 an authentic Solomon Spalding manuscript was recovered in Honolulu, Hawaii and taken to to the Oberlin College Library in Ohio. This unfinished story bears only occasional resemblance to the Book of Mormon text and is not claimed by any literary critics has having formed the basis for the LDS scriptures. The text was published by the Reorganized LDS Church in 1885 and a transcript is available on-line. Whether or not Mr. Spalding wrote any other fictional history about ancient Americans is unclear and remains a matter of scholarly debate. Despite the existence of evidence in support of this thesis, no such story, closely resembling the Book of Mormon, has ever been uncovered that might verify the old "Spalding-Rigdon" authorship claims, consequently most historians reject the Spalding thesis as a genuine explanation of the origin of the Book of Mormon.