The Cleveland Advertiser claims Sidney Rigdon wrote the Book of Mormon.

Date
Feb 15, 1831
Type
News (traditional)
Source
Cleveland Daily Advertiser
Non-LDS
Hearsay
Reprint
Journalism
Reference

"MORMONISM -- or Grand Pugilistic Debate," Cleveland Advertiser February 15, 1831

Scribe/Publisher
Cleveland Daily Advertiser, sidneyrigdon.com
People
Sidney Rigdon, Cleveland Daily Advertiser, Thomas Campbell
Audience
Reading Public
PDF
Transcription

MORMONISM -- or Grand Pugilistic Debate. The Painesville Telegraph of this morning has the particulars of the acceptance of a challenge by Thomas Campbell, given by a noted mountebank by the name of Elder Rigdon, who has flourished in and about the "openings," for the last few years, and to the no small wonderment of all the old women round about that country, to test the validity of the doctrine contained in the Book of Mormon! It is something singular that this subject should have created such a stir. The Editor of the Telegraph has opened his paper to a discussion of its merits and demerits!

Rigdon was formerly a disciple of Campbell's and who it is said was sent out to make proselytes, but is probable he thought he should find it more advantageous to operate on his own capital, and therefore wrote, as it is believed the Book of Mormon, and commenced his pilgrimage in the town of Kirtland, which was represented as one of the extreme points of the Holy Land.

The good people of that country were wont to take a different notice of nuisances, by placing them a-stride a rail, accompanied with the music of kettle drums, tin pans, and pumpkin vines to the tune of "Over the hills, and far a-way."

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