Question: Was the Book of Mormon clearly authored by an uninspired Joseph Smith?
It has been difficult for critics to come to grips with the Book of Mormon
This section exists mainly for historical reasons—some of Joseph's contemporaries insisted that Joseph was clearly the author (see the "critical sources" link for examples). However, many others insisted just as fiercely that Joseph could not be the author—he was not capable enough.
This demonstrates how difficult it has been for critics, even from the very beginning, to come to grips with the Book of Mormon.
Learn more about Book of Mormon authorship claims
Key sources |
- Dan Peterson, "The Protean Joseph Smith," Proceedings of the 2002 FAIR Conference (August 2002). link
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FAIR links |
- Tad Callister, "A Case for the Book of Mormon," Proceedings of the 2019 FAIR Conference (August 2019). link
- Brian Hales, "Supernatural or Supernormal? Scrutinizing Secular Sources for the Book of Mormon," Proceedings of the 2019 FAIR Conference (August 2019). link
- Dan Peterson, "'The Logic-Tree of Life, or, Why I Can’t Manage to Disbelieve'," Proceedings of the 2016 FAIR Conference (August 2016). link
- Daniel C. Peterson, "The Divine Source of the Book of Mormon in the Face of Alternative Theories Advocated by LDS Critics," Proceedings of the 2001 FAIR Conference (August 2001). link
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Online |
- Philip A. Allred, "Alma's Use of State in the Book of Mormon: Evidence of Multiple Authorship," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 5/1 (1996). [140–146] link
- Richard Lloyd Anderson, "The Modern-Text Theory (Review of A Rhetorical Approach to the Book of Mormon: Rediscovering Nephite Sacramental Languagexxxx by Mark D. Thomas," Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6/1 (1994). [379–417] link
- Kevin L. Barney, "A More Responsible Critique (Review of Does the Book of Mormon Reflect an Ancient Near Eastern Background?)," FARMS Review 15/1 (2003). [97–146] link
- Kevin Christensen, "Truth and Method: Reflections on Dan Vogel’s Approach to the Book of Mormon (Review of Indian Origins and the Book of Mormon)," FARMS Review 16/1 (2004). [287–354] link
- James E. Faulconer, "Takayama: Restoration Revelation as Poetry rather than Fraud," FARMS Review 13/1 (2001). [127–132] link
- Alan Goff, "Dan Vogel's Family Romance and the Book of Mormon as Smith Family Allegory (Review of Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet)," FARMS Review 17/2 (2005). [321–400] link
- Garth L. Mangum, "The Economics of the Book of Mormon: Joseph Smith as Translator or Commentator," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 2/2 (1993). [78–89] link
- Larry E. Morris, "'I Should Have an Eye Single to the Glory of God’: Joseph Smith’s Account of the Angel and the Plates (Review of 'From Captain Kidd’s Treasure Ghost to the Angel Moroni: Changing Dramatis Personae in Early Mormonism')," FARMS Review 17/1 (2005). [11–82] link
- L. Ara Norwood, "Review of Joseph Smith and the Origins of the Book of Mormon by David Persuitte," Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 2/1 (1990). [187–204] link
- Gary F. Novak, "Examining the Environmental Explanation of the Book of Mormon (Review of Joseph Smith's Response to Skepticism by Robert N. Hullinger)," FARMS Review 7/1 (1995). [139–154] link
- Daniel C. Peterson, "Editor's Introduction—Not So Easily Dismissed: Some Facts for Which Counterexplanations of the Book of Mormon Will Need to Account," FARMS Review 17/2 (2005). [xi–lxix] link
- Noel B. Reynolds, "The Book of Mormon Today (Review of By the Hand of Mormon)," FARMS Review 15/1 (2003). [5–17] link
- Stephen D. Ricks, "Testaments: The Literary Riches of the Book of Mormon (Review of Testaments: Links Between the Book of Mormon and the Hebrew Bible)," FARMS Review 16/2 (2004). [55–58] link
- John A. Tvedtnes and Matthew Roper, "Joseph Smith's Use of the Apocrypha: Shadow or Reality? (Review of Joseph Smith's Use of the Apocrypha by Jerald and Sandra Tanner)," FARMS Review 8/2 (1996). [326–372] link
- Matthew Roper, "'Myth, Memory, and Manuscript Found'," FARMS Review 21/2 (2009). [179–223] link
- Matthew Roper, "The Mythical 'Manuscript Found' (Review of Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon? The Spalding Enigma)," FARMS Review 17/2 (2005). [7–140] link
- John L. Sorenson, "A Rare Gem (Review of By the Hand of Mormon)," FARMS Review 15/1 (2003). [15–17] link
- Richard N. Williams, "The Spirit of Prophecy and the Spirit of Psychiatry: Restoration or Dissociation? (Review of The Sword of Laban: Joseph Smith Jr. and the Dissociated Mind)," FARMS Review (2000). [435–444] link
- Louis Midgley, "Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon? The Critics and Their Theories," in Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins, edited by Noel B. Reynolds, (Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1997),101–139. ISBN 093489325X ISBN 0934893187 ISBN 0884944697. off-site GL direct link
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Video |
- "Joseph Smith's pre 1830 education," BH Roberts Foundation print-link.
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