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Does It Include Spalding Fragments? Some time ago Ted Chandler wrote an article, proposing that a portion of the 1842-43 Times & Seasons "History of Joseph Smith" (i.e. the Sidney Rigdon section) was influenced by the language and ideas of Solomon Spalding. Casual readers might overlook such claims as mere speculation, but anybody who will take the trouble to read through the published Smith History, from the beginning, will discover several textual oddities that appear to be linked with Spalding's preserved writings. Thoughtful students of Mormon origins are invited to examine the evidence, to see whether they agree with the conclusions presented in the following study report. (Oct. 2000 - revised May 2009) |
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Some Background on the 1838-39 Joseph Smith "History" 
John Whitmer refused to turn over to these two leaders the history he had compiled for the Mormons. Oliver Cowdery, who had also written an influencial LDS History in 1834-36 was in apostasy, leaving Smith and Rigdon few personnel options in their plan to rewrite Mormon history from a self-justifying, "faith-promoting" perspective. At the end of April 1838 Joseph Smith reported that he himself was writing a new history of his experiences and the early years of the Mormon Church. It is almost certain that Sidney Rigdon was the man who did most of the early writing for this project. The leaders' historical compilation was continued in Illinois in 1839, in the hand of Smith's scribe. Rigdon's direct input probably lasted until about the time of his mother's death at Commerce (later Nauvoo) in October 1839. He may have also worked on the project during his lengthy stay in the Pittsburgh region during the last two months of 1839. The new "Smith History" was serialized in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons beginning in March 1842. There are indications of Rigdon's prose in the Times and Seasons history up through the publication of its 1843 installments. Sidney Rigdon's identifiable contributions no doubt extend at least as far into the newspaper's serialization as the telling of his own story in the spring of 1843 -- the portion wherein Ted Chandler first discovered a probable "Spalding Fragment." Given the many assertions made over the years purporting to connect Sidney Rigdon with the authorship (or editorship) of a Solomom Spalding-based Book of Mormon, it seems significant that Rigdon was also a likely primary author of the first portion of the Smith History: a text containing recognized similarities in theme and language, to the fictional writings of Mr. Spalding. |
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A Smoking Gun in the Smith History? As far back as his years in graduate school, during 1979-81, Spalding researcher Dale R. Broadhurst suspected that the Times and Seasons account of Smith's 1827 uncovering of the "golden plates" of the Book of Mormon somehow depended upon a Spalding original. Other students of Mormon history had previously identified many parallels between the Smith account and the story told at the very beginning of the Oberlin Spalding Manuscript: B. H. Roberts, Marvin S. Hill, and Lester E. Bush (all faithful LDS) had previously noticed and reported some of these interesting textual similarities.In about 1996 Spalding researcher Doyle Franklin of Murfeesboro, Tennessee, completed an unpublished study of textual similarities between the Oberlin Spalding manuscript discovery account and the Joseph Smith golden plates discovery account. Franklin's compilation of textual parallels in the two respective stories runs to 360 entries, but the determination of a "strong" correlation of his selected extracts appears to be subjective and often unreliable. There are perhaps 100 good "hits" in his lengthy tabulation.  Sample page from the 1996 Doyle Franklin Manuscript For example, there is one very unusual phraseology parallel Franklin missed when compiling his 360 sets of parallel quotations. The Times and Seasons "History of Joseph Smith" segment of May 1, 1842 contains this verbal oddity on page 772:
...rumor with her thousand tongues was all the time
Fame with her thousand tongues commenced her pleasing
