"I have thus given you a full statement of all that I know respecting the origin of Mormonism"

The quote "I have thus given you a full statement of all that I know respecting the origin of Mormonism" credited to Charles Anthon reflects a moment of historic significance within the story surrounding the early days of Mormonism, likewise referred to as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Anthon was a noted classical scholar and linguist at Columbia College in the early 19th century. This statement hints at an engagement Anthon purportedly had with Martin Harris, an early figure in the Mormon motion and a close partner of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism.

The context of this quote emerges from Harris's ask for Anthon to validate characters that Smith claimed to have transcribed from the "golden plates". These plates were said to be the source material for the Book of Mormon, a spiritual text of the Latter-day Saint movement. The story goes that Harris checked out Anthon to seek recognition of the engravings. According to Mormon accounts, Anthon at first confirmed the file, but upon discovering its origins, apparently retracted his validation. On the other hand, Anthon, in other accounts, claims he might not verify the characters and did not offer any sort of verification.

The quote indicates Anthon's assertion of openness and completeness in sharing all knowledge he possessed about the origins of Mormonism. It suggests an attempt to clarify his role in the historical debate. Anthon's engagement-- genuine or interpreted-- illustrates the palpable tension and uncertainty that surrounded the early years of Mormonism.

The conversation around this quote also acknowledges the more comprehensive societal context of the 19th century, a time of religious revivalism and increased curiosity about religious texts and their credibility. The incident works as a lens through which to understand early resistance to and intrigue about brand-new spiritual motions. It underscores the challenges dealt with by nascent spiritual neighborhoods in developing trustworthiness and the intricate interplay in between belief, paperwork, and scholarly authority.