Post-Mormon Stories

The Book of Mormon: Joseph Smith’s First Novel

A typical first novel is a dumping ground for its author’s childhood traumas. The Book of Mormon is no different.

An old-timey color sketch shows three mens in 19th-century garb facing a glowing personage in a white robe who is leafing through a book bound from pages of gold. — “The Angel Moroni showing the Plates of the Book of Mormon to the Witnesses” (image licensed from Everett Historical/Shutterstock)

WARNING: This essay contains graphic descriptions of primitive surgery and child harm that some readers may find disturbing.

More from William Shunn

Writer, poet and puzzle maker. Hugo and Nebula Award finalist. Author of The Accidental Terrorist: Confessions of a Reluctant Missionary. He/him/Bill.

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William Shunn
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Writer, poet and puzzle maker. Hugo and Nebula Award finalist. Author of The Accidental Terrorist: Confessions of a Reluctant Missionary. He/him/Bill.

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