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. The influence of sidney rigdon upon the theology of mormonism. The influence of sidney rigdon upon the theology of. Those making a case for rigdon often include a missing spalding manuscript mormonleaks who really wrote the book of mormon.
As these schismatics organized themselves into the new disciples of christ church, the reverend sidney rigdon was already aligning himself with another, more radical movement, the latterday saints, where he quickly became the lds prophets principal. The 19th century writers included sidney rigdon, solomon spaulding, joseph smith, w. A portrait of religious excess is an outstanding study of one of the most significant early leaders of mormonism. Sidney rigdon the book of mormon internal evidence 1. Another candidate for authorship of the book of mormon was sidney rigdon. In 1888, walter sidney rigdon sidney rigdon s grandson said that his grandfathers role in fabrication of the book of mormon was a family secret. This is the place to learn about the holy book of mormon, without church bias. Pratt, read the book of mormon and converted quickly. Pratt told rigdon about the book of mormon and the restoration of the. After my fathers death, my mother, who survived him several years, was in the enjoyment of good health up to the time of her last sickness, she being eightysix years old.
I didnt think the conclusion they reached was justified at all, says schaalje. Rigdon has been named as a potential author for the book of mormon. From cancer to the book of mormon and back byu magazine. Joseph smiths detractors who personally knew him, knew he was too. Much of what the mormon religion is about is directly connected with rigdon, a former disciples of christ minister. The historical evidence gives us some strong inclinations that sidney rigdon was responsible for the theft and turned it into the bom thus far. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship wikipedia. The biostatistician didnt start out in book of mormon apologetics, but when a stanfordproduced article used a statisticalclassification method to conclude that sidney rigdon wrote the book of mormon, schaalje was irked. Richardson in april 1830, walter scott discusses how sidney rigdon would take the teachings of others and herald them everywhere p. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading i wrote the book of mormon.
Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. The prophet malachi had said that before christ came, he would send his messenger, and he should prepare the way before him. Sidney rigdon was born on february 19, 1793, near pittsburgh, pennsylvania. Joseph smith was to translate the book of mormon, and sidney rigdon was to take it, and gather israel. Van wagoner shows how rigdon contributed to church policy and was a lightning rod for backlash to it in. Sidney rigdon was an influential leader in the early days of mormonism and became a good friend of the prophet joseph smith. These details fit the exact description of what is now known as the book of mormon. Rigdon s powerful rhetoric helped bring thousands to mormonism. The modern spaldingrigdon theory proposes that the book of mormon is the product of a pious fraud orchestrated by sidney rigdon a psychologically unstable 19th century reformed baptist preacher. 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. This is the video presentation delivered by bryce blankenagel at the seattle sunstone symposium 11192016 on the life of sidney rigdon and his influence on mormon history. Accept joseph smith as a prophet and the book as the miraculously revealed and revered word of the lord or else consign both man and book to hades for the devastating deception of it all my name is john rigdon great nephew of sidney rigdon. He always denied it, and his son plainly believed him.
Gregory although sidney rigdon was a prominent and wellknown figure in early mormon history, his life and thought after his excommunication from the church of jesus christ of latterday saints are almost completely unknown to latterday saints today. Some historians believe that rigdon, rather than smith, wrote the book of mormon, but proof is lacking. 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 of the restoration with his mentor. On october 29, 1830, two visitors came to the home of sidney and phebe rigdon. Sidney rigdon, the confession of an apostate kindle edition by rigdon, john c download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. He was a powerful orator and defender of the fledgling mormon church. Sidney rigdon 17931876 was one of joseph smiths closest friends.