Although these two excerpts share some common wording, they are not identical. There is no proof here that Rigdon (or some other LDS writer) copied a passage directly out of a Spalding text. A major difference between the two passages is that Smith's History personifies "Rumor," while Spalding's story personifies "Fame." Spalding probably picked up their particular phraseology from the text of a 17th century play entitled "The Triumphs of Love and Innocence" (published as "Queen of Cypress, or Love Above Ambition"). Act One of that same play speaks of "Fame with her thousand tongues..." But Solomon Spalding did not derive his entire quote from a 17th century stage drama. As is so often the case with his unattributed literary quotes, he has conflated two similar sayings into a single utterance of his own. A young John Milton once wrote a short flowery essay entitled "On The Fifth of November" -- a piece generally included in printings of his collected works. In that essay Milton speaks of "Rumor... babbling with her thousand tongues... diminishing the truth... exaggerating..." Both the Spalding quote and the Smith History make key use of the idea of "exaggeration," a word that does not appear in the excerpt from the old play. It is likely that the well-read Spalding knew of both the "Fame" and "Rumor" personifications in print, and that he chose to merge their ideas in his own writing about lying exaggerations. How these same obscure concepts and hyperbolic verbage came to rest within the Smith History is anybody's guess -- but some substantial connection with the writings of Solomon Spalding cannot be ruled out here. In his essay Ted Chandler said: "It isn't merely the styles of these two accounts (Spalding's Oberlin MS and the Smith History) which are similar, but also the content and specific details." That observation may be generally true for the portion of text Chandler examined. It also seems to be true for another part of Smith's History -- the episode in which his recovery of the famous golden bible is recited. But the tales of persecution surrounding the "her thousand tongues" inclusion do not match up well with anything written in the Oberlin manuascript or other known Spalding documents. If a Spalding original was relied upon by Sidney Rigdon or some other Mormon copyist, quotations from that earlier story must have been made selectively, more with the intent to give flavor to the Smith story, than to provide it with a great deal of substance. One place in the Times and Seasons serialization where such "substance" can be easily located, is in the episode for late 1827. There appears to be a cluster of shared theme and vocabulary with Spalding, at the point in the Smith story where he recovers the "plates" from a stone box, near the top of a hill, a little south of one of the Great Lakes. There are probably other such constellations of common phraseology in the two texts, but the "plates" discovery account merits special notice.  Of course, the mere detection and reporting of unusual phraseology similarities between the Smith History and the extant writings of Solomon Spalding does not answer the question of how these overlaps in thought and language came to exist in two supposedly unrelated texts. Some may say that, despite the external claims for a Spalding authorship of the Book of Mormon, these lingistic parallels are nothing more than an anomalous set of coincidental oddities. Others may wonder aloud whether Sidney Rigdon and his associates once had a whole library of Spalding documents in their possession. The answer probably lies somewhere between these two extremes of possibilities. It is nevertheless a reasonable conclusion that Spalding's language somehow influenced the texts of a whole genre of early Mormon writings -- from the pages of "sacred" latter day scripture and revelation, all the way down to Joseph Smith, Jr.'s mundane explanations of his own early activities. Since the days of Fawn Brodie it has been popular for students of Mormonism to guess that Smith's personal and family experiences are reflected at various points in the Book of Mormon story. The day may now be at hand, when it will be more correct to assert that Smith family members patterned the recollections of some of their own reported experiences after incidents contained in the Book of Mormon and other, lesser known sources, such as the "lost" manuscript prose of Mr. Solomon Spalding. The tabulation of textual similarities presented below follows the order and numbering of Franklin's 1996 list, but does not duplicate it precisely. The list was derived from a short excerpt from the initial portion of Smith's History (1842 Times & Seasons pages 749-772), compared with the entire Oberlin Spalding Manuscript. Several of the tabulated parallels appear to be worthy of closer study and possible expansion; others are perhaps of no real significance, other than to document shared vocabulary. 
