In 1842 three articles on the subject of Central America and the Book of Mormon were published in the Times and Seasons, a newspaper published at Nauvoo Illinois by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Prophet Joseph Smith had taken over editorial responsibility of the paper in the early part of that year. At this time Church leaders and missionaries were interested in the recent publication of John Lloyd Stephenss and Frederick Catherwood’s book Incidents of Travel in Central America reports of which had widely been reported in the press. While the views expressed in these articles were not presented as revelatory, they do suggest that the Joseph Smith shared an interest with his fellow Saints in these new discoveries and their potential relevance to and possible evidence for the Book of Mormon.
In recent years some Latter-day Saints have questioned
Joseph Smith’s involvement in the publication of these articles. Others have
gone so far as to suggest that these articles were published without his authorization
of approval or were inconsistent with his views about where the Book of Mormon
may have taken place.
In 2013 my colleagues Paul Fields, Atul Nepal and I
published an article for the Journal of Book of Mormon and Other Restoration
Scripture which included a stylometric analysis of the articles in question.
Matthew Roper, Paul J. Fields, Atul Nepal, “Joseph Smith,
the Times and Seasons, and Central American Ruins,” Journal of Book of
Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 22, No. 2 (2013): 84-97.
The results of that initial study indicated that “the
editorials on the Central American ruins and the Book of Mormon, published
during Joseph Smith’s tenure as editor of the Times and Seasons show a
strong alignment with his personal writing style and the editorials to which he
signed his name” pointing to his role in their authorship. The evidence also suggested
that his close associates (Apostles John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff) also may
have assisted in the writing of these articles (94).
Following the publication of our article Jonathan Neville
published a brief critique of out article in his book The Lost City of
Zarahemla: From Iowa to Guatemala and Back Again (2015). Neville argued that the
articles published in Nauvoo in 1842 should have been attributed to Benjamin
Winchester, a contemporary of Joseph Smith and a Church member who later became
disaffected and left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. Neville suggested that our 2013 analysis was faulty because we had not
included any of the writings of Winchester in our 2013 study. Neville’s critique
and arguments led to a series of three articles that were published in
Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. This included a 2016 expanded stylometric analysis which included Winchester and eight other contemporary
Latter-day Saint writers who wrote about Central America as a possible candidates including Joseph
Smith, John Taylor, and Wilford Woodruff. Notably, out of these twelve
potential candidates, Benjamin Winchester was shown in that analysis to be the least
likely author.
Matthew Roper, “The Treason of the Geographers: Mythical
Mesoamerican Conspiracy and the Book of Mormon,” Interpreter: A Journal of
Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 16 (2015): 161-205.
Matthew Roper, “John Bernhisel’s Gift to a Prophet: Incidents
of Travel in Central America and the Book of Mormon,” Interpreter: A
Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 16 (2015): 207-253.
Matthew Roper, “Zarahemla Revisited: Neville’s Newest
Novel,” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship
17 (2016): 13-63.
Our 2016 expanded stylometric analysis published in “Zarahemla Revisited”
again yielded results strengthening our earlier findings that the articles on Central
America and the Book of Mormon from 1842 showed the strongest alignment with
Joseph Smith’s writing style. Also, though not as strong as that of Joseph
Smith, notable alignment with the writing styles of John Taylor and Wilford
Woodruff was clearly apparent. This indicated again that the articles from 1842 were
most likely a collaborative effort in which Joseph Smith was very much involved
but was likely assisted by John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff as historical
evidence had previously suggested. Claims that the 1842 Central America
articles were unknown to Joseph Smith or were introduced against his will by
Benjamin Winchester or some other designing individual are not supported by the
stylometric evidence. Joseph Smith was clearly involved in their production.
Those who may be interested in understanding more about this
issue are welcome to evaluate our analysis found in the Interpreter articles which
are freely accessible through Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith
and Scholarship.
