6 years in the making, and crosslinking to almost every other timeline I’ve made, this post comprises everything I have found that ties together Smith, Rigdon and Spaulding. It includes quotes by Oliver Cowdery’s partner claiming he confessed to the Spaulding-Rigdon theory, as well as preachers saying that they saw Rigdon do it, back before anyone published the theory (Quoted by their daughters after the fact).
I include a list of eye witnesses and how non-connected they are compared to the 11 witnesses of the Book of Mormon. Also in the timeline are the gaps in Rigdon’s history along with the key events of the Book of Mormon translation, that lines up to show that Rigdon had means, motive and opportunity. This post is the summary but has a link to the timeline.
http://www.exploringmormonism.com/?p=1172
Mithryn — Thanks, you summary is really fascinating, and your research on the timeline is amazing!
I had gotten the impression (from other exmos, not just apologists) that the Spaulding-Rigdon theory is ridiculous, but this definitely makes me reassess my position.