Palmer threetime director of lds institutes of religion in california and utah, former instructor at the church college of new zealand, an lds seminary teacher at two utahbased locations, and mormon high priest group instructor, is an informed, informative, and original study of the roots of. 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. From the pot has sprung a bright lily that represents the love, happiness, and fulfillment of the young couple. In his book studies of the book of mormon, roberts concluded that joseph smith had sufficient imagination and was capable of producing the book of mormon even though he had little formal education. Archaeology in the old world continues to uncover physical evidence of biblical history. Strangely enough we find inserted in the middle of the book of mormon, pages 141143 bom p. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year ad 400. Joseph smith didnt write the book as i am sure you know. Most latter day saints assume their authenticity as a matter of faith.
Others even claim that the book of mormon is entirely based on external sources like an unknown manuscript from solomon spaulding, the late war hunt 1819, the first book of napoleon eliakim 1809 or e. Mormons, did joseph smith borrow the golden plate story. The book of mormon the keystone of the church is unquestionably the book of mormon. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian. I have received a number of inquiries from people seeking additional information and clarification on my moroni and the golden pot chapter, found in, an insiders view of mormon origins. Hoffmann, among the greatest and most popular of the. There are similarities between the two stories and since the golden pot was published in 1814, and the book of mormon was published in 1830, it has been used by critics of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. The book is a compilation, and even though its only got two stories, each story is not. Skeptics have put forth several theories of book of mormon authorship that do. Palmers golden pot theory is based on a known forgery.
My intent here is only to summarize and comment briefly on palmers main assertions, nearly all of which have been already addressed by wellqualified latterday saint scholars. Poetry in the book of mormon book of mormon central. The setting is the renowned though secretive west wing of the vast joseph smith frontier library, cleverly disguised as joseph smiths crude cabin in the frontier lands of new york. Roberts on the view of the hebrews parallels with the book of mormon emphasis mine. They fought many great battles, but then, just after his crucifixion, christ appeared.
A closer look, zenos publications, ogden, utah, 1983. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesgolden potcriticalsources did joseph smith borrow the golden plate story from a german fairy tale. A forum for exmormons and others who have been affected by mormonism to share news, commentary, and comedy about the mormon church. An insiders view of mormon origins signature books. The book of mormon is a classic oddcouplefishoutofwater story. There are several theories as to the actual origin of the book of mormon. I went to the mormonthink page about the golden pot, and found it lengthy and detailed. After the first occurrence of the phrase in 1 nephi, all the subsequent occurrences are replaced with an asterisk. If we assume the book of mormon published 1830 is not. First, sidney rigdon was motivated to start a new religion and decided to base this new religions authoritative text on a historical fiction manuscript about the ancient americas entitled the book of mormon written by solomon spaulding died in 1816 who had a similar writing style to his classmate ethan smith who lived in the. Lindhorst invites the narrator to his study, where the narrator has a vision of serpentina leaving a temple with the golden pot in her hands. Mormon discussions view topic the golden pot by eta hoffmann.
Anselmus, a theology student, usually prefers to be in his fantasy world. A recent attempt to revive the spaulding theory is the 45page work of vernal holley, book of mormon authorship. The ark of the covenant overlaid roundabout with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and aarons rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. Description over the past thirty years, an enormous amount of research has been conducted into mormon originsjoseph smiths early life, the book of mormon, the prophets visions, and the restoration of priesthood authority. An insiders view of mormon origins is titled moroni and the golden pot. Latter day saint movement and engraved metal plates. It tells of hebrew tribes that walked in ancient america.
Arranged in four lines, its neat structure is even more apparent. This german novella, published in 1814, recounts the story of a boy named anselmus in germany who magically meets an ancient and mystical archivist from the lost civilization of atlantis named. Palmer i have received a number of inquiries from people seeking additional information and clarification on my moroni and the golden pot chapter, found in, an insiders view of mormon origins. The book of mormon is set in north america in the first century. Two utah missionaries are sent to a remote village in northern uganda. Skeptics have put forth several theories of book of mormon authorship that do not require believing in golden plates delivered by angels and translated by a miracle. This is not the case with new world archaeology and the book of. His real life is dull, ordinary, and without meaning. Former lds church education system ces teacher grant palmer argues. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesgolden potcriticalsources. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a.
Arranging this memorable thought from the book of mormon into two lines reveals its poetic character. The strongest resemblance is between the liahona and the manna. Jeff lindsay on his web site, also pointed out that there are more similarities between walt whitmans leaves of grass and the book of mormon, than there are between the book of mormon and spauldings manuscript or the golden pot. Lets say that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. I just finished reading an insiders view of mormon origins by grant palmer and was wondering if anyone else on here has read it and if so, what their thoughts on it are.
Before i get flamed i would like to point out three of the more glaring anachronistic errors. Every latterday saint mormon is aware of joseph smiths claim that he discovered golden plates from which the book of mormon was translated. Aug 11, 2008 mormons, did joseph smith borrow the golden plate story from a german fairy tale. There are similarities between the two stories and since the golden pot was published in 1814, and the book of mormon was published in 1830. Other researchers believe it took place in the great lakes area of north america to include involving the mound. Grant palmers golden pot theory related to the story of moronis visit summary. How philosopher emanuel swedenborg, reverend alexander campbell, professor john smith of dartmouth, solomon spalding, and ethan smith influenced sidney rigdon and joseph smith to plagurize the book of mormon from manusript found, view of the hebrews, the late war, the golden pot, and the bible.
