Do LDS Scholars Accuse Joseph Smith of Plagiarizing Walt Whitman?

The idea that Joseph Smith plagiarized from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass in the context of the Book of Mormon is often met with skepticism in scholarly and religious circles. It is presented here to challenge some common misconceptions and to explore the chronology and plausibility of such a claim.

Chronological Evidence

The fact that the first edition of Leaves of Grass was published in 1855, eleven years after the murder of Joseph Smith, makes it highly unlikely that Smith had access to it. The Book of Mormon, on the other hand, was published in 1830, long before Whitman's work came into being. The timeline alone is a significant obstacle to the idea that Smith could have plagiarized from Whitman.

The Context of the Works

Leaves of Grass, a collection of poetry, focuses on the material world and the body rather than religious or spiritual matters. This is in stark contrast to the content of the Book of Mormon, which is deeply rooted in Christian morality and centering on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The notion that a poem about nature and individualism could serve as the basis for an inspired text about Christ is absurd.

Scholarly Reactions

Scholars and apologists for the LDS Church have been quick to refute any idea that Joseph Smith plagiarized from Whitman. One particularly humorous example of this is the response from Mike Combs, who doubled down on the accusation despite the obvious impossibilities. Combs, upon being confronted with the chronological evidence, attempted to argue that it was not impossible, citing examples of child prodigies like Mozart as a comparison. This line of reasoning, however, is rooted in leaps of faith rather than concrete evidence.

Clarifying the Accusation

For an accusation of plagiarism to hold any weight, it would need to be demonstrated that there is exact textual copying from Leaves of Grass to the Book of Mormon. To date, no specific chapter or verse has been cited to support this claim. Without such evidence, the idea remains speculative at best.

Conclusion

The claim that Joseph Smith plagiarized from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass is not only unsupported by historical evidence but also logically improbable. The chronological gap between the publication of the Book of Mormon and the first edition of Leaves of Grass makes it practically impossible for Smith to have had access to, let alone plagiarize from, Whitman's work.

It is important for scholars and anyone interested in LDS history to examine claims with a critical eye. In this case, a careful approach to the evidence dispels any idea that Joseph Smith plagiarized from Walt Whitman, or any other modern author.