Howe each alleged joseph smith used the book of mormon as part of an elaborate scheme to defraud the public. Scott acquired a copy of the book of mormon during this time, likely from his good friend rigdon, and sent it to alexander campbell along with information on. He laments the prevalency of free masonry in the times when his book should be dug up out of the earth, and proves that miracles will never cease. Author alexander campbell posted on february, 2019 february 15, 2019 categories archaeology and the book of mormon, uncategorized tags anachronisms, archaeology, book of mormon, cimeter, scimitar, steel john dehlin is already backing down from some claims in his essays. Alexander campbell, author at mormon stories essays. This article was reprinted in booklet form under the title delusions in boston in 1832, 3 thus meriting the distinction of becoming the first antimormon book. Alexander campbell gets little press from historians today, but his impact on american religious history was profound, and this work should be obtained by anyone studying the impact of mormonism upon american culture. Disciples of christ and latterday saints pejoratively called campbellites and mormonites. He further declared that, other than its quotations from the bible, the book had not one good sentence in it. Delusions article by alexander campbell is noted as one of the first anti mormon pieces in christianity book of mormon published in march of 1830. This prophet smith, through his stone spectacles, wrote on the plates of nephi, in his book of mormon, every error and almost. Alexander campbell 12 september 1788 4 march 1866 was a scotsirish immigrant who became an ordained minister in the united states and joined his father thomas campbell as a leader of a reform effort that is historically known as the restoration movement, and by some as the stonecampbell movement. After historical introductions to smith and campbell, the book is comprised.
Though these facts are relatively well known among. Greene, 1832, reprinted from the millennial harbinger 2 february 1831. The book of mormon purports to unfold the history of ancient america, from its first settlement by a colony that came from the time of the tower, when the languages were confounded, about the beginning of the fifth century of the christian era. And campbell later published a treatise, delusions, against joseph smith and the book of mormon. Alexander campbell, one of the first and most influential critics of the book of mormon, claimed that it was without exaggeration, the meanest book in the english language.
It resulted in the development of nondenominational christian churches, which stressed. Two nineteenthcentury men, alexander campbell and joseph smith, each launched restoration movements in the united states. The strong denunciation of infant baptism in the book of mormon was. Alexander campbells analysis of the book of mormon. Alexander campbells analysis of the book of mormon delusions 01142014 by lifeafterministry i began working in ministry back in 94 and since that time ive read my fair share of all things mormon. There were several nonmormon authors who commented on the book and its use of the king james bible kjv immediately after it was. The walker dictionary of biblical names in 1732 john walker published a book called critical pronouncing dictionary, listing hundreds of biblicallike names and how to pronounce them. In postrevolutionary america, they vied for seekers and dissatisfied mainstream christians, which led to conflict in northeastern ohio. Two nineteenthcentury men, alexander campbell and joseph smith, each launched. Book of mormon controversial literature criticism, interpretation, etc. Delusions article by alexander campbell is noted as one of the first antimormon pieces in christianity book of mormon published in march of 1830.
Alexander campbell 12 september 1788 4 march 1866 was a scotsirish immigrant who became an ordained minister in the united states and joined his father thomas campbell as a leader of a reform effort that is historically known as the restoration movement, and by some as the stone campbell movement. An analysis of the book of mormon with an examination of its internal and external evidences, and a refutation of its pretenses to divine authority boston. She has presented at the byu church history symposium, byu. Alexander campbells delusions and the mormon response. She makes no attempt to hide her own lds faith, and justifies her. I could swear that this book was written by one man.
This essay was the first serious critique of the mormon system which walter martin kingdom of the cults once called a polytheistic nightmare draped in the garment of christian terminology. In shining a light on the restoration vision that animated both alexander campbell and joseph smith, she has also illumined one of the driving themes of. Actually, their mode of travel, described in the book of mormon as a whale in the midst of the sea, was perhaps by ocean current ether 2. While alexander campbell and his delusions are well known to lds apologists for this. Alexander campbell was not a fan if the competing new mormonite church, and published a scathing critique of the book of mormon.