Redundancies

The use of redundant words, sentences, and phrases by Solomon Spaulding and [by] the Book of Mormon author identifies their dominant and very similar [writing] styles. Both develop a concept, then repeat the concept a few lines later.

Spaulding writes: ". . . and drank a bottle of excellent wine, our spirits were exhilerated (sic) . . . the capt. assuming his wanted chearfulness (sic) made the following address . . . we have now commenced a new voige (sic) -- " (p. 9).  He then repeats the concept a few lines later: ". . . I filled the bottle with wine . . . & drank success in the new voige (sic) . . . the exhileration (sic) produced the greatest cheerfulness . . . " (Manuscript Story p. 10)

On page 26 Spaulding writes: "But the kind of composition in which they most excel is poetry -- in poetic numbers they describe the great events, which take place & the exploits and mighty atcheivments (sic) of their heroes . . ."  Then later on the same page he repeats: "Their poetic orators entertain them with the productions of their poets, containing the history of great events & mighty atcheivments (sic)."

And again Spaulding writes: ". . . who defends us from the malicious designs of that great malignant spirit . . . " Then a few lines later ". . . that he will defend you against the evil designs of that malignant spirit." (Manuscript Story p. 12)

The Book of Morman author employs the same redundant style: ". . . the mysteries and the works of darkness and their secret works . . . and all their wickedness, and abominations . . ." Then almost immediately [following] he writes: ". . . that I may discover unto them the works of their brethren, yea, their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations." (Alma 37:21-23)

In the book of Mosiah, the author writes: ". . . the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world . . ." And five lines later: ". . . through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world . . ." (Mosiah 4:6, 7)

In 2 Nephi, the Book of Morman author writes: "And now I speak unto you, Joseph, my last born. Thou wast born in the wilderness of mine afflictions . . ." Then 10 lines later: ". . . Joseph, my last born, whom I have brought out of the wilderness of mine afflictions . . ." (2 Nephi 3:1-3)

Parallelism
 
Both Spaulding and the Book of Mormon author used parallelism in their sentence composition:

Both authors confuse the reader by contradicting themselves occasionally.

Spaulding says: ". . . The great mass, must possess a large share of ignorance. . . To all these causes combined the great mass of the people are indebted for possessing a considerable share of knowledge . . ." (Manuscript Story p. 27)

The Book of Mormon author writes: "And I did teach my people . . . to work in all man-
ner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance. And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land . . ." (2 Nephi 5:15-16)

Another example from the Book of Mormon: "And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land -- but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots . . ." (Alma 46:40)

Indecision

Both authors often used the word or  between two words or phrases of similar but not identical meaning, leaving the reader confused as to the intended meaning of the sentence.

Spaulding says: "At this place the hill or mountain came within a mile of the river." (Manuscript Story p. 37) "Near every village or city they constructed forts or fortifications." (Manuscript Story  p. 54) ". . . he immediately assembled all the chiefs or princes within his kingdom. (Manuscript Story p. 45) ". . . the necromancers or juglers assembled on the great square . . ." (Manuscript Story p. 74)

And in the Book of Mormon, Lehi says: ". . . I beheld that the iron rod . . . led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life . . ." (I Nephi 11:25) ". . . they called the name of the city, or Iand, Nephiahah." (Alma 50:14) ". . . commence laboring in digging a ditch round about the land or the city, Bountiful." (Alma 53:3) "The Lamanites, or the guards of the Lamanites, by night are drunken." (Mosiah 22:6)


Poor Sentence Composition

The grammatical errors found in the first edition of the Book of Mormon are the same type of errors as those found in Spaulding's Manuscript Story. Unnecessary words are included; incorrect verbs, pronouns, and prepositions are often used; and sentences often seem awkward and confusing to the reader. This similarity in writing style is yet another evidence that Manuscript Story and the Book of Mormon texts were written by the same person. It is important to note here that subsequent editing of the Book of Mormon has corrected many of the grammatical errors that appeared in the first edition, [and that a very close reading of the Oberlin text might uncover corrections intended, but not clearly indicated by Spaulding].

