Daniel Arlon Vogel (born 1955)[1] is an independent researcher, writer, and author on a number of works that includeJoseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet and is most known for his work on early Mormon documents.
Vogel was awarded the Best Book award in September 2004 by theJohn Whitmer Historical Association and the Turner-Bergera Best Biography award by theMormon History Association in May 2005 for his biographyJoseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet.[2][3]
Vogel argues in the biography that Joseph Smith was apious fraud—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 ofJoseph Smith, Sr., and the more mainstream Protestant faith ofLucy Mack Smith. Vogel interweaves the history ofJoseph Smith with interpretation of theBook of Mormon, which is read as springing from the young man's psychology and experiences.
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 ofEarly Mormon Documents.[4] 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."[5]
Vogel's scholarship on the topic has been debated byMormon apologists and scholars who have stated that he is critical of Mormon faith claims.[6][7][8] He has also been criticized byex-Mormons[who?] andanti-Mormons[who?] for not being sufficiently critical of Joseph Smith. Larry Morris praised his efforts to produce the multi-volumeEarly Mormon Documents.[9]
Many of Vogel's books have been critically reviewed by members ofFARMS, a Mormon apologetics institute.[10] For example, in 1991, Mormon religion professor and FARMS scholarStephen E. Robinson suggested that Vogel's naturalistic arguments closely resemble those of Korihor, an atheist polemicist in theBook of Mormon.[11]
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Dan Vogel has made a significant and lasting contribution to Mormon studies, and he deserves to be thanked for his bibliographic work. I sincerely appreciate his prodigious research.
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