 See Broadhurst's "The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon" for presentation of thematic overlap in the Joseph Smith plates discovery story and the fictional ancient record discovery related at the beginning of Spalding's Oberlin manuscript. |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 |
Times & Seasons p. 749: on the evening of the TS-749: the... twenty first TS-749: of September TS-749: I betook myself to prayer TS-749: to prayer and supplication TS-749: supplication to almighty God TS-753: While I was thus in the act TS-753: in the act of TS-753: calling upon God TS-753: I discovered a light |
Oberlin Spalding MS p. 161 on the eve of a MS-038 the twenty-fifth day MS-022 in September MS-120 I myself MS-002 I prepared myself MS-024 earnest prayers... and MS-008 Almighty...Being...To Him...supplication MS-001 As I was MS-030 it is an act of MS-108 be an act of MS-111 he called upon the MS-001 I discovered a number |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 |
TS-753: a light appearing in the room TS-753: which continued to increase TS-753: the room was lighter than TS-753: at noonday TS-753: immediately a TS-753: a personage appeared TS-753: standing in the TS-753: in the air TS-753: did not touch the TS-753: He had on a loose robe |
MS-163 the light should appear MS-064 appeared in MS-098 in... the room MS-152 it... served to increase MS-092 continued to progress MS-098 the room MS-041 was... a lighter shade MS-154 until midnight MS (many) immediately MS-067 personal appearance MS-11 take our stand in the MS-066 through the air MS-057 as to touch his MS-042 wore... a loose garment |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
021 022 023a 023b 024 025 026 027 028 029 030 |
TS-753: of most exquisite TS-753: It was a whiteness TS-753: beyond any thing TS-753: I had ever seen TS-753: nor do I believe TS-753: nor do I believe that TS-753: made to appear so... brilliant TS-753: so exceedingly TS-753: his hands TS-753: were naked and TS-753: and his arms also |
MS-049 of the exquisite MS-064 a little whiter MS (many) anything MS-040 than I had ever seen MS-169 No... do I MS-123 Nor will I MS-013 I could scarce believe that MS-022 make a very brilliant... appearance MS-001 far exceeded the MS (many) his hands MS-057 naked and MS-110 & 141 his arms |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
031 032 033 034 035 036 037 038 039 040 |
TS-753: his feet...legs...ankles. His head TS-753: I could discover TS-753: discover that he TS-753: no other clothing on TS-753: into his bosom TS-753: Not only was his TS-753: his robe exceedingly white TS-753 but his whole person was glorious TS-753 beyond description TS-753 his countenance |
MS-028 her feet... his head MS (many) I could MS-001 I discovered that MS (many) no other MS (many) clothing MS-112 to his bosom MS-105 in his bosom MS-137 not only MS (many) was his MS-137 His garments glittered MS-136 his appearance was majestic MS-022 different from any... a description MS-118 His countenance was MS-146 His countenance which was |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
041 042 043 044 045 046 047 048 049 050 | TS-753 truly like lightning TS-753 exceedingly light TS-753 so very bright TS-753 around his person TS-753: I first looked upon him TS-753: I was afraid TS-753: the fear soon left me TS-753: He called me by name TS-753: He … said unto me TS-753: he was a messenger |
MS (many) truly MS (many) lightning MS-118 exceeding happy MS-145 usual brightness MS (many) his person MS-106 she first saw him MS-149 fearing that his MS-040 we fear the MS-130 He therefore calls... immortalize their names MS-006 he says to me MS (many) a messenger |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
051 052 053 054 055 056 057 058 059 060 |
TS-753: from the presence of God TS-753: his name was Nephi TS-753: ha[s] a work for me to do TS-753: my name should be had TS-753: for good TS-753: among all nations TS-753: all nations, kindreds, and tongues TS-753: good and evil spoken of TS-753: among all people TS-753: He said there was |
MS (many) presence MS-014, 104 whose name was MS-083 In this work he was engaged MS-006 name I sustain is MS (many) should be MS-083 laws for the good of MS-080 among nations MS-129 every kingdom and tribe MS-023, 024 spoke... of good... and... evil MS (many) among the people MS-130, 138 he said |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
061 062 063 064 065 066 067 068 069 070 |
TS-753: was a book deposited TS-753: written upon gold plates TS-753: giving an account of the TS-753: of the former inhabitants of TS-753: of this continent TS-753: the source from TS-753: whence they sprang TS-753: the fullness of the TS-753: the everlasting gospel TS-753: the... gospel was contained in it |
