Mormon History
Statement of Solomon Spaulding's Wife - 1839
Boston Recorder – April 19, 1839
Religious.
MORMONISM.
HOLLISTON, APRIL 8, 1839.
To the Editor of the Boston
Recorder.
Dear Sir, -- As the Pastor of the Congregational church and society in this
town, I have had occasion to come in contact with Mormonism in its grossest
forms. Consequently, I have been led to make inquiries relative to its origin,
progress, and, so far as they have any, the peculiar sentiments of its votaries.
My object in this has been, as a faithful pastor, so far as possible, to arrest
the progress of what I deem to be one of the rankest delusions ever palmed on
poor human nature. However, not supposing that the readers of the Recorder would
be interested in the details of Mormonism in general, I send you for publication
in your valuable periodical, the following communication, as a paper of unusual
importance, giving a certified, sufficiently well attested and true account of
the origin of the "Book of Mormon," or "Golden Bible," as it is sometimes
called; on which the whole system mainly depends. And here, perhaps it should be
said, that the leaders of the delusion pretend that the book was dug out of the
ground, where it had been deposited for many centuries; that it was written on
certain metallic plates, in a peculiar character or hieroglyphic; that the
finder, a man of money-digging memory who was accustomed to look into the
ground by aid of a peculiar stone, was in a similar manner enabled to read and
translate it! Hence what is sometimes called the Mormon bible. But not such was
its origin, according to the following communication.
The occasion of the communication coming into my hands, is as follows. Having
heard incidentally that there was a lady in Monson, Ma., whose husband now dead
was the author of the book, I requested in a note, Rev. D. R. Austin, Principal
of Monson Academy, to obtain of her, for my benefit, and to be used as I should
think proper, a certified account of its origin with her husband; for the
character of which lady I wished the venerable Dr. Ely and himself to avouch.
The following highly satisfactory document came in reply.
You are requested to insert it in the Recorder, not so much because it will
interest the majority of your readers, but that the facts well attested may be
laid up in memory, and the number of your paper containing them being kept, may
afford the means to an enlightened community, to refute so great an imposition
on the world. I would not only respectfully bespeak its publication in the
Recorder, but in other papers; I would it were published throughout the land.
For many Mormons are struggling throughout the country endeavoring to propagate
their notions; and with some success, with a peculiar class of people. The
origin of this pretended revelation being thus completely authenticated,
may save many minds from delusion, fanaticism and ruin.
Yours respectfully, JOHN STORRS.
Origin of the
"Book of Mormon," or
"Golden Bible."
As this book has excited much attention and has been put by a certain new sect,
in the place of the sacred Scriptures, I deem it a duty which I owe to the
public, to state what I know touching its origin. That its claims to a
divine origin are wholly unfounded, needs no proof to a mind unperverted by the
grossest delusions. That any sane person should rank it higher than any other
merely human composition, is a matter of the greatest astonishment; yet it is
received as divine by some who dwell in enlightened New England, and even by
those who have sustained the character of devoted Christians. Learning recently,
that Mormonism had found its way into a church in Massachusetts, and has
impregnated some of its members with its gross delusions, so that
excommunication has become necessary, I am determined to delay no longer doing
what I can to strip the mask from this monster of sin, and to lay open this pit
of abominations.
Rev. Solomon Spaulding, to whom I was united in marriage in early life, was a
graduate of Dartmouth College, and was distinguished for a lively imagination
and a great fondness for history. At the time of our marriage, he resided in
Cherry Valley, N.Y. From this place we removed to New Salem, Ashtabula county,
Ohio; sometimes called Conneaut, as it is situated upon Conneaut Creek. Shortly
after our removal to this place, his health sunk, and he was laid aside from
active labors. In the town of New Salem, there are numerous mounds and forts,
supposed by many to be the dilapidated dwellings and fortifications of a race
now extinct. These ancient relics arrest the attention of the new settlers, and
become objects of research for the curious. Numerous implements were found and
other articles evincing great skill in the arts. Mr. Spaulding being an educated
man and passionately fond of history, took a lively interest in these
developments of antiquity; and in order to beguile the hours of retirement and
furnish employment for his lively imagination, he conceived the idea of giving
an historical sketch of this long lost race. Their extreme antiquity of
course would lead him to write in the most ancient style, and as the Old
Testament is the most ancient book in the world, he imitated its style as nearly
as possible. His sole object in writing this historical romance was to
amuse himself and his neighbors. This was about the year 1812. Hull's surrender
at Detroit, occurred near the same time, and I recollect the date well from that
circumstance. As he progressed in his narrative, the neighbors would come in
from time to time to hear portions read, and a great interest in the work was
excited among them. It claimed to have been written by one of the lost
nation, and to have been recovered from the earth, and, assumed the
title of "Manuscript Found." The neighbors would often inquire how Mr. S.
