Mark Hofmann, a Salt Lake City document dealer and master forster, used homemade bombs to murder two individuals in October 1985 as his extensive scheme of fabricating historical Latter-day Saint documents began to collapse. The bombings, which killed Steven F. Christensen and Kathy Sheets, were part of a desperate effort to prevent the detection of his widespread fraud and theft by deception.
The 1985 Bombings and Murders
The criminal activities reached a violent peak on October 15, 1985, when Hofmann delivered a homemade bomb to Steven F. Christensen, a collector who had been promised a collection of documents from Apostle William McLellin that Hofmann failed to produce. The explosion killed Christensen. A second bomb was subsequently delivered to the home of J. Gary Sheets, a business associate of Christensen, which resulted in the death of Sheets's wife, Kathy. The following day, a third bomb exploded in Hofmann's own car near Temple Square, an event that led investigators to find evidence linking him to the previous killings.
Criminal Convictions and Motive
Following the investigation into the bombings, Hofmann was arrested three months later. In 1987, he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, one count of theft by deception, and one count of fraud. The judge recommended that Hofmann never be released from prison, and he was sentenced to five years to life. According to records from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hofmann's motive for the murders was specifically to cover up his forgeries as investigators began to close in on his activities.
The Anthon Transcript Forgery
Hofmann's career as a prominent dealer of rare books was launched by the discovery of what appeared to be the 'Anthon Transcript.' In 1980, Hofmann claimed to have found a 17th-century King James Bible containing a folded paper with characters representing Reformed Egyptian. This document was believed to be the transcript presented by Martin Harris to Professor Charles Anthon in 1828. The LDS Church purchased this transcript from Hofmann on October 13, 1980, for approximately $20,000 in exchange for various artifacts, including a $5 gold Mormon coin and a first edition of the Book of Mormon.
Sophisticated Forgery Techniques
Hofmann utilized sophisticated and meticulous techniques to ensure his forgeries passed the scrutiny of experts. He studied the handwriting of historical figures to reproduce it with startling accuracy, stole period paper from archives, manufactured his own ink, and artificially aged materials to create a convincing appearance of antiquity. He also strategically planted minor forgeries in advance to lend credibility to more significant, high-profile fabrications. His work deceived not only church leaders like Gordon B. Hinckley but also distinguished historians and document authenticators.
Succession and Salamander Letters
Another significant forgery involved a document claiming that Joseph Smith had designated his son, Joseph Smith III, as his successor rather than Brigham Young. In February 1981, Hofmann presented this blessing to the LDS Church archivist. To bolster the claim, Hofmann provided a forged cover letter, purportedly written by Thomas Bullock in 1865, which criticized Brigham Young for destroying copies of the blessing. The LDS Church purchased the document for roughly $20,000 in trade. Simultaneously, Hofmann provided a 'salamander letter'—an 1830 letter from Martin Harris describing Joseph Smith's involvement in folk-magic practices.
Allegations of Document Suppression
The fallout from the Hofmann case led to intense public scrutiny and allegations regarding the LDS Church's handling of historical records. In an October 1987 publication, Gordon B. Hinckley addressed claims that the Church was suppressing documents, noting that while the Church had acquired roughly 40 documents from Hofmann through purchase or trade, many were simply routine or trivial. He clarified that the Church had actually made several prominent Hofmann documents public months before the bombings occurred.
Long-term Historical Impact
The legacy of the Hofmann case continues to impact historical research. While many of his forgeries were identified through forensic testing—such as discovering artificially aged ink—the widespread nature of his trade networks made it difficult to trace every piece of his work. Even decades later, some documents, including a poem attributed to Emily Dickinson, have been linked back to Hofmann's activities.