To date I am unaware of any response or refutation of our
2016 analysis by statisticians or anybody else. In that article we wrote that
“a list of all the texts used in the analysis is available from the authors to
interested readers upon request” (41). My co-authors and I, after nearly a
decade, have yet to receive a response to that invitation. At this point, I
thought it might be convenient to here provide a list of the documents we used
in our analysis which is given below.
Joseph Smith Holographic Documents (A Convenient Collection of these may be found in
Deane C. Jesse, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, Revised edition (Salt Lake
City, UT.: Deseret Book, 2002). Holographic material in this volume is
indicated by bolding in the transcriptions of documents.
Holographic portions of 1832 History
Holographic Portions of Journal 1832-34
Holographic Portions of Journal 1835-36
Joseph Smith to Hyrum Smith, 3, 4 March 1831
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 6 June 1832
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 13 October 1832
Parts of Letter to William W. Phelps, 27 November 1832
Joseph Smith to Newell K. Whitney, 1833/1834
Joseph Smith to William W. Phelps, 18 August, 1833
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 19 May 1834
Joseph Smith to Almira Scobey, 2 June 1835
Joseph Smith to Sally Phelps, 20 July 1835
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 4 November 1838
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 12 November 1838
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 1 December 1838
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 21 March 1839
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 4 April 1839
Joseph Smith to Henry G. Sherwood, 7 November 1839
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 9
November 1839
Joseph Smith to the Wilkinson Family, [February 1840]
Joseph Smith to Newell K. Whitney, 12 December 1840
Agreement, 14 May 1841
Joseph Smith to Ebenezer Robinson, 24 February, 1842
Resolution 5 March 1842
Joseph Smith to the Whitney’s, 18 August 1842
Joseph Smith to Lucien Adams, 2 October 1843
Joseph Smith to William Clayton, 9 December 1843
Joseph Smith to Barbara Matilda Neff, May 1844
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 27
June 1844 (Just a paragraph in Joseph Smith’s hand)
Published Articles from the Times and Seasons Signed by Joseph
Smith
Joseph Smith, “Church History” [This is the Wentworth Letter] Times and Seasons (March 1, 1842): 706-710.
Joseph Smith, “To the Brethren in Nauvoo City, Greeting,” Times and Seasons (March 1, 1842): 715.
Joseph Smith, “To Subscribers” Times
and Seasons (March 15, 1842): 710.
Joseph Smith to John C. Bennett, 7 March, 1842, in Times and Seasons (March 15, 1842): 724.
Joseph Smith, “In the last number . . .” Times and Seasons (March 15, 1842): 726.
Joseph Smith, “To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .
. .” Times and Seasons (July 1, 1842): 839-42.
Joseph Smith, “To All the Saints . . .” (Times and Seasons September 15, 1842): 919-20.
Joseph Smith, “To the Church . . .” Times and Seasons (October 1, 1842): 934-36.
Joseph Smith, “Valedictory” Times
and Seasons (November 15, 1842): 8.
Published Articles from the Times and Seasons Signed
“Editor”
“To Subscribers” Times and
Seasons (Feb 15, 1842): 696.
“Ladies Relief Society,” Times
and Seasons (April 1, 1842): 743.
“Try the Spirits,” Times and
Seasons (April 1, 1842):
743-748.
“Baptism for the Dead” Times
and Seasons (April 15, 1842): 759-61.
“The Temple,” Times and
Seasons (May 2, 1842):
775-776.
Ed., “We have in our possession . . .” Times and Seasons (May 2, 1842): 774-75.
“Had Mr. Ash . . .” (Times
and Seasons May 2, 1842): 781-82.
Ed., “It is very difficult . . .” Times and Seasons (May 2, 1842): 780-81.
Ed., “It will be seen by several extracts . . .” Times and Seasons (May 16, 1842): 790.
“There are many things contained in the above . . .” Times and Seasons (June 15, 1842): 819-20.
“Gift of the Holy Ghost,” Times
and Seasons (June 15, 1842): 823-26.
“The above are plain matters of fact . . .” Times and Seasons (July 1, 1842): 832.
