Mark William Hofmann (born 7 December 1954), a disaffected member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was a prolific counterfeiter who murdered two people in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is currently serving a prison sentence at the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah. Hofmann is widely regarded as one of the most successful forgers in history. is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... A counterfeit is an imitation that is made with the intent to deceptively represent its content or origins. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Salt Lake Citys top tourist draw. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... The Utah State Prison main complex is located in Draper, Utah about 20 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. ... Draper is a city in Salt Lake County and Utah County, Utah, United States, located about 20 miles south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. ...

Early life

Although Hofmann embraced atheism while in his teen years, he was raised in a devout LDS family. His grandmother, Athelia Call, had been the wife of a Mormon polygamist. His family's reluctance to discuss its involvement with plural marriage became an early source of Hofmann's resentment toward Mormonism. Like many young LDS individuals, Hofmann spent two years as a Mormon missionary. During his time as a missionary, he worked in Bristol, England and became intrigued by many of the local antique bookstores in the area. He appeared outwardly devout, but his explorations of Mormon history led him to doubt many of the church's official claims regarding its origins. This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Two Mormon missionaries A missionary is traditionally defined as a propagator of religion who works to convert those outside that community; someone who proselytizes. ... This article is about the English city of Bristol. ... ...

Hofmann is an Eagle Scout. He married Doralee Olds in the Salt Lake Temple in 1979. The couple have four children, but divorced in 1988. An Eagle Scout is a Scout with the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). ... The Salt Lake Temple is the largest (of more than 120) and best-known temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...

Hofmann's forgeries

After his mission, Hofmann became a dealer in antique items. Forging and altering coins, books, and historical banknotes to make them more valuable (often by adding signatures), Hofmann worked up to fabricating historically significant documents. He became famous for his "discoveries" of previously unknown documents pertaining to the Latter Day Saint movement and the LDS church. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of paper, parchment, or other material, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. ... A £20 Bank of England banknote. ... The Latter Day Saint movement (a subset of Restorationism) is a group of religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ...

Charles Anthon transcript (1828)

The first forgery Hofmann sold to the LDS church was the so-called Anthon Transcript. Hofmann claimed he found this document April 1980 pasted between the pages of a 1668 Bible with the apparent signatures of Joseph Smith's great and great-great grandfathers inside. The document seemed especially significant as the transcript that Smith's scribe Martin Harris presented to Charles Anthon, a Columbia classics professor, in 1828. According to the Joseph Smith—History, the transcript and its unusual “reformed Egyptian” characters were copied by Smith from the Golden Plates from which he translated the Book of Mormon. The Joseph Smith—History reports that Anthon thought the esoteric-looking characters were genuinely Egyptian, but that Anthon wanted access to the original plates. However, Anthon's recollection of the event was drastically different; he claimed to have been misquoted and misrepresented by Harris and Smith, and characterized the transcription of “reformed Egyptian” as a crude copy of characters from several different alphabets. Hofmann's forgery differed greatly from a purported copy of the Anthon transcript possessed by the Community of Christ: Hofmann intentionally constructed his version to fit Anthon's description. A Joseph Smith expert, Dean Jessee, opined that the document's handwriting and signature appeared genuine. Appraised by the LDS church for USD$25,000, it was purchased on 13 October in exchange for several artifacts the church owned in duplicate including a $5 gold Mormon coin, Deseret banknotes, and a first edition of the Book of Mormon. According to the Book of Mormon, this scripture of the Latter Day Saint movement was originally written in reformed Egyptian characters[1] on plates of ore[2] by prophets living in the Western Hemisphere between 600 B.C. and A.D. 421. ... 1668 (MDCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... John Hancocks signature is one of the most prominent on the United States Declaration of Independence. ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... This is about scribe, the profession. ... Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... Charles Anthon (November 19, 1797 – July 29, 1867) was an American classical scholar, born in New York City. ... Classics, particularly within the Western University tradition, when used as a singular noun, means the study of the language, literature, history, art, and other aspects of Greek and Roman culture during the time frame known as classical antiquity. ... Year 1828 (MDCCCXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Joseph Smith—History (abbreviated JS–H) is a book in the Pearl of Great Price that contains an autobiographical record of some of the early events in Joseph Smiths life. ... According to the Book of Mormon, this scripture of the Latter Day Saint movement was originally written in reformed Egyptian characters[1] on plates of ore[2] by prophets living in the Western Hemisphere between 600 B.C. and A.D. 421. ... An 1893 engraving of Joseph Smith receiving the Golden Plates and the Urim and Thummim from the angel Moroni. ... The Book of Mormon[1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement, regarded by Latter Day Saints as divinely revealed, and named after the prophet–historian Mormon who, according to the text, compiled most of the book. ... Joseph Smith—History (abbreviated JS–H) is a book in the Pearl of Great Price that contains an autobiographical record of some of the early events in Joseph Smiths life. ... For other uses, see Alphabet (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Community of Christ membership statistics be merged into this article or section. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Standard atomic weight 196. ... It has been suggested that Nation of Deseret be merged into this article or section. ...