MS-006 a manuscript... will be deposited MS-003 written in elegant hand MS-088 shall keep an account of the MS-131 all the inhabitants of the Empire MS-032, 033 beings that possess this continent MS-040 originated from MS (many) sprang MS-081 the fulfillment of MS-124 the perpetual MS-053 contains the tenets of their theology... religious |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
071 072 073 074 075 076 077 078 079 080 |
TS-753: as delivered TS-753: the Saviour TS-753: the ancient inhabitants TS-753: these stones fastened TS-753 constituted what is called TS-753: deposited with the plates TS-753: the possession and use of TS-753: seers in ancient … times TS-753: former times TS-753: had prepared them for |
MS-123 he delivered him MS-119 to deliver MS-015 Jesus Christ MS-110 the ancient MS (many) stones MS-043 constituted a... part MS-006 deposited with this history MS (many) possession of MS-110 ancient scribbling of a great sage MS-055 the earliest ages of time MS (many) prepared for the |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
081 082 083 084 085 086 087 088 089 090 |
TS-753: for the purpose of TS-753: translating the book TS-753: he told me that TS-753: when I got TS-753: I got those plates TS-753: of which he had spoken TS-753: the time that they should TS-753: they should be obtained TS-753: was not yet fulfilled TS-753: I should not |
MS-153 for the purpose of MS-004 a translation of... a volume MS-068 he... told them that MS-001 when I MS-002 I found... rolls of parchment MS-155 had he spoken MS-098, 155 the time they MS-040 could be obtained MS-037 fulfilled MS-160 to fulfill his MS (many) I should |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
091 092 093 094 095 096 097 098 099 100 |
TS-753: only to those … commanded to TS-753: to show them TS-753: if I did I should be destroyed TS-753: was conversing with TS-753: the vision TS-753: was opened TS-753: opened to my mind TS-753: I could see... so clearly TS-753: the place where the TS-753: were deposited |
MS-076 to...them only...commanded... to MS-069 showing them MS-150 destroyed if... they had begun MS-067 conversing with them MS-062 the vision MS (many) opened MS-002 my mind MS-105 in his mind MS-126 clearness of his sight MS-140 the place where the MS-152 were deposited |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 |
Times & Seasons p. 753 clearly and distinctly TS-753: I visited it TS-754: this communication I...immediately TS-754: the light TS-754: in the room... begin to TS-754: around the person TS-754: had been speaking TS-754: it continued to TS-754: the room was... dark TS-754: when instantly I |
Oberlin Spalding MS pp. 018, 034 a distinct MS-035 I... visited MS-033 I immediately communicated MS-030, 163 the light MS-141 in a room MS-145 begin, to march MS-042-043 round... the people MS-129-130 speaking... has been MS (many) continued to MS-041 was... dark MS-028 when one... instantly |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 |
TS-754: as it were a TS-754: a conduit open TS-754: I saw... open right up into heaven TS-754: he ascended up TS-754: he entirely disappeared and TS-754: the room was left TS-754: had made its appearance TS-754: I lay TS-754: musing on the TS-754: the singularity of |
MS-122 as it was a MS-001 a conical MS-125-126 up his eyes towards Heaven... Heaven... opens to my view... I behold... Here I see MS-067 he mounted... and ascended MS-155 Moon disappeared, and MS (many) the room MS-021 made a most terrific appearance MS-028 where he lay MS-105 He reasoned on the MS-001 The face... had a singular |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 |
TS-754: of the scene TS-754: and marvelling greatly at what had been [told me] TS-754: this extraordinary TS-754: messenger TS-754: in the midst of my TS-754: my meditation TS-754: I suddenly discovered that TS-754: beginning to get TS-754: in an instant TS-754: the same |
MS-158 of the scene MS-067-068 and all were astonished at... the great ... wisdom which he... told them MS-002 this extraordinary work MS (many) messenger MS-008 in the midst of a MS-069-070 He had... meditated MS-158 They... instantly realized that MS (many) beginning to MS (many) in an instant MS (many) the same |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 |
TS-754: He commenced TS-754: and again related the very TS-754: which he had done TS-754: at his first visit TS-754: without the least TS-754: the least variation TS-754: he informed me TS-754: great judgments which were coming TS-754: upon the earth TS-754: great desolations |
MS (many) commenced MS-138 and related MS-032,161 the very MS-082, 109 which he had done MS-104-105 receiving visits... at their first interview MS-109,115 without the least MS-051 the variation of MS-109-110 he informed her... Believe me MS-053 great events which take place MS-151 upon the earth MS-128 devastation... by the Great |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 |