“The Government of God” Times
and Seasons (July 15, 1842): 855-58.
“The Book of Mormon speaks of ores, swords, cities . . .” Times and Seasons (July 15, 1842): 859-60.
“John C. Bennett,” (August 1, 1842): 868-69.
“In regard to his being a scapegoat . . .” Times and Seasons (August 1, 1842): 878.
“`Knowledge is Power,’” Times
and Seasons (August 15, 1842): 889-90.
“Baptism,” Times and Seasons (September 1, 1842): 903-5.
Published Articles from the Times and Seasons Signed
“Editors”
“To the Saints of God,” Times
and Seasons (October 15, 1842): 951-52.
Published Material from the Times and Seasons Unsigned
“The Coming of Christ” Times
and Seasons (March 1, 1842): 714-715.
“The above is from the able pen . . .” Times and Seasons (April 15, 1842): 759.
“In Liverpool . . .” Times
and Seasons (May 2, 1842): 780.
“Elder Amos Fielding . . .” Times
and Seasons (May 16, 1842): 790.
“We had a general review . . .” Times
and Seasons (May 16, 1842): 790.
“It is asserted . . .” Times
and Seasons (June 1, 1842): 806.
“So much for the veracity . . .” Times and Seasons (June 1, 1842): 808.
“Such then is the conduct . . .” Times and Seasons (June 1, 1842): 809.
“We have received a letter . . .” Times and Seasons (July 1, 1842): 843.
“Elder John E Page writes . . .” Times and Seasons (July 1, 1842): 843.
“The whole of these affidavits . . .” Times and Seasons (August 1, 1842): 874.
“Persecution” Times and
Seasons (August 15, 1842):
886-89.
“Notice. Since the Excitement . . .” Times and Seasons (August 15, 1842): 893.
“Opinion” Times and Seasons
(September 1, 1842): 901.
“Persecution of the Prophets,” Times
and Seasons (September 1, 1842): 902-3.
“Reply [to NY Evangelist]” Times
and Seasons (September 1, 1842): 905-6.
“Health of Nauvoo” Times and
Seasons (September 1, 1842):
906.
“Books” Times and Seasons (September 1, 1842): 908.
“The Foregoing Extract . . .” Times
and Seasons (September 15, 1842): 914-15.
“We do not make the above extract . . .” Times and Seasons (September 15, 1842): 919.
“Mob Law,” Times and Seasons (September 15, 1842): 920-21.
“`Facts are Stubborn Things,’” Times
and Seasons (September 15, 1842): 921-22.
“Elder Rigdon,” Times and
Seasons (September 15,
1842): 922-23.
“To the Saints abroad,” Times
and Seasons (September 15, 1842): 923.
“Tolerable Fair,” Times and
Seasons (September 15,
1842): 926.
“Zarahemla,” Times and
Seasons (October 1, 1842):
927.
“Nauvoo,” Times and Seasons (October 1, 1842): 936-37.
“The Temple,” Times and
Seasons (October 1, 1842): 937-39.
“Extracts of History,” Times
and Seasons (October 15, 1842): 945.
“We take pleasure . . .” Times
and Seasons (October 15, 1842): 948.
“Fallen Away,” Times and
Seasons (October 15, 1842):
954-55.
“We have extracted the above . . .” Times and Seasons (October 15, 1842): 956.
“End of the Third Volume,”
Times and Seasons (October 15, 1842): 957.
John Taylor Published Articles
John Taylor, letter, May 3, 1837, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (June 1837): 513-16.
John Taylor, Manx Liberal, 17 October 1840, reprinted in Latter Day Saints’ Millennial Star (November 1840): 180-83.
John Taylor, Manx Sun, October 30 1840, reprinted in Latter Day Saints’ Millennial Star (December 1840): 197-202.
John Taylor to the Editor of the Millennial Star, 17 February 1841, Latter Day Saints’ Millennial Star (March 1841): 276-80.