Joseph Smith III blessing

On 4 September 1981, Hofmann gave Elder Gordon B. Hinckley another forgery. Supposedly written by Thomas Bullock, Hofmann claimed to have acquired the letter along with the Joseph III blessing, which presented Smith's young son, Joseph Smith III as the most legitimate leader for the LDS church, not Brigham Young, who was accepted as the leader by the majority of Smith's followers after Smith's murder. In the forged letter, dated 27 January 1865 and marked “private” and “not sent”, Bullock chastises Brigham Young for having all copies of the blessing destroyed. Bullock writes that although he believes Young to be the legitimate leader of the LDS church, he would keep his copy of the blessing. Such a letter would unflatteringly portray Young and by extension the LDS church. Hofmann gave it to Hinckley as a “faithful Mormon,” ostensibly doing the church a favor. According to Hofmann, Hinckley filed the letter away in a safe in the First Presidency's offices. is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Gordon Bitner Hinckley (born June 23, 1910) has been the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since March 12, 1995. ... Joseph Smith III — Leader of the 1860 Reorganization of the Latter Day Saint church. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... In Mormonism, the First Presidency (or the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy of several Latter Day Saint denominations. ...

The sale of these and other forgeries emboldened Hofmann, and confirmed his earlier conclusions about the LDS church. He thought that when LDS officials “covered up” what might be seen as embarrassing or contradictory documents which they apparently thought were genuine, they were lending credence to the stories. Hofmann also concluded that since LDS officials were apparently fooled by his forgeries, they had no divine prophetic powers. Hofmann continued selling and trading fraudulent documents to the LDS church and to many other collectors and historians.

Lucy Mack Smith letter

One significant Hofmann forgery arrived at the church via Brent F. Ashworth, an attorney and rare documents collector. The forgery was a letter complete with an 1828 Palmyra, New York, postmark from Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Smith's mother. Dated 23 January 1829, she describes her son's revelations and finding the Gold Plates, including the lost 116 pages of the Book of Lehi, a document that has been missing since 1828. Hofmann sold it to Ashworth, and it was announced to the world in a 23 August 1982 joint press conference. In the conference Dean Jessee again asserted that a Hofmann forgery looked authentic, not only for Lucy Smith's handwriting, but also for the period postmark and correct postage. An attorney is someone who represents someone else in the transaction of business: For attorney-at-law, see lawyer, solicitor, barrister or civil law notary. ... Year 1828 (MDCCCXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Palmyra is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 7,672 at the 2000 census. ... An example of a postmark A postmark is a postal marking made on a letter, package, postcard or the like indicating the (more or less precise) date and time that the item was delivered into the care of the postal service. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Golden Plates is the name most frequently used to refer to the gold plates that Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The lost 116 pages were the original manuscript pages of what Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Year 1828 (MDCCCXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 235th day of the year (236th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... A joint press conference by U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the White House. ...

Martin Harris letter to Walter Conrad

On 5 October 1982, the LDS church and Ashworth announced another of Hofmann's documents: A supposed letter from Martin Harris to Walter Conrad, brother-in-law of Brigham Young. It was dated 12 January 1873. Ashworth felt that this letter, bought nine months earlier, bolstered the Church's move to subtitle the Book of Mormon “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”. is the 278th day of the year (279th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

David Whitmer letter to Walter Conrad

Hofmann sold the church a similar letter supposedly from David Whitmer, dated 2 April 1873, another of the three witnesses, for $10,000 shortly thereafter. David Whitmer (January 7, 1805–January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Golden Plates is the name most frequently used to refer to the gold plates that Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Josiah Stowell letter (1825)

Other purported letters sold in excess of $10,000 include a holograph referring to Joseph Smith treasure-seeking for silver . A holograph is a document written entirely in the handwriting of the person whose signature it bears. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Standard atomic weight 107. ...