TS-754: famine, sword, and pestilence TS-754: grievous judgments TS-754: on the earth in this generation TS-754: Having related these things TS-754: he had done before TS-754: By this time TS-754: so deep were the impressions made on my mind TS-754: sleep had fled TS-754: from my eyes TS-754: overwhelmed in astonishment |
MS-126 their swords... famine and pestilence MS-087 redress grievances and punish MS-005 in some future age... of the Earth MS-063 these things MS-066 a... relation of MS-082,109 he had done MS-021 By this time MS-105 deeper in his mind MS-127 with such impressions MS-167 his reason fled MS-155 from all danger... his eyes MS-001 my astonishment |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 |
TS-754: had both seen and heard TS-754: what was my surprise when TS-754: when again I beheld the TS-754: him rehearse TS-754: or repeat... the TS-754: the same things as before TS-754: and added... that TS-754: a caution... that... try to... get the TS-754: to tempt me... to get TS-754: in consequence of the |
MS-145 be seen... and... was heard MS-115 what was their surprise when MS-159 when he beheld the MS-055 they rehearse MS-167 to repeat the MS-109-110 As ELSEON... had done before... the same... contents MS-111 and the Emperor added that MS-074-075 precaution... to prevent any... from getting to the enemy MS (many) induced me/him to MS (many) in consequence of |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 |
TS-754: the indigent TS-754: circumstances of TS-754: my father's family TS-754: to get the plates for... getting rich TS-754: for the purpose of TS-754: This he forb[i]d me TS-754: must have no other object in view TS-754: to glorify God TS-754: be influenced by TS-754: any other motive |
MS-059,098 indigence MS-004 circumstance MS-111 to our family... my father MS-135 to obtain great riches from the spoils MS (many) for the purpose of MS-123-124 This speech... he delivered... we will not... permit MS-154 might soon... have such... a further object in view MS-130 gloriously...in the cause of...God MS-068 under the influence of MS-111 opposite motives |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 |
TS-754: of building his TS-754: his kingdom TS-754: otherwise I TS-754: I could not TS-754: third visit TS-754: ascended [up] into heaven TS-754: to ponder on TS-754: the strangeness of TS-754: had just experienced TS-754: when almost immediately |
MS (many) in building MS-089 within his kingdom MS-096 otherwise there MS-001 I could not read MS-090 second visit MS-025 ascended in curls to heaven MS-050 to obtain... wonder MS-088 the peculiar prerogative of MS-156 Experience had taught MS-165 When... orders were immediately |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 |
TS-754: the heavenly TS-754: the... messenger TS-754: ascended from TS-754: the third time TS-754: I found that TS-754: was approaching TS-754: interviews must have occupied TS-754: the whole of TS-754: that night TS-754: I shortly after |
MS-125 the heavenly MS (many) messenger MS (many) ascended MS (many) the third MS-002 I found that MS-076 approached MS-106-107 interview, which lasted... hours MS (many) the whole of MS-163 That they... the night MS-105 a short time... being afterwards |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 |
TS-754: arose from my TS-754: my bed TS-754: and as usual TS-754: the necessary labors TS-754: of the day TS-754: my strength TS-754: so exhausted TS-754: as render[ed] me TS-754: entirely unable TS-754: discovered... to be wrong with me |
MS-092 arose from the MS-126 in their bed MS-109.145 his usual MS-063 all unnecessary labor MS-115,155 of the day MS-091 His advise and... strength MS-151 nearly exhausted MS-030 heart-rending... bear me down MS-026 entirely MS-150 unable MS (many) discovered MS-105 was not well MS (many) wrongs |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 |
Times & Seasons p. 754: something to be TS-754: My father... told me to go TS-754: I started... to TS-754: with the intention of TS-754: going to the house TS-754: in attempting to TS-754: to cross the TS-754: the fence TS-754: out of the field where TS-754: strength entirely failed |
Oberlin Spalding MS p. 088 be something MS-111 with my father's command... I will go MS-022 I began to inspect MS-168 with an intention to MS-097 into the house MS-165 towards the fort...in that house...go MS-155 was attempting to MS-140,154 to cross the MS-094 fences MS-166-167 out of the … field MS-149-150 strength and courage... intolerably fatigued |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 |
TS-754: and I fell helpless TS-754: on the ground TS-754: for a time TS-754: was quite unconscious TS-754: The first TS-754: I can recollect TS-754: a voice speaking TS-754: calling me by name TS-754: I looked up TS-754: and beheld the same |
