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.