Evidence of the truthfulness of the book of mormon lds. They show that it is statistically indefensible to propose a single author of the manuscript of the book of mormon. This study used a generalized discriminant analysis which is an extension of the linear discriminant analysis used in the larsen study. Im not a statistician or an expert in word print studies, so my studies will need to be validated by an expert. Hilton, wordprints and the book of mormon, in reexploring the book of mormon.
A new wordprint study on the book of mormon breathes new life to a longchallenged theory for book of mormon authorship, the theory that its real author was solomon spalding secretly assisted by sidney rigdon. Dec 12, 2017 see hilton, on verifying wordprint studies, in book of mormon authorship revisited, 236. See hilton, on verifying wordprint studies, in book of mormon authorship revisited, 236. A rewarding study in the book of mormon is the doctrine of the tree of life and its references to historical antiquity. Dec 23, 2008 that new book of mormon wordprint study. What can stylometry tell us about book of mormon authorship. Can wordprinting show that different sections of the book of mormon were written by different authors.
Byu studies quarterly volume 30issue 3 article 15 711990 on verifying wordprint studies. This study of this is called analyzing word patterns, wordprinting or stylometry. If he copied from someone, we should see that authors writing style likewise. In a recent article appearing in byu studies, wayne larsen, alvin rencher, and.
Come, follow me latest posts names and titles of jesus christ in march, 2019, i studied 20 different names or titles of jesus christ which appear in the book of mormon. The maxwell institutes matthew roper teamed up with bruce schaalje byu statistics professor and paul fields research and statistics consultant to analyze the study. Book of mormon wordprints reexamined a look at the byu study. Among the anti book of mormon references, likely the most extensive work provoked by the larsenrencherlayton study was an attempt at a wordprint measurement by ernest h. The first was whether the wordprints of authors within the book of mormon.
About a year ago, i put together a database, splitting up the book of mormon electronic text, and spent some time doing computer wordprint analysis. Impressed by previolls word print studies of the book of mormon. Contrary to the claims of our critics, there are impressive findings that make it difficult to explain away the book of mormon as a nineteenthcentury. Unlike previous studies which introduced the concept of handtabulated word measurements to the book of mormon, 10 the 1980 wordprint study published by larsen, rencher, and layton was widely recognized as important both within and without the church. If you love the book of mormon, consider donating to book of mormon central and becoming part of this exciting movement. This video discusses many of the details surrounding the miraculous translation of the book of mormon and why no one has ever been able to match it. However, in dec 2008, oxford journals published a new study called reassessing authorship of the book of mormon using delta and nearest shrunken centroid classification. If you read the book you can clearly see that this is not the case. Does joseph smiths role as translator obfuscate patterns unique to ancient authors. The initial book of mormon wordprint studies were carried out by larsen, rencher, and layton. Mormon apologists claim that this book was written so the brethren would know the weaknesses of the book of mormon. Dec 09, 2008 a new wordprint study on the book of mormon breathes new life to a longchallenged theory for book of mormon authorship, the theory that its real author was solomon spalding secretly assisted by sidney rigdon. Book of mormon wordprint or word pattern studies parent page.
It is the science of identifying authorship by measuring the words and phrases a person unconsciously uses. I saw a video that came from the book of mormon central team that showed a chart from the fields roper book of mormon wordprint study project. Chiasmus and the book of mormon utah lighthouse ministry. Of course, wordprint analysis, while it can measure certain facts objectively, cannot prove the holiness of the book of mormon. Book of mormon authorship has made a prima facie case for the ancient origins of the book of mormon. All the wordprint studies, understanding of olive culture, or reading of chiasmus will not convert anyone to a life of.
Even given this criticism, however, the results of the wordprint study must be explained. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1997, chapter 9. Sep 01, 1985 it was really great to end this year on a strong note with b. The spalding studies library a compilation of historical statements in the spalding debate. How have critics responded to the stylometry study done at byu that concluded the book of mormon selections they did not resemble any suggested 19th century authors, including joseph smith. The main assumption underlying stylometry is that an author has aspects of literary style that may be unconsciously used, and can be used to identify their. Chiasmus and book of mormon textual studies kindle edition. If the book of mormon was written by ancient authors, we should be able to see distinct writing styles among each different author. Hilton is adjunct professor of statistics at brigham young university. Book of mormon wordprint analysis lds church is true blog. Roberts was struggling and searching for ways to justify the inconsistencies found in the book of mormon. Could joseph smith have drawn on ancient manuscripts while translating the story of enoch.