John Taylor to Joseph Smith, 3 February 1841, Times and Seasons (1 May 1841): 400-2.
John Taylor Letter, 1841, Latter Day Saints’ Millennial Star (May 1841): 12-16.
John Taylor, “Valedictory,” Times and Seasons (15 November 1842): 8.
Wilford Woodruff Published Articles
Wilford Woodruff to Oliver Cowdery, 26 November, 1836, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (December 1836): 421-22.
Wilford Woodruff letter, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (February 1837): 449-51.
Wilford Woodruff to Don Carlos Smith, 20 November, 1837, Elders’ Journal (November 1837): 17-19.
Wilford Woodruff to Willard Richards, 25 March, 1840
Wilford Woodruff, 29 April 1840, Times and Seasons (June 1840): 122.
Wilford Woodruff, 8 July 1840, Times and Seasons (September 1840): 167-69.
Wilford Woodruff to the Editor of the Millennial Star, 5 August 1840, Latter Day Saints’ Millennial Star (August 1840): 93.
Wilford Woodruff to E. Robinson and D.C. Smith, 7 October 1840, Times and Seasons (15 February 1841): 311-14.
Wilford Woodruff to E. Robinson and D.C. Smith, 7 October 1840 (continued), Times and Seasons (1 March 1841): 327-31.
Wilford Woodruff to E. Robinson and D.C. Smith, 29 March 1841, Times and Seasons (1 June 1841): 435.
References for Expanded List of Potential Authors as of September 2015
George J Adams
George J. Adams, 7 October 1840, Times and Seasons (November 1840): 220-21.
George J. Adams to Parley P. Pratt, 14 December 1841, Times and Seasons (15 April 1842): 755-57.
George J. Adams, 21 April 1842, Times and Seasons (15 June 1842): 826-28.
George J. Adams to John Taylor, 11 December 1843, Times and Seasons (1 January 1844): 387-88.
G. J. Adams, A Lecture on the Authenticity & Scriptural Character of the Book of Mormon (Boston: J. E. Farwell, 1844).
John E. Page
John E. Page, “For the Chronicle: To A Disciple.” Morning Chronicle (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) (1 July 1842).
John E. Page, “Mormonism Concluded: To ‘A Disciple.’” Morning Chronicle (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) (20 July 1842).
John E. Page, “I am as well assured.” Gospel Herald, 3, No. 6 (6 Jul 1848): 64.
John E. Page, “Collateral Testimony” No 1. Gospel Herald 3, No. 24 (31 August, 1848): 108
John E. Page, “Collateral Testimony” No 2. Gospel Herald 3, No. 25 (7 September, 1848): 114-115
John E. Page, “Collateral Testimony” No 3. Gospel Herald V3 N26 (14 September , 1848): 123
John E. Page, “Collateral Testimony” No 4. Gospel Herald 3, No. 27 (21 September, 1848): 125-126
W. W. Phelps
W. W. Phelps to Oliver Cowdery, Christmas 1834, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, 1, No. 5 (February 1835): 65-67.
W. W. Phelps to Oliver Cowdery, 24 February 1835, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, 1, No. 7 (April 1835): 97.
W. W. Phelps to Oliver Cowdery, 19 May 1835, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, 1, No. 8 (May 1835): 114-15.
W. W. Phelps to Oliver Cowdery, June 1835, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, 1, No. 9 (June 1835): 129-31.
W. W. Phelps to Oliver Cowdery, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, 1, No. 10 (July 1835): 145-47.
W. W. Phelps to Oliver Cowdery, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, 1, No. 12 (September 1835): 177-79.
W. W. Phelps to Oliver Cowdery, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, 2, No. 1 (October 1835): 193-95.
W. W. Phelps to Oliver Cowdery, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, 2, No. 2 (November 1835): 221-23.
W. W. Phelps, “Despise not Prophesyings,” Times and Seasons (1 February 1841): 297-99.
W. W. Phelps, 29 June 1840, Times and Seasons (1 February 1841): 304.
W. W. Phelps, “Pray without Ceasing,” Times and Seasons (15 June 1841): 445-47.
Orson Pratt
Orson Pratt, An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions: And of the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records. Joseph W. Harrison, printer, no. 465 Pearl Street, 1841.
