The Myth of the "Manuscript Found," or the Absurdities of the "Spaulding Story"

"The Myth of the 'Manuscript Found,' or the Absurdities of the 'Spaulding Story'" by Elder George Reynolds is a historical treatise written in the late 19th century. The work aims to refute the claims of critics asserting that the Book of Mormon was derived from Solomon Spaulding's fictional manuscript, the "Manuscript Found." Reynolds argues that the Spaulding story is a myth perpetuated by those opposing the Latter-day Saint movement, emphasizing the significance of the Book of Mormon as a genuine divine revelation. At the start of the treatise, the author discusses the history and implications of the "Spaulding story," which posits that Joseph Smith plagiarized Spaulding's work in creating the Book of Mormon. Reynolds outlines the various stages of the Spaulding manuscript's alleged history and critiques the inconsistencies in claims made by its proponents. He cites testimonies from witnesses associated with both Spaulding and the Book of Mormon to dismantle the narrative of this supposed literary fraud. The introductory sections provide a foundation for exploring these themes further, as the author promises to examine the evidence comprehensively in the ensuing chapters.

The Myth of the "Manuscript Found," or the Absurdities of the "Spaulding Story", from the public domain. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #49432.