Daniel Arlon Vogel (born 1955) is an independent researcher, writer, and author on a number of works that include '' Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet'' and is most known for his work on early Mormon documents.

Joseph Smith biography

Vogel was awarded the Best Book award in September 2004 by the

John Whitmer Historical Association The John Whitmer Historical Association (JWHA) is an independent, nonprofit organization promoting study, research, and publishing about the history and culture of the Latter Day Saint movement. It is especially focused on the Community of Christ ...

and the Turner-Bergera Best Biography award by the

Mormon History Association The Mormon History Association (MHA) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of Mormon history to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field. MHA was founded i ...

in May 2005 for his biography '' Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet''. Vogel argues in the biography that Joseph Smith was a

pious fraud Pious fraud is used to describe fraud in religion or medicine. A pious fraud can be counterfeiting a miracle or falsely attributing a sacred text to a biblical figure due to the belief that the " end justifies the means", in this case the end of in ...

—that Smith essentially invented his religious claims for what he believed were noble, faith-promoting purposes. Vogel identifies the roots of the pious fraud in the conflict between members of the Smith family, who were divided between the skepticism and universalism of Joseph Smith, Sr., and the more mainstream Protestant faith of

Lucy Mack Smith Lucy Mack Smith (July 8, 1775 – May 14, 1856) was the mother of Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. She is noted for writing the memoir, '' Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Ge ...

. Vogel interweaves the history of

Joseph Smith Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. When he was 24, Smith published the Book of Mormon. By the time of his death, 14 years later, ...

with interpretation of the

Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 421 and during an interlude d ...

, which is read as springing from the young man's psychology and experiences.

Reception

Vogel's scholarship on the topic has been debated by

Mormon apologists Apologetics (from Greek , "speaking in defense") is the religious discipline of defending religious doctrines through systematic argumentation and discourse. Early Christian writers (c. 120–220) who defended their beliefs against critics an ...

and scholars who have stated that he is critical of Mormon faith claims. He has also been criticized by

ex-Mormon Ex-Mormon or post-Mormon refers to a disaffiliate of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) or any of its schismatic breakoffs, collectively called "Mormonism". Ex-Mormons—sometimes referred to as exmo or postmo—may ne ...

s and

anti-Mormons Anti-Mormonism is discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice directed against the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The term is often used to describe people or literat ...

for not being sufficiently critical of Joseph Smith. Larry Morris praised his efforts to produce the multi-volume ''Early Mormon Documents''. Many of Vogel's books have been critically reviewed by members of

FARMS A farm (also called an agricultural holding) is an area of land that is devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing food and other crops; it is the basic facility in food production. The name is used fo ...

, a Mormon apologetics institute. For example, in 1991, Mormon religion professor and FARMS scholar Stephen E. Robinson suggested that Vogel's arguments closely resemble those of

Korihor Korihor () is an anti-christ described in in the Book of Mormon. Life Korihor is directly referred to in the Book of Mormon as Anti-Christ, because he claimed there will be no Christ. Korihor was able to preach his views to the people becaus ...

, an atheist polemicist in the ''Book of Mormon''. In the LDS historical community, Vogel's work has received significant recognition. In 1997, Vogel received the "Best Documentary Editing/Bibliography Award" from the Mormon History Association for Volume 1 of ''Early Mormon Documents''. Vogel's 2004 biography of Joseph Smith received the highest award for such works from both the John Whitmer Historical Association and the Mormon History Association. LDS history journals have reviewed most of Vogel's publications. A typical summary: "Despite its idiosyncrasies, ''Early Mormon Documents'' remains the most useful collection of documents on the early movement available to researchers. Its unconventionality may actually magnify its importance, not diminish it."Review: Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents. Reviewed by Jed Woodworth. In ''Journal of Mormon History'' Vol. 34, No. 3, 2008, Page 242. Online a
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/mormonhistory/vol34/iss3/1
Accessed 14 May 2020.

Publications

* * * * * * ;As editor * * *

Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vogel, Daniel Arlon 1955 births American biographers American atheists Former Latter Day Saints Historians of the Latter Day Saint movement Living people Mormon studies scholars American skeptics