Orson Pratt to Oliver Cowdery, 16 February, 1835, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (March 1835): 89-90.
Orson Pratt to Oliver Cowdery, 18 May, 1835, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (June 1835): 139-40.
Orson Pratt letter, 18 November, 1835, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (November 1835): 223-24.
Orson Pratt to Oliver Cowdery, 5 September, 1836, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (October 1836): 396-97.
Parley P. Pratt
Parley P. Pratt,, A Voice of Warning and Instruction to All People: Containing a Declaration of the Faith and Doctrine of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Commonly Called Mormons. Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1867, Ch 4-6 (in Joseph Smith, Jr.’s Rare Reprints, No 54 printed in 1992, Burlington, Wisconsin, pp. 121-192).
Parley P. Pratt, letters, 26 May, 1836, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (May 1836): 317-20.
Parley P. Pratt, letter, 3 October, 1837, Elders’ Journal (October 1837): 8-9.
Parley P. Pratt, “To the Public,” Elders’ Journal (August 1838): 50-51.
Parley P. Pratt to Sidney Rigdon, 8 January, 1841, Times and Seasons (1 April 1841): 364-65.
Parley P. Pratt, “A Letter to the Queen of England,” Times and Seasons (15 November 1841): 593-96.
Parley P. Pratt, “To the Leaders and Members of the Church in Nauvoo . . .” 12 August 1841, Times and Seasons (15 December 1841): 623-25.
Parley P. Pratt, “Ruins in Central America” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 2, no. 11 (March 1842): 161–65.
William Smith
William Smith, “Evidences for the Book of Mormon,” Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (December 1836): 423-35.
William Smith to D. C. Smith, Times and Seasons (15 December 1840): 252-53.
William Smith, “`Infatuated and Deluded Sect,’” Times and Seasons (15 February 1841): 314-16.
William Smith to D. C. Smith, 8 May 1841, Times and Seasons (15 June 1841): 444-45.
William Smith to W W Phelps, Times and Seasons 1 Jan 1845, (original erroneously had 1844), V5 No 24, pp. 755-757.
Erastus Snow
Erastus Snow, E. Snow's Reply to the Self-Styled Philanthropist of Chester County (Philadelphia, 1840).
Erastus Snow, Letter, 30 December, 1836, Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (December 1836): 440.
Erastus Snow to Don Carlos Smith, 2 December 1837, Elders’ Journal (November 1837): 22-23.
Erastus Snow, 31 October 1840, Times and Seasons (15 October 1840): 221.
Erastus Snow to E. Robinson, 10 October 1841, Times and Seasons (15 November 1841): 602-4.
Charles B. Thompson
Charles Thompson, Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon, being a Divinely Inspired Record, Written by the Forefathers of the Natives whom we call Indians, (Who are a remnant of the tribe of Joseph,) and Hid Up in the Earth, But come Forth in Fulfilment of Prophecy for the Gathering of Israel and the Re-Establishing of the Kingdom of God upon the Earth. Together with all the Objections Commonly urged Against It, Answered and Refuted—To which is added a Proclamation and Warning to the Gentiles who Inhabit America (Batavia, New York: D.D. Waite, 1841).
Benjamin Winchester
Benjamin Winchester, An Examination
of a Lecture: delivered by the Rev. H. Perkins, on the religious opinions and
faith of the Latter-day Saints, and some of his most prominent errors and
misstatements corrected (1840).
Benjamin Winchester 1841 03 01 “Intro to Subject of the Book of Mormon” Gospel Reflector V1 N5 pp 97-120.
Benjamin Winchester 1841 03 15 “Claims of the Book of Mormon Established” Gospel Reflector V1 N6 pp 121-128.
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