From Manuscript Story :

. . . there is a great river which runs in a westerly about fifteen days journey in a northwesterly course direction. (p. 18)

A slab colored, by its uniformity would tire the sences (sic). . . (p. 24)

. . . & influence mankind to conduct better than what they would do.
(p. 27)

Nor was it long before he found that a correspondent passion was existed in her breast. (p. 57)

From the Book of Mormon:

And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immed- iately towards him, and he beheld with great joy and he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them and that they were in a preparation to hear the word. (Alma 32:6)

. . . for a more history part are written upon mine other plates.
(2 Nephi 4:14)

And now, concerning this King Benjamin -- he had somewhat of contentions among his own people. (Words of Mormon 1:12)

And I know that the record which I make to be true.
(I Nephi 1:3, 1st ed.)

Other examples of similar characteristics in poor composition are:

Both authors used lengthy runs in their sentences: ". . . gained their living by hunting the elk, the deer & a great variety of other wild animals -- by fishing & fowling & by raising corn, beans & squashes -- Shooting the arrow slinging stones, wrestling, jumping, hoping (sic) & runing (sic) were their principle amusements . . ." (Manuscript Story p. 11). And in the Book of Mormon: ". . . against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness . . ." (Alma 16:18).

Both authors used a style of repeating the subject of their sentence or [of] a possesive pronoun several times: "She  saw the woful (sic) position of her beloved -- She  wished him no harm -- She  raised her feet . . ." (Manuscript Story p. 15).  "The Emperor and empress with his  councellors (sic), his  priests, his  officers & all his  relation . . ." (Manuscript Storyp. 66).  And in the Book of Mormon: ". . . he  has his friends in iniquity, and he  keepeth his guards about him; and he  teareth up the laws . . . and he  trampleth under his feet . . . " (Mosiah 29:22)  ". . . come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his  matchless power and his  wisdom patience, and his  long suffering . . ." (Mosiah 4:6)


Other Stylistic Similarities

Both authors used [biblical or classical style] metaphors in their stories: "As the . . . sun when he rises with his radiant beams dispels the darkness of the knight, (sic) so it is in your power to dispel the clouds of anxiety which rest upon my soul." (Manuscript Story p. 57).  [Compare this text, with its constellation of unusual words, to one from the Bible: ". . . clouds of darkness . . . overshadowed this Land . . . your Majesty, as the Sun in his strength, instantly dispelled those . . ." (Authorized Version, Introduction, 1611); and to a similar, though not so metaphoric, text from the Book of Mormon: . . . the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting light was lit up in his soul: (Alma 19:06). Although the Alma text parallels the biblical text in using "dispel," "darkness," and "clouds," it more resembles Spaulding in its reference to the "soul."]

[Both Spalding and the Book of Mormon writer use water metaphors in espressing their wishing:] "O that  my head were waters & my eyes a fountain of tears -- then my intolerable burthen should be poured forth in a torrent & my soul set at liberty." (Manuscript Story p. 16; cf: Jer. 9:1). And in the Book of Mormon: "O that  thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness! . . . O that  thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable . . ." (1 Nephi 2:9, 10; cf: Isa. 48:18 & Jer. 9:1).

King James Bible English

Both writers used King James Bible English, perhaps purposefully, to make the[ir] text[s] appear authentically old:

Fictional Story?

In many places the Book of Mormon text seems to have been written as a novel [with an author's aside comments, etc.] -- as was Spalding's fictional Manuscript Story.