E. B. Grandin contract

This forgery was the supposed 1830 (dated 17 August 1829) contract between Smith and printer Egbert Bratt Grandin for the printing of the first edition of the Book of Mormon. Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 (MDCCCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Egbert Bratt Grandin (1806-April 16, 1845) was owner of the printing shop where Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Two pages of the original Book of Mormon manuscript

The two pages were claimed to be from the original Book of Mormon manuscript written by Oliver Cowdery as dictated by Joseph Smith Jr. The original manuscript of the Book of Mormon was placed in the cornerstone of the Nauvoo House in 1841 and was removed in 1882. Water had damaged the manuscript and destroyed everything beyond the book of Helaman. The two pages obtained from Hofmann covered a portion of the book of Helaman and it was noted by the Church that "No text farther along in the original manuscript is known to exist. This leaf is in a remarkable state of preservation, considering that it was positioned low in the water-damaged manuscript."^[1]

Martin Harris letter (Salamander letter)

Hofmann's most famous Mormon history forgery emerged in 1984. An LDS Bishop, Steven F. Christensen, purchased the so-called Salamander Letter for $40,000 on 6 January after the LDS church and Brent Ashworth turned down more extravagant offers. News of the document was contagious and soon Peggy Fletcher of Sunstone Magazine, and then Richard N. Ostling, the religion editor of Time Magazine, were calling about the letter. Containing elements of early anti-Mormon rumors, the Salamander Letter depicts Joseph Smith as a practitioner of folk magic, and relates an account of Smith's receiving the Golden Plates that is entirely different from the orthodox version. Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... The Salamander Letter was one of hundreds of documents concerning the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormon) that surfaced in the early 1980s. ... is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... In 1974, the Sunstone Foundation started the Sunstone Magazine to feature such subjects as Mormon experience, scholarship, art, short fiction and poetry. ... (Clockwise from upper left) Time magazine covers from May 7, 1945; July 25, 1969; December 31, 1999; September 14, 2001; and April 21, 2003. ... An anti-Mormon political cartoon from the late nineteenth century. ... Folk religion consists of beliefs, superstitions and cultural practices transmitted from generation to generation, in addition to the formally stated creeds and beliefs of a codified major religion. ... An 1893 engraving of Joseph Smith receiving the Golden Plates and the Urim and Thummim from the angel Moroni. ...

Forgeries not related to Mormon history

In addition to documents from Mormon history, Hofmann also forged a number of other items, including works by Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln. He announced his final completed forgery, a copy of the long-vanished 17th century printed broadside Oath of a Freeman, in 1985. The Oath, allegedly a printing from the press brought to America on the Mayflower, was a Pilgrim constitution, and would have been the oldest document printed in America. To be sold at over $1 million, the Oath was manufactured by Hofmann as an act of desperation. He even produced a second copy of the document of lesser technical quality. Authentication of these prints was underway as Hofmann committed his murders. They would contribute to his eventual discrediting. This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910),[1] better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, satirist, lecturer and writer. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... A forged document made by Mark Hofmann. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor by William Halsall (1882) The Mayflower was the famous ship that transported the Pilgrims from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts (United States), in 1620. ... Juniors Grill is a restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. ...

Hofmann's murders

Despite the often considerable amounts of money he was making from document sales, Hofmann became embroiled in financial difficulties. In an effort to clear his debts, he attempted to put together a deal involving the sale of “the M'Lellin collection” — an extensive collection of documents purportedly written by William E. M'Lellin, an early Mormon apostle who later broke with the LDS church and actively worked against them. Hofmann was unable to forge the entire collection quickly enough to meet his promises to his intended buyers; in a desperate effort to buy time he began planting bombs in Salt Lake City. William Earl MLellin (January 18, 1806—April 24, 1883) (often modernized to McLellin) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... This is the current Mormon collaboration of the month! Please help improve it to meet the ideal article standard. ...

On 15 October 1985, the first bomb killed document collector Steven Christensen, the son of prominent clothier Mac Christensen, founder of the Utah-area Mr. Mac clothing stores. Later that same day a second bomb killed Kathy Sheets, the wife of Christensen's former employer. Police initially suspected that the bombings were related to the impending collapse of a business which employed both Christensen and Gary Sheets (Kathy's husband). Hundreds of investors stood to lose sizable sums of money. is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ...

