Defending the Faith: Joseph Smith's account of the Restoration is difficult to counter
A tortured historical narrative was fashioned, purporting to explain how Sidney Rigdon, for whatever reason, stole the Spalding manuscript and used it to make Joseph Smith a "prophet." Little or no evidence supports the story, quite a bit of evidence (including very sophisticated recent statistical analysis) renders it deeply improbable and only desperate necessity would ever have given rise to it in the first place. But the Spalding theory nonetheless limps on in certain circles.
Even so, it doesn't even begin to explain the Witnesses, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and a host of other matters.
Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at BYU, where he also serves as editor in chief of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative and as director of advancement for the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. He is the founder of MormonScholarsTestify.org. He blogs daily at dcpsicetnon.blogspot.com.
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Daniel C. Peterson, professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at BYU, is editor-in-chief of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative, founder of MormonScholarsTestify.org, chairman of "Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture" more ..
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I find it interesting that Peterson claims that there is not one shred of evidence that Joseph made this all up. He fails to mention that not one shred of evidence exists that supports Josephs claims either. The gold plates supposedly were taken More..
This is a great piece.
Brilliant, educated men and women the world over have tried to prove the BoM a fake since its publication. To no avail. Now, standby as the anti/ex-Mormons who frequent this site line up to prove they are smarter. More..
Dear Brahmabull,
The pattern of knowing, supported by the Bible and the Book of Mormon, mandates the necessity of receiving a personal revelatory confirmation in response to personal serious inquiry. "Seek and ye shall find, ask and More..