Barton Stone decided to attend a camp meeting in Logan County in the spring of 1801. The extraordinary response of the people astounded him. He saw religion at fever pitch; many people 'got religion' on the spot. Stone carefully observed the physical demonstrations that accompanied the conversion experience, A number of the affected fell to the ground, as if dead, and lay motionless for several hours before gaining full consciousness. As they shouted for joy for their deliverance from the devil, others were caught up in a frenzy and praise God for the gift of salvation. ^l4

. . . for he (Ammon) expounded unto them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; and he also made known unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them. (And) . . . the king believed all his words. And he began to cry unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, have mercy. . . And now, when he had said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead. (Alma 18:39-42)

And he (Ammon) said unto the queen: He is not dead, but he sleepeth in God . . . Now Ammon . . . fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer . . . and he was also overpowered with joy; and thus they all three had sunk to the earth . . . And it came to pass that she went and took the queen by the hand . . . and she rose and stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy . . . And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites . . . (Alma 19:8-36)

Like fire in 'dry stubble driven by a strong wind,' the Second Awakening moved across the Kentucky frontier. The full range of religious expressions which Stone had observed in Logan County jarred central Kentucky as thousands participated in camp meetings . . .

The Second Awakening reached its climax at the Cane Ridge Camp Meeting on August 7-12, 1801. Estimates of attendance ranged from ten thousand to thirty thousand. Although Presbyterians sponsored the meeting, a number of Methodist and Baptist preachers mounted stumps and from these wilderness pulpits proclaimed God's love for sinners.

About three months after the last amen had been spoken at the Cane Ridge Camp Meeting, dispute arose within the Presbytery of Washington (Pennsylvania), which included churches in Kentucky and Ohio. Three elders in the Cabin Creek Church in Kentucky accused their pastor, Richard McNemar, of advocating doctrines that contradicted the Bible and the Westminster Confession of Faith.¹⁶

This prophet Smith, through his stone spectacles, wrote on the plates of Nephi, in his Book of Mormon, every error and almost every truth discussed in New York for the last ten years. He decides all the great controversies; -- infant baptism, ordination, the trinity, regeneration, repentance, justification, the fall of man, the atonement, transubstantiation, fasting, pennance, church government, religious experience, the call to the ministry, the general resurrection, eternal punishment, who may baptise, and even the question of free masonry, republican government, and the rights of man.²²

It is also to the Book of Mormon to which we turn for the plainest description of the Catholic Church as the great and abominable church. Nephi saw this 'church which is most abominable above all other churches' in vision. He 'saw the devil that he was the foundation of it'; and also the murders, wealth, harlotry, persecutions, and evil desires that historically have been part of this Satanic organization (1Ne. 13:1-10)²⁵

He (Hurlbut) finally came to me to have the evidence he had obtained published. I arranged to pay him in books which sent to him at Conneaut O. Before publishing my book I went to Conneaut and saw most of the witnesses who had seen Spaulding's Manuscript Found and had testified to its identity with the Book of Mormon as published in my book and was satisfied they were men of intelligence and respectability and were not mistaken in their statements.²⁸

After the 'Book of Mormon' came out, a copy of it was taken to New Salem, the place of Mr. Spaulding's former residence, and the very place where the 'Manuscript Found' was written. A Mormon [in first printing: "woman"] preacher appointed a meeting there and in the meeting read and repeated copious extracts from the 'Book of Mormon.' The historical part was immediately recognized by all the older inhabitants, as the identical work of Mr. Spaulding in which they had been so deeply interested years before.³¹

He wrote, that because indigent circumstances required the exertions of his father's entire family to sustain themselves, he had been deprived of the benefit of an education, being instructed merely in 'reading writing and the ground rules of arithmetic,' which constituted his 'whole literary requirements.'

Although Joseph's writing compares favorably with his contemporaries', he seldom used the pen himself, dictating or delegating most of his writing to clerks. A complicated life and feelings of literary inadequacy explain this dependence. He lamented his lack of fluency in address,' his 'writing imperfections,' and his 'inability' to convey his ideas in writing; communication seemed to him to present an insurmountable barrier. He wrote of the almost 'total darkness of paper pen and ink,' and the 'crooked broken scattered and imperfect language.' ³⁴

continue reading on: p. 48