On 16 October 1985 Hofmann was severely wounded when one of his own bombs exploded in his car. Police suspicion quickly focused on Hofmann, though many of Hofmann's friends, family and his peers in the rare documents trade doubted that Hofmann was a killer. Some of Hofmann's business associates went into hiding, afraid they might be victims of more bombs. October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years). ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ...

The McLellin collection was discovered in Texas by a Salt Lake City reporter not long after Hofmann was injured. The documents were interesting, but not earth-shattering as Hofmann had often implied. More importantly, the owner of the collection had never heard of Hofmann — leading many to suspect that Hofmann had not been in negotiations to purchase the collection.

During the bombing investigation, police discovered incriminating evidence of the forgeries in the basement studio where Hofmann had created them. He was arrested for the murders and forgery in February, 1986. He eventually pleaded guilty to lesser charges (second-degree murder and theft-by-deception) to avoid the death penalty, and in January of 1988 was sentenced to life in prison. He has twice attempted suicide in prison. There has been speculation about the intended target of the third bomb that injured Hofmann, but he has never discussed the issue, other than to make (then retract) a claim that the bomb was a suicide attempt. One possible target is Brent Ashworth (a collector of rare documents). Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is the execution of a convicted criminal by the state as punishment for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offences. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...

Legacy in document collecting

During his career, Mark Hofmann fooled some very renowned people. Years after being found guilty of murder, his forgeries continued to cause headaches for collectors of historical documents. Among them was Daniel Lombardo, a curator for a library of material written by Emily Dickinson. In 1997, Lombardo purchased a “newly discovered” manuscript copy of an unpublished Dickinson poem from Sotheby's auction house for $24,000. The document was later determined to be one of Hofmann's many fakes still in circulation. Lombardo remarked, “Hofmann was one of the most skilled forgers in this century. The lengths he went to fool all the experts were extraordinary.” This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... PR shot of Sothebys New York, from auditions for The Apprentice 2 Sothebys is a noted auction house. ...

Before Hofmann's criminal career was exposed, some of his “discoveries” were also presented to Kenneth Rendell, one of the top document experts in the United States and one of the men responsible for debunking the forged “Hitler Diaries”. Like others duped by Hofmann, Rendell, after initially dismissing the documents as forgeries, later pronounced them consistent with their claimed origin. Nearly all of Hofmann's documents have been determined to be forgeries, and there is now debate about whether any of them are legitimate, even those widely regarded as genuine. Ironically, Hofmann forgeries are now collector's items themselves. Hitlers Diaries Discovered (Stern) In April 1983, the German news magazine Stern published extracts from what purported to be the diaries of Adolf Hitler, known as the Hitler Diaries, which were subsequently exposed as forgeries. ...

Among Hofmann's earliest critics were former LDS members Jerald and Sandra Tanner. Though Hofmann's “discoveries” often appeared to bolster the Tanners' own arguments against the church, Jerald had by early 1984 concluded there was significant doubt as to the Salamander Letter's authenticity. By late 1984, Jerald Tanner questioned the authenticity of most, if not all, of Hofmann's “discoveries” based in part on their unproven provenance. Jerald D. Tanner (June 1, 1938—October 1, 2006) and Sandra McGee Tanner have been prominent critics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ...

Notes

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 79th day of the year (80th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• (Oct. 1987) "Fraudulent Documents from Forger Mark Hofmann Noted". Ensign. 
• Lindsey, Robert (1988). A Gathering of Saints: A True Story of Money, Murder, and Deceit. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-671-65112-9. 
• Naifeh, Steven & Gregory White Smith (1988 (reprint 2005)), The Mormon Murders, St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0-312934-10-6.
• Oaks, Dallin (October 1987). "Recent Events Involving Church History and Forged Documents". Ensign: p. 63. 
• Sillitoe, Linda & Allen Roberts (1989), Salamander: The Story of the Mormon Forgery Murders (2nd. ed. ed.), Salt Lake City: Signature Books, ISBN 0-941214-87-7
• Turley, Richard E (1992). Victims: The LDS Church and the Mark Hofmann Case. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-01885-0. 
• Worrall, Simon (2002). The Poet and the Murderer: A True Story of Literary Crime and the Art of Forgery. Dutton Adult Hardcover. ISBN 0-525945-96-2. .

Dallin Harris Oaks (b. ...

External links

• Utah History Encyclopedia — Mark Hofmann
• Findarticles — 1986 Discover article on the "Oath of a Freeman"