This is a review of Royal Skousen’s Part Seven: The Early Transmissions of the Text, from Volume Three: The History of the Text, published by The Foundation for Ancient American Research and Mormon Studies and Brigham Young University Studies, Provo, Utah, 2024 (723 pages) This volume focuses on the early transmission of the text from Joseph Smith through publication.

Skousen’s work here is a serious problem because the takeaway message from Part Seven for many readers will be this declaration from that chapter on page 62:

Joseph Smith’s claim that he used the Urim and Thummim is only partially true; and Oliver Cowdery’s statements that Joseph used the original instrument while he, Oliver, was the scribe appear to be intentionally misleading. (emphasis added)

Whether Skousen’s claims are supported by the evidence is up to each reader, but in my view, despite the 90 pages in this chapter, his treatment: 

(i) omits relevant, credible sources that contradict Skousen’s theories,

(ii) accepts uncritically sources that confirm Skousen’s theories, and

(iii) applies inconsistent standards to the sources using outcome-determined reasoning.

Skousen even truncates the references he does quote to omit portions that contradict his theories.

In 2006, the John Whitmer Historical Association Journal published an article by Richard K. Behrens about the influence of the Dartmouth College community and curriculum on Hyrum Smith, and by extension on the Smith family, including Joseph Smith, Jr. The article presents “a plausible intellectual development view of Joseph Smith from the perspective of his brother Hyrum Smith.” It is an intriguing hypothesis that may appeal to those interested in a naturalistic explanation for Joseph Smith’s teachings.

However, the article lacks supporting evidence to substantiate its fundamental claim that Hyrum Smith conveyed theological ideas from Dartmouth to Joseph Smith. Instead of facts, the article relies on parallelism, assumption, inference and theory. Other naturalistic explanations are better supported by facts.

The article’s hypothesis would be improved by correcting factual errors and providing specific facts to support its assumptions, inferences and theories. However, others have sought to buttress Behrens' claims by seeking additional evidence, to no avail. Thus Behrens' theory remains in the realm of speculation and conjecture.

Also available here: https://www.academia.edu/143284301/Review_of_Richard_K_Behrens_2006_article_Dartmouth_Arminianism_And_Its_Impact_on_Hyrum_Smith_And_the_Smith_Family_ 

"Volume 5 of the Revelations and Translations series, published in January 2022, presents all extant fragments of the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon... Designed for those who wish to carefully research the earliest text of the Book of Mormon, the transcript in this volume reproduces the original text based on analysis of the manuscript in its present state, as well as of multispectral images and historical photographs."

This invaluable resource is exemplary. Unfortunately, the editors have blended their factual presentations with controversial opinions and theories based on their subjective interpretations of the facts. While everyone is entitled to an opinion, and Skousen is free to express his opinions however he wants in his own publications, the Joseph Smith Papers are published by the Church Historian’s Press and should be held to a higher standard of scholarship and objectivity—especially when the bias is not clearly articulated for readers’ consideration.

Also available here: https://www.academia.edu/67756647/Agenda_driven_editorial_content_in_the_Joseph_Smith_Papers