The Myth of the "Manuscript Found," or the Absurdities of the "Spaulding Story": Eleventh Book of the Faith-promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints.
History
The Myth of the "Manuscript Found," or the Absurdities of the "Spaulding Story": Eleventh Book of the Faith-promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints.
Book of Mormon
With this view he journeyed to New Salem or Conneaut Ohio, the place
where Mr. Spaulding formerly resided. There he called a meeting and
made known his intentions. His harangues created quite a stir. He
told the same story about the manuscript and Sidney Rigdon that he
had told in Kirtland. The idea was new to his hearers, but as it was
something which was to destroy "Mormonism," they did not object to it,
and some helped him with more money. He was here advised to visit Mrs.
Davison, formerly the wife of Mr. Spaulding, who now resided at Monson,
Massachusetts. This he determined to do.
It should here be mentioned that the gospel had already been preached
with considerable success in the neighborhood of New Salem; and
though it was the place where the "Manuscript Found" was written, the
Spaulding story was never dreamed of there until Hurlburt mentioned
it. But it was too good a thing for those who had rejected the truth
to let pass. It afforded them some slight excuse for not receiving
the doctrines of "Mormonism." Such persons clutched at it eagerly, as
drowning men are said to grasp at straws. Nevertheless the work of
the Lord did not stand still in those parts. Numbers were afterwards
baptized in that very section, so little effect had Hurlburt's
fabrication upon the minds of the people.
Hurlburt at once carried out the advice given to him by his New Salem
acquaintances. He proceeded to Monson, called on Mrs. Davison, and by
representing his wishes in his own unscrupulous and untruthful manner
obtained from her the writings of her former husband. Further she told
him that there was a trunk somewhere in the state of New York that also
contained papers which he might have, if they were found to suit his
purpose, and according to the latest version of the story it was from
that trunk that Hurlburt obtained the "Manuscript Found."
Mrs. Davison positively asserts that she gave Hurlburt the original of
the "Manuscript Found,'" either directly, or through her order to Mr.
Clark, and that he promised to publish it, which however he never did.
He claimed that _it did not read as he expected_, or he found nothing
that _would suit his purpose_. In this he for once undoubtedly told the
truth. Quite lately, however, he has made the following affidavit.
"GIBSONBURG, OHIO,
January 10th, 1881.
"_To all whom it may concern_:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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