MS-077-078 and they fell...helpless and prostrate MS-043,162 on the ground MS (many) for some time MS-110 she fell MS-067 displayed much sedateness MS (many) the first MS-115 will recollect...his...recollection MS (many) a voice MS-014-015 name... and myself were... called MS-032 looked down MS-090-091 now beheld... the same |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 |
TS-754: over my head TS-754: surrounded by TS-754: had related to me the TS-754: the previous night TS-754: commanded me to go TS-754: to my father TS-754: and tell him of the TS-754: the... commandments which TS-754: which I had received TS-771: I obeyed |
MS-106 my head MS-163 upon my own head MS (many) surrounded by MS-138 and related the MS-153 the next night MS-110 command me to MS-142 to my father MS-170 and tell... him a... of the MS-064 the commandments which MS (many) had received MS-110 I received MS-076,124,136 I/they obeyed MS-142 I must obey |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 |
TS-771: I returned [back] to my father TS-771: in the field TS-771: I... rehearsed the whole matter to him TS-771: He replied TS-771: it was of God TS-771: as commanded by the TS-771: I left the field TS-771: the field and TS-771: to the place where the TS-771: the messenger |
MS-111-112 for his return... to his father's MS-135 in the sanguine field MS-034 I then made known to him MS (many) matters MS-065 He replied MS-036-037 This was... of the... God MS-131 is commanded by the MS-035 I had left MS-153 the field and MS-074 to a certain place where the MS (many) messenger |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 |
TS-771: had told me TS-771: the plates were deposited TS-771: owing to the TS-771: the distinctness of TS-771: the vision which TS-771: which I had TS-771: concerning it TS-771: I knew the TS-771: the place TS-771: the instant that |
MS-110 who told me MS-053-054 the records... they have deposited MS-169 owing to the MS-131,154 distinction of MS-062 the vision MS (many) which he had MS-127 as to war, it was MS-146-147 as to... it was MS-147-148 knowing... I MS (many) the place MS-161 the very instant |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 |
TS-771: I arrived there TS-771: Convenient to the TS-771: the village of TS-771: of... Ontario TS-771: a hill... in the neighborhood TS-771: the most elevated of TS-771: on the west TS-771: side of this hill TS-771: not far from the TS-771: from the top |
MS-142 I will... express arrived MS-014 convenient... to receive MS (many) the village MS-102 the country... Ontario MS-026 woods and neighboring hills MS (many) the highest MS-013 on the north MS-001 Near the west MS-077 side of this hill MS-136,161 not far MS-001 from the fort... on the top |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 |
TS-771: under a stone TS-771: of considerable size TS-771: lay the plates TS-771: deposited in a stone box TS-771: this stone TS-771: was thick... on the upper side TS-771: and rounding TS-771: in the middle TS-771: and thinner TS-771: towards the edges |
MS-001 on a flat stone MS-052 of considerable labor MS-001-002 lay on the... this... deposit MS-002 an earthen box MS-005 and deposit it in a box secured MS-001 a flat stone. This was MS-149 was spread thick on every side MS-150 and, facing round MS-105,168 in the middle MS-047 a thin MS (many) towards the |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 |
TS-771: the middle part of it TS-771: was visible TS-771: above the ground TS-771: was covered with earth TS-771: Having removed the earth... I TS-771: I... obtained a lever which I TS-771: I... got fixed under the... stone TS-771: the edge of the TS-771: with a little exertion TS-771: the stone... raised it up, I |
MS-021 the middle part of their MS-069,141 were visible MS-150 beyond the ground MS-151 covered with...secure...in the earth MS-153 covered with... mounds of earth MS-001-002 mound of earth... I... tore it down MS-001 With the assistance of a lever I MS-002 I noticed... stone... fixed in the MS (many) the edge of the MS-073 comply with... vigorous exertions MS-001 I raised the stone |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 |
TS-771: I looked in TS-771: and there indeed TS-771: did I behold the TS-771: the plates TS-771: as stated TS-771: The box... was TS-771: in which they TS-771: they lay TS-771: was formed by TS-771: laying stones |
MS-002 I began to inspect MS-169 and indeed MS (many) I behold MS-052 the records MS-022 at stated MS-002 the box was MS-100 in which they MS-155 they lay MS-001 it lay MS-093 was formed by MS-001 it lay... rested on stones |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 |
