Did Oliver Cowdery Write the Book of Mormon?

Oliver Cowdery was one of the best writers of early Mormonism. Cowdery was more educated than Joseph Smith. He was a school teacher, a Master Mason, an editor and a lawyer. For several years, Oliver was the second elder and Assistant President of the church making him second in command. He was above the apostles in authority. He was highly intelligent. He knew the Bible well and was an excellent speaker. Oliver probably knew Ethan Smith, writer of View of the Hebrews, a book that was probably used in writing the Book of Mormon. There is a peer-reviewed word print study conducted by Stanford University professors in 2010 indicating that Cowdery was at least one of the writers of the Book of Mormon. Could Oliver have written the entire book? Was Joseph Smith his helper? Was Oliver the author of the Book of Mormon? Many early Mormon newspaper and book writers mention Oliver as THE possible / probable writer. I go through the accounts and evidence.

[wenasholeranch]

Part of the Book of Mormon was written 17years prior, as recorded in Lucy’s journal. Sr was likely behind a lot of this too.

[gateway]

I don't know what I love more. The quality content, or the matter-of-fact tone of the speaker. :)

[ryanr]

A great presentation, as all of your videos are. This is also great esoteric Vermont history. The “Woods Scrape” is fascinating, and I’ve often wondered what was going on in Vermont in that time.

[blainehansen]

Great stuff! It appears that Oliver Cowdery by no means was duped by Joseph Smith, but rather strongly complicit in the sham.

[alicerosetrevormusic]

The book of mormon can testify to your heart that God loves you, in a way that there would be no doubt, as you study it in prayer you will feel God guide you indervidually to what you are seeking. All you have to do to know it is truly the words of God written down is to read and ask God if its true. I hope you know how much God loves you. I know he lives and the book of mormon is a gift from God to help us to know that truth.

[NastyMeal]

I think he may have helped write it, but I’ll give Joe credit as the primary author. It’s not like it was impossible for Joe to come up with the stories

[JacobStein]

The original Mormons:

Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844)
a good looking and intelligent young man from a penniless upstate New York family; professional buried treasure hunter.

Oliver H. P. Cowdery (October 3, 1806 – March 3, 1850)
a school teacher who boarded with the Smith family

David Whitmer (January 7, 1805 – January 25, 1888)
farmer; friend of Oliver Cowdery

Martin Harris (May 18, 1783 – July 10, 1875)
prosperous farmer; employer of Joseph Smith Sr.


the Smith family

Joseph Smith Sr. (July 12, 1771 – September 14, 1840)
father of Joseph Smith Jr.
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon (July 10, 1804 – April 30, 1879)
wife of Joseph Smith Jr
Hyrum Smith (February 9, 1800 – June 27, 1844)
brother of Joseph Smith Jr
Samuel Harrison Smith (13 March 1808 – 30 July 1844)
brother of Joseph Smith Jr.

the Whitmer family

Jacob Whitmer (February 2, 1800 — April 21, 1856)
brother of David Whitmer
John Whitmer (August 27, 1802 – July 11, 1878)
brother of David Whitmer
Christian Whitmer (January 18, 1798 – November 27, 1835)
brother of David Whitmer
Peter Whitmer Jr. (September 27, 1809 – September 22, 1836)
brother of David Whitmer
Hiram Page (c. 1800–August 12, 1852)
brother in law of David Whitmer

Apparently after 1826, Joseph Smith Jr realized that his fraudulent treasure hunting career was a failure and he began thinking about a career as a religious leader and false prophet.

In 1829, Smith met poor school teacher Cowdery and they put together a book based on the King James Bible, View of the Hebrews published in 1823 by Ethan Smith (no relation, although he was an acquaintance of Cowdery) and their own imagination. Whitmer and his family joined the conspiracy probably in hope of becoming religious leaders and escaping a hard life of farming. Harris was conned into providing the money.

So basically the foundation of Mormonism was the beauty (Smith) the brains (Cowdery) the money (Harris) and the Whitmers who jumped on the bandwagon. Three very young, 25 year old, men and one middle aged man who paid the bills, along with most of the Smith and Whitmer families, founded Mormonism.

The Book of Mormon went on sale March 26, 1830. The LDS church opened for business in Smith’s home on April 6, 1830.

In 1835 Smith and Cowdery published a sequel to the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants. Since then various other scriptures have been published, such as the Pearl of Great Price, and Mormon prophets and prophecies continue to this day. Mormonism broke up into competing sects after the death of Smith.

From 1850 to 1900, tens of thousands of Mormon converts from poor districts of Denmark, Sweden, England and Germany poured into Utah. They formed the basis of the present Utah population.

There have been no large scale conversions since 1900, partially because Mormons had no interest in converting non-white people.

The center of Mormonism today is Provo, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City, which is 90% Mormon and 90% white and home to Brigham Young University. (Like the rest of the country, Utah has had a significant and growing Hispanic population since 1990. Someone has to wash the toilets.) Utah is definitely the world center of Mormonism, with only small communities scattered elsewhere.

Mormons are characterized by being very kind and friendly to each other and to potential converts, devoutly religious and somewhat white supremacist. Most Mormons have a lifestyle reminiscent of the United States in the 1950’s. They also do not drink or smoke. A minority practice polygamy and forced child marriage. (Starting in 1841, after becoming the leader of Nauvoo, Illinois, Smith began having sex with any woman he could get his hands on and some Mormon men to this day have tried to follow in his footsteps. One, Warren Jeffs, is serving life in prison as a result.)

[spen]

This video is heavy on assertions, and little on historical evidence.

[estebancarbajal]

I am not a Lds apologetic but I feel you need stronger arguments. Mormons can tell you that it was done in secret manners due to violence and persecution. Also, they can say Jesus always picks ordinary people to perform his work. Moses stuttered for instance.

[jamesbaldwin]

Sorry, ..Oliver left a deathbed testimony reaffirming the reality of the Book of Mormon and the devine mission of the Prophet, Joseph Smith. He didn't say anything about being the real author of the book.

[alicerosetrevormusic]

I'm confused by your reasoning. Just because oliver cowdery was educated doesn't mean he could have written the book of mormon. Could you have done it? I'm sure you have more education than he had then. With our present understanding of science and archaeology and primative cultures... And Google. Could you write the book of mormon yourself. I don't get how you could suggest he could have done this in the 1860's? Have you ever read the book of mormon?

[henochparks]

Hahaha this is bogus and was proven false long ago.

[anamariamorton]

Many people will be cursed for following this false gospel.