Examining a misapplication of nearest shrunken centroid classification to investigate book of mormon authorship. Besides the campbellite doctrine becoming a main message in mormonism, sidney was telling people about the book of mormon years before it was published. In 1817, while caring for his widowed mother, rigdon joined a church. In the late 1820s a fiery young minister in western ohio converted nearly 1,000 proselytes to the reformed baptist movement. Sidney rigdon religionwiki fandom powered by wikia. First assistant president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
In 1817, rigdon was caring for his widowed mother, and joined a church. The theory that sidney rigdon was the true author of the book of mormon first appeared in print in a february 15, 1831 article. 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 american religious leader britannica. Rigdon added theology to unpublished fictitious narratives written by solomon spalding then deceased, to create. The historical case against sidney rigdons authorship of the book of mormon. 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. Sidney rigdons final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon. Sidney rigdon was accused of being the brains behind the book of mormon. He eventually became disaffected and left the church.
The historical case against sidney rigdons authorship of. A new wordprint study on the book of mormon breathes new life to a longchallenged theory for book of mormon authorship, the theory that its real author was solomon spalding secretly assisted by sidney rigdon. How much was sidney rigdon involved with the creation of. Sidney rigdon s final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon. An analysis of wordprints, book of mormon authorship, 181. Sidney rigdon was a christian minister, and one of the visitors, parley p. Sidney rigdon, orator and first counselor for the mormon. Group christians whitmerites josephites brighamites rigdonites leader jesus christ david whitmer joseph smith. 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. Im not a mormon and i believe the bom sprang from the mind of joseph smith, but i have no sympathy for proponents of the spaldingrigdon theory because it is such a weak, poorlybuttressed alternative explanation. Joseph smith said that sidney rigdon was that messenger. Sidney rigdon wrote the book with a little help from friends. Reassessing authorship of the book of mormon using delta and nearest shrunken centroid classification. Rigdon, sidney s son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if josephs story about golden plates is true.
Sidney rigdon the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Sidney rigdon and the book of mormon february 18, 2018 dan peterson patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. Sidney is also mentioned in book of mormon prophecy ill get to that one on p. Sidney rigdon embraced mormonism without much investigation. Sidney rigdon quotes regarding book of mormon and joseph. The book of mormon is either a divinely inspired translation of ancient scripture, or it is a work of fiction. What are the pros and cons of the spauldingrigdon theory. The traditions of mormon samesex marriage advocates encounter boyd k.
For the 24 book of mormon authors included in the analysis, see larsen, rencher, and layton, who wrote the book of mormon. 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. In this book i explore the real genesis of the book of mormon relying on family documents and published. Rigdons powerful rhetoric helped bring thousands to mormonism. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. Sidney rigdon mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Henrys retelling of george wilbers 1826 experiences with sidney rigdon are made doubly interesting by the fact that mr.
Sidney rigdons final words about joseph smith and the. John whitmer historical association best book award mormon history association best biography january, 2006. The book of mormon is not an ancient document but a 19th century work of fiction. Sidney rigdon, the confession of an apostate kindle edition by john c. In 1839, rigdon wrote a letter denying his role in the composition of the book of mormon. He was also josephs counselor, and was a member of the original first presidency for the entire mormon life of joseph smith. Rigdon give this valuable statement as to his fathers position respecting the book of mormon, but he adds the following from his mother. Book of mormonauthorship theoriessidney rigdon fairmormon. 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.
Sidney rigdons final confession about joseph smith and the origin of. Both frederick and carl make this letter the certerpiece of their respective claims for rigdon s involvement in the creation of the book of mormon. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and. It depends on who you ask and who and what you believe, and whether or not your bosom burns. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if josephs story about golden plates is true. Reviewed by eric johnson for years sidney rigdon was the righthand man to joseph smith, the founder of the mormon religion. The supreme irony of this argument, however, is that he was converted by the very book he was supposed to have written. Sidney rigdons confession to his son about the book of mormon. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book. Joseph smith either translated the book by the gift and power of god, or he made it up. Young sidney rigdon seeking fame and fortune through religion. Both frederick and carl make this letter the certerpiece of their respective claims for rigdons involvement in the creation of the book of mormon.
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