TS-771: in some kind of TS-771: of cement TS-771: in the bottom of the TS-771: the box TS-771: crossways of the TS-771: on these stones TS-771: the other things TS-771: I made an attempt to take them out but was forbidden TS-771: informed that the TS-771: the time for |
MS-056 some kind of MS-047 formed of clay MS-002 earthen box MS-002 to the bottom of the MS-002 the box MS-074 extended across the MS-001 on stones MS-024 the... good things MS-002 would hardly permit my hands to remove this venerable deposit MS-142 informed him, that the MS-097 the time for |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 |
TS-771: bringing them forth TS-771: had not yet arrived TS-771: neither would [?] TS-771: until four years TS-771: from that time TS-771: he told me that TS-771: I should come to TS-771: precisely TS-771: in one year...would there meet... of each year, and at each TS-771: I should continue to |
MS-120 called forth MS-034-035 had not traveled... We arrived MS (many) neither MS-052 four or five years MS-104 at that time MS-110 from this time MS-110 He might... told me MS-034 we should... we came to MS-001 exactly MS-083 Once every year... shall meet at MS-093 each year... each time MS-152 it should continue to |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 |
TS-771: the time... for obtaining the plates TS-771: Accordingly as TS-771: I had been commanded TS-771: I found the TS-771: received instruction and TS-771: intelligence from him TS-771: received...at each of our interviews...how...his kingdom was to be TS-771: respecting what TS-771: the Lord TS-771: in what manner... to be conducted |
MS-052 time to obtain... the records MS (many) according to MS-150 had been... commanded MS-001 I found... the point MS-068 received...their instruction and MS-161 him the intelligence MS-071 revealed... several interviews... received as... truth MS-066 respecting this MS-015 the Lord's MS-022 in the manner of conducting them |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 |
TS-771: in the last days TS-772: At length the TS-772: the time arrived... September TS-772: for obtaining the TS-772: one thousand TS-772: having [went/gone]... to TS-772: place where they were deposited TS-772: this charge TS-772: I should be responsible for TS-772: if I should let them go carelessly |
MS-064 appeared... in different ages MS-127 At length the MS-022 the time arrives... in September MS-145 anxious for... obtaining a MS (many) one thousand MS-116 has gone with him to MS-093 to deposit them in a secure place MS-166 the charge MS-141 I should be...responsible for the MS-161 He was careful... with them... but was careful |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 |
TS-772: any neglect of TS-772: I should be cut off... or... done what was required TS-772: my endeavors to TS-772: preserve them TS-772: they should be protected TS-772: the reason... why it was TS-772: I had received TS-772: such strict charges TS-772: no sooner TS-772: was it known |
MS-048 is neglected MS-154 I will...either triumph... or perish in the attempt MS-150 endeavored to inspire MS-058 Preserve... Forsake them not MS-080 they shall be protected MS-050-051 the... reason dictates... why it is MS (many) had received MS-020,110 I received MS-076 behold such... a furious charge MS (many) soon MS-156 nor was it known |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 |
TS-772: the most strenuous exertions were TS-772: every stratagem...was resorted to TS-772: be invented TS-772: for that purpose TS-772: persecution became...bitter and TS-772: more... severe TS-772: and multitudes TS-772: on the alert TS-772: if possible TS-772: but by the wisdom of God |
MS-073 the most vigorous exertions were MS-154 seeking by various... stratagems to MS-051 they were invented MS-002 for that purpose MS-136 prosecuting them with vigor and MS-100 more severe MS-067 and multitudes MS-110 On the tenth day... be in readiness MS-162 if possible MS-062 But...from His substance...His wisdom |
| No. | Joseph Smith History | Oberlin Spalding Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 |
TS-772: they remained TS-772: safe in my hands TS-772: had accomplished TS-772: was required TS-772: according to TS-772: arrangements the TS-772: the messenger TS-772: I delivered... to him TS-772: his charge TS-772: until this day |
MS-013 they belonged... now remained MS-142 my hands... are safe MS-085 facilitate and accomplish MS-093 was required MS (many) according to MS (many) arrangement/arrangements MS (many) messenger MS-123 he delivered him the MS-157 their charge MS (many) the day |
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Another Spalding Fragment For further evidence of parallels between the work of Solomon Spalding and Joseph Smith, see the following: Book of Mormon Authorship Spalding Authorship Items Spalding Notes Recent Defenses of the Book of Mormon Home |