progressed in deciphering "the manuscript," and when he had sufficient portion
prepared he would inform them, and they would assemble to hear it read. He was
enabled from his acquaintance with the classics and ancient history, to
introduce many singular names, which were particularly noticed by the
people and could be easily recognized by them. Mr. Solomon Spaulding had a
brother, Mr. John Spaulding residing in the place at the time, who was perfectly
familiar with this work and repeatedly heard the whole of it read.
From New Salem we removed to Pittsburgh, Pa. Here Mr. Spaulding found an
acquaintance and friend, in the person of Mr. Patterson, an editor of a
newspaper. He exhibited his manuscript to Mr. P. who was very much pleased with
it, and borrowed it for perusal. He retained it a long time and informed Mr. S.
that if he would make out a title page and preface, he would publish it and it
might be a source of profit. This Mr. S. refused to do for reasons which I
cannot now state. -- Sidney Rigdon,* who has figured so largely in the
history of the Mormons, was at this time connected with the printing office of
Mr. Patterson, as is well known in that region, and as Rigdon himself has
frequently stated. Here he had ample opportunity to become acquainted with Mr.
Spaulding's manuscript and to copy it if he chose. It was a matter of notoriety
and interest to all who were connected with the printing establishment. At
length the manuscript was returned to its author, and soon after we removed to
Amity, Washington county, Pa., where Mr. S. deceased in 1816. The manuscript
then fell into my hands and was carefully preserved. It has frequently been
examined by my daughter, Mrs. McKenstry, of Monson, Mass., with whom I now
reside, and by other friends. -- 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 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. S., in which they had been so
deeply interested years before. Mr. John Spaulding was present, who is an
eminently pious man, and recognized perfectly the work of his brother. He
was amazed and afflicted, that it should have been perverted to so wicked a
purpose. His grief found vent in a flood of tears, and he arose on the
spot, and expressed to the meeting his deep sorrow and regret, that the writings
of his sainted brother should be used for a purpose so vile and shocking. The
excitement in New Salem became so great, that the inhabitants had a meeting and
deputed Dr. Philastus Hurlbut, one of their number to repair to this place and
to obtain from me the original manuscript of Mr. Spaulding, for the purpose of
comparing it with the Mormon Bible, to satisfy their own minds, and to prevent
their friends from embracing an error so delusive. This was in the year 1834.
Dr. Hurlbut brought with him an introduction and request for the manuscript,
signed by Messrs. Henry Lake, Aaron Wright and others, with all whom I was
acquainted, as they were my neighbors when I resided in New Salem.
I am sure that nothing would grieve my husband more, were he living, than the
use which has been made of his work. The air of antiquity which was thrown about
the composition, doubtless suggested the idea of converting it to the purposes
of delusion. Thus an historical romance, with the addition of a few pious
expressions and extracts from the sacred Scriptures, has been construed into a
new Bible and palmed off upon a company of poor deluded fanatics, as divine. I
have given the previous brief narration, that this work of deep deception and
wickedness may be searched to the foundation, and its author exposed to the
contempt and execration he so justly deserves.
MATILDA DAVISON.
Rev. Solomon Spaulding was
the first husband of the narrator of the above history. Since his decease, she
has been married to a second husband by the name of Davison. She is now residing
in this place; is a woman of irreproachable character and an humble Christian,
and her testimony is worthy of implicit confidence.
A. ELY,
D. D. Pastor Cong. Church, in Monson.
D. R. AUSTIN,
Principal of Monson Academy.
MONSON,
MASS. April 1st, 1839.