Albright who was the founder of biblical archaelogy admitted that the book of mormon contained names that wer. When palmer became aware of the book the golden pot, he saw parallels between the salamander letter and the fictional story. The book of mormon bom is an abbreviated account of the inhabitants of the ancient americas from 2200 bc to 421 ad. It seems after reading these posts that the only possible answer is that the book of mormon happened just like joseph and others claim. Indeed, it camem to pass that the prophet joseph smith discovered the book of mormon on golden plates. But life in his fantasydreams is exciting, unordinary and full of import. German fairy tale called the golden pot, to collaboration with oliver cowdery or. But, how many know of accounts of the gold plates story which mention smith first discovered the plates with a seer stone. Grant palmers golden pot theory related to the story of moronis visit. The ark of the covenant was known to contain a golden pot of manna, the rod of aaron which budded, and the stone tablets from mt. How philosopher emanuel swedenborg, reverend alexander campbell, professor john smith of dartmouth, solomon spalding, and ethan smith influenced sidney rigdon and joseph smith to plagurize the book of mormon from manusript found, view of the.
Anselmus, in his rapture, exclaims that the lily represents knowledge of the sacred harmony. The golden pot was never much thought of as resembling the book of mormon. In 1985 a hofmann forgery known as the salamander letter became public. It is altogether probable that these two bookspriests wonders of nature and providence, 1824. An insiders view of mormon origins book, 2002 worldcat. Smith claimed the angel moroni, a prophet in the book of mormon, directed him in the 1820s to a. The golden pot fairy tale is about anselmus, who has a split personality. The lds church has promoted what is known as the book of mormon challenge to. Reviewed in the united states on december 12, 2014. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets.
The book, the golden pot describes a story about a boy that has several dreams in which an archivist tasked with compiling and guarding historical artifacts and records of his peoples, takes the boy into a cave in a hill and shows him everything. Those who state the book of mormon lacks evidence are either ignorant or lying. Book of mormon, church history, church of jesus christ of latterday saints, first vision, golden pot, joseph smith, lds, mormon, prophet about my blog. A true testimony of the book of mormon comes from reading it and, as counseled by moroni in a promise he left to us in moroni 10. If the book can be shown to be a product of the 19th century, the church is then not what it claims to be. Instead of picketing the book of mormon musical, for example, the mormon church. He was, however, prone to make silly mistakes, such as. And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat.
Nephite temple in tennessee book of mormon evidence. I had been told that this book really messed with some. It is by the supposed author or compiler of the entire. Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal. Book of mormon authorship theories golden pot criticalsources fairmormon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing welldocumented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The charge that was raised by grant palmer was that it served as inspiration for josephs discovery narrative finding the gold plates and other elements in his personal history. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Joseph is writing madly on sheets of paper as oliver cowdery, martin harris, david whitmer, father smith joseph smith. Apr 22, 2016 skeptics have put forth several theories of book of mormon authorship that do not require believing in golden plates delivered by angels and translated by a miracle. I didnt like my cousins corner window as much but the sandman, the golden pot and master flea are easily worth the price of the book even if it were double.
Regardless of where the motifs in the new york narrative came from, most of them, including the basic storyline, were already present in some form in the environment. Latter day saint movement and engraved metal plates wikipedia. As his personal doubts grew, palmer saw a connection between these two fictional stories and a secular explanation for the origins of book of mormon. The creation of the book of mormon was a simple process. Latent antimormon bias may seem harmless enoughafter all, mormons are reluctant to call others out on it. Former lds church education system ces teacher grant palmer argues that joseph smith developed his story of visits by moroni and the translation of a sacred book from the golden pot, a book by german author e. The golden potsource material for joes moroni story. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. Although several witnesses said they saw the plates, smith said that he returned them to an angel after the translation was completed. The sandman is brilliant and the golden pot is even better. I just finished reading my dover edition of two of e.
Book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or. To mark twains claim that the book of mormon would be pamphletsized if it came to pass was left out, the dutch version of the book i used on my mission had done precisely that. From a geographical standpoint, some lds scholars believe mesoamerica to be the setting of the book of mormon. Louis midgley has shown how this letter affected palmers faith. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july. How joseph smith faked the book of mormon a satirical. This was first suggested in an insiders view of mormon origins written by grant h. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts.
The archivist often appears to the boy in clothes that were so white, they exceeded the. A day in the life of joseph smith, translator extraordinaire. Lots of answers here with an incredible amount of evidence. Grant palmers notes on the golden pot story as it relates to the book of mormon. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. Social or theological critiques of the issues surrounding the volume such as charisma of its author or the religious fluidity and doctrinal chaos of the second great awakening. Dec 09, 2008 jeff lindsay on his web site, also pointed out that there are more similarities between walt whitmans leaves of grass and the book of mormon, than there are between the book of mormon and spauldings manuscript or the golden pot. Fairmormon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing welldocumented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesgolden pot fairmormon. The golden plates are a set of bound and engraved metal plates that latter day saint denominations believe are the source of joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon. Nov 15, 2017 latent antimormon bias may seem harmless enoughafter all, mormons are reluctant to call others out on it.
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