BYU Studies
Keywords
Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, copyright
Abstract
This case marks the first time Joseph Smith invoked his legal rights to safeguard work connected with his prophetic calling from abuse or exploitation. The case arose from Abner Cole’s1 January 1830 efforts to publish Book of Mormon excerpts in his newspaper The Reflector, which he printed on the same Palmyra, New York, press that the Book of Mormon was being printed on. The case was evidently settled in Joseph Smith’s favor through arbitration, an out-of- court option for adjudication that New York law considered legally binding.2
Recommended Citation
Walker, Jeffrey N.; Hedges, Andrew H.; and Dirkmaat, Gerrit J.
(2025)
"“There Is Law” Joseph Smith’s Use of Arbitration to Protect the Book of Mormon,"
BYU Studies: Vol. 64:
Iss.
2, Article 9.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol64/iss2/9