If joseph smith wrote the book of mormon, we should be able to see his literary style across the entire book. Wordprint studies scriptural style in early nineteenth. Robertss study which was published posthumously in 1985 as studies of the book of mormon. Is it possible that a single author wrote the book of mormon. Ive taken a bit on an interest in wordprint studies. Many book of mormon research projects have implications for the continuing issues surrounding the authorship of the book of mormon. Oct 17, 2016 here is what will probably be the first of several book of mormon wordprint analysis posts, based on a database i put together and curiosity ive had for many years about voices in the book of mormon. Mar 01, 2018 theres a lot of subjectivity to most of these studies of the book of mormon. Every few years a critic does a wordprint study and i remain critical for the same reasons. Wordprinting, or stylometry as it is more commonly known, is the science of measuring literary style. Comparing book of mormon names with those found in j. Jan 16, 2018 to date, the combined data from several valid stylometric studies on the book of mormon have demonstrated that it has multiple, distinct writing styles and that those styles are consistent with the authors designated within the text itself.
I was particularly interested in the way each name was used, both in the book of mormon and in the bible. Mormon heretic march 6, 2010 antimormon, apologetics, book of mormon, historicity, mormon 79 comments. People of all faiths and perspectives are welcome to engage in civil, respectful discussion about topics related to mormonism. From reading this paragraph, one would think wordprint studies are solidly in favor of mormons. Here is what will probably be the first of several book of mormon wordprint analysis posts, based on a database i put together and curiosity ive had for many years about voices in the book of mormon.
Barney, remains unconvinced of the validity of wordprint analysis. The basic idea is that the book of mormon was authored by different prophets and so we would expect their writing styles to be different from each other. Book of mormon evidences, part 3 presents further evidence supporting the book of mormon as an ancient document. Book of mormon wordprint analysis three voice hypothesis. Rencher, and tim layton published the first complete analysis of the book of mormon using. Mormon classics a directory of texts and newspaper articles available on the internet. Evidence that the book of mormon, while good to have, is not the essential thing that will convert mankind to its truthfulness, or to the person the book of mormon is bearing witness of. Part 3 presents textual studies that demonstrate the plausibility of the book of mormon as an ancient book, and part 4 updates scholars attempts to understand the ancient cultural and. Perhaps the wordprint analysis tells us more about computers than about the book of mormon. Book of mormon computer studies are fascinating to me, and i believe in the future they will be key to understanding book of mormon origins. At the age of 16, mormon begins an on againoff again role as leader of the nephite armies mormon 2, 12, lasting until 384ce mormon 26.
By wordprint analysis, it is now possible with a high degree of certainty to tell which suspected authors did not write a given work. Modern computers have given birth to a new science of analyzing word patterns in documents whose authorship is disputed. If joseph smith wrote the book of mormon, we should be able to see his. Most latterday saints are aware of a minor industry in certain religious circles in the united states devoted to refuting mormonism and to criticizing the book of mormon. Roberts 18571933, a general authority of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, which examine the validity of the book of mormon as a translation of an ancient american source. Book of mormon evidence vs book of mormon central pop isaiah april 9, 2019 it was a year ago this week, i spent three days at two book of mormon conferences on the same weekend. Two tests which deal with writing styles have produced some largely ignored results which our critics cannot explain. The evidence for ancient origins, edited by noel b. Book of mormon wordprints reexamined a look at the byu. Wordprint studies of the book of mormon fairmormon. Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as never before. I have always felt that the basis assumptions underlying book of mormon wordprint studies are.
While wordprint studies help us recognize that different authors did indeed write the various strands within the book of mormon, they tell us little about what the various authors unique subjects may have been as found in their recorded words. Ive tried to pick up a thread of his research by looking at how different book of mormon authors use certain key words. The book of mormon bears witness of a heavenly power greater than all others to preserve, save, and exalt. At least three computer analyses have been completed to date in an effort to determine who wrote the book of mormon, and whether it was a single individual or a group. The problems go well beyond the problem who who wrote what. For the summarized findings of the hilton study, see john l. The works of tolkien and the book of mormon have been compared in a variety of ways by multiple authors and researchers, but none have looked specifically at the unusual names found within both. The hilton wordprint study of the book of mormon mormanity. Conflicting results of computer analyses of the book of mormon. By the end of the study it is clear that he no longer. Ive thus been a strong skeptic of wordprint studies back when they were so popular among apologists.
