Who did Joseph Smith steal his ideas from?

[Michael]

I've heard that Mormon founder Joseph Smith actually stole a lot of his concepts from another author of his time. I believe I even recall accusations of blatant plagiarizing. Can anyone help me out here?

 

[LadyFlynt]

He stole alot of things! Both physical and idealogical! He also plagerized from the KJV.

 

[A.J.A.]

Solomon Spaulding.

And Isaiah. And William Shakespeare.

 

[Bladestunner316]

And Freemasonry ... etc.....

 

[SRoper]

William Shakespeare?

 

[doulosChristou]

Satan.

 

[Peter]

I also heard that Ellen White (7th Day Adventism) stole a lot of her bizarre ideas from Milton's otherwise good (I think?) poem Paradise Lost. And she plagerized Wylie's History of Protestantism with a few adventist adaptations.

And I also heard John Wesley either adapted one of Agustus Toplady's works to make him look like an Arminian or he abridged it in such a way to make Toplady look like a fool.

Cults are bad.

 

[Bladestunner316]

He stole them from Dan Rather

 

[Michael]

Originally posted by A.J.A.
Solomon Spaulding.

Who was he?

Was there any particular work involved that I might research?

 

[Presbyrino]

Originally posted by Bladestunner316
He stole them from Dan Rather

 

[rmwilliamsjr]

Originally posted by Ezekiel16

Originally posted by A.J.A.
Solomon Spaulding.

Who was he?

Was there any particular work involved that I might research?

It's called the Spaulding hypothesis.
check out:
Who Really Wrote The Book Of Mormon?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...102-7154910-1108153?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
when it comes to LDS i look at the Tanners first:
http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no39.htm#HONESTY WITH MORMONS ON SPALDING


the other side:
http://www2.ida.net/graphics/shirtail/authorsh.htm --->LDS defense
http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/papers2.htm
box 29, 30 have some books titles to google
http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/response/qa/spaulding.htm --->LDS defense

there appear to be 2 novels by Spaulding, one old one that the LDS talk about and another missing one that the Spaulding hypothesis people talk about.

at this point i believe that it is the best idea on the literary source we have, although i wouldn't discount the 'Satan did it' angle at all. Both Smith and his family had a history of occult practices and treasure digging.

post edit
while googling i found:
http://solomonspalding.com/library.htm

it is a mormon anti-tanner site that is posting lots of primary materials.
worth a couple of hours research and maybe spydering a little. *grin*

[Edited on 3-4-2005 by rmwilliamsjr]

 

[Michael]

Thanks rmwilliamsjr. I will investigate. Mormons aren't exactly the easiest to talk to, especially if you are like me and don't know much about their history or beliefs.

 

[Puritanhead]

He stole Mormon ritual from the Masons!

 

[Wrigley]

Originally posted by A.J.A.
Solomon Spaulding.

And Isaiah. And William Shakespeare.

View of the Hebrews is Spaulding's work.

Been in a few discussion with mormons about that. They will deny it fully. Despite how similiar the ideas are.

 

[Bladestunner316]

to Ryan