This volume features articles on hebraisms and chiasmus in the book of mormon, as well as articles discussing emendation of the text, naturalistic assumptions, wordprint analyses, variations between copies of the first edition, and more. The term wordprint was coined by the larsen group to represent patterns. Jul 08, 2019 a number of scientific tests have been devised to examine the authenticity of the book of mormon. Kelter, a former presbyterian minister converted to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, is currently a pro fessor in the byu department of church history and doctrine. Fortunately the book of mormon is a nearideal document for such objective wordprint studies, provided the measurement is made correctly. They compared twentyfour book of mormon authors each having at least 1,000 words to each other, and concluded on the basis of three separate statistical tests that these authors were distinct from each other and oliver cowdery, joseph smith, jr. Book of mormon authorship, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Studies of the book of mormon is a collection of essays written at the beginning of the 20th century though not published until 1985 by b. Wordprint studies are one tool used in author attribution research, but do authors use specific. A continual study of the book of mormon is vital to learn how to partake of gods eternal power. Book of mormon study notes insights from my daily study.
Theres a lot of subjectivity to most of these studies of the book of mormon. Fields roper book of mormon wordprint study general. It fails, however, to respond to scholarly criticism in. Hilton describes the young science of wordprinting, which is used to prove or disprove authorship, presenting its history, purposes, and development. These two studies, aka book of mormon difficulties, were written in the 1920s when roberts decided to dive deep into the criticisms of the book of mormon and see if he could address some of the big issues plaguing the book. To date, the combined data from several valid stylometric studies on the book of mormon have demonstrated that it has multiple, distinct writing styles and that those styles are consistent with the authors designated within the text itself.
By wordprint analysis, it is now possible with a high degree of certainty to tell which suspected authors. Hilton, on verifying wordprint studies, in book of mormon authorship revisited, 241. This wasnt the first wordprint analysis of the book of mormon, but this one was published in a respected, mainstream academic publication. Wordprint studies on the book of mormon book of mormon. Oct 08, 2005 the hilton wordprint study of the book of mormon i was pleased to find a copy of john hiltons article, on verifying wordprint studies. Wordprinting is based on the somewhat surprising fact that every author that has been studied thus far subconsciously uses sixtyfive identifiable patterns. A number of scientific tests have been devised to examine the authenticity of the book of mormon.
They compared twentyfour book of mormon authors each. We are a nonprofit organization supported by people like you. Book of mormon wordprint analysis three voice hypothesis posted by churchistrue this is an introduction to a series of posts that i will be making to define the three voice hypothesis for book of mormon authorship attribution, developed from analyzing book of mormon wordprint data. This page is a continuation of book of mormon evidences, part one and part two. Book of mormon research page full text of view of the hebrews, 1830 book of mormon, and book of commandments. Book of mormon authorship on the web, as printed in byu studies, 30 summer 1990. Analyzing blocks of words from 24 of the book of mormons ostensible authors, along with nine nineteenthcentury writers including joseph smith. What do wordprint studies say about the book of mormon. In our analysis we leave these sections in as an additional test of our methodology.
I was pleased to find a copy of john hiltons article, on verifying wordprint studies. My grandfather did several wordprint studies on the book of mormon. In a recent article appearing in byu studies, 1 wayne larsen, alvin rencher, and tim layton, specialists in statistics at brigham young university, used some highly sophisticated, computerized statistical techniques to examine wordprints of authors in the book of mormon. In every set comparing the book of mormon texts against these three writers, at least seven and often many more rejections were measured. Results based on the next generation of wordprint studies may yet provide the encouraging support sought by faithful church members. Features the prophet joseph smith by alvin gittins via. This compilation of groundbreaking book of mormon articles is selected from over fifty years of lds scholarship published by byu studies. These results yield strong statistical evidence that the wordprints of joseph smith, oliver cowdery, and solomon spaulding are not measurable in the book of mormon. Certainly any research done in the future will be indebted to larsen, rencher, and layton, who called our attention to an interesting and challenging area of book of mormon study.
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