Now Available Again

After Ten Years ...

“History may be
Updated with irreversible, and yet it
exists under
Forty-Six Pages of permanent siege from
those whom it
New Information inconveniences.
Defending it is the
and Photographs permanent burden of
all free people ...”
Bret Stephens
Wall Street Journal Article,

A History of the April, 2010

URANTIA PAPERS
By LARRY MULLINS
with Dr. Meredith Justin Sprunger
484 pages, 7” x 10” format, the complete unauthorized material updated, indexed, and
featuring over 110 illustrations and exhibits. Contains new information regarding the Sherman
Diaries, excerpts from Professor Sarah Lewis’ study of the authorship of the Urantia Papers by
Cambridge University Press, plus updates on the final Urantia Foundation litigation issues.

The Unauthorized, Untold Story of What May Have Been

the Most Important Happening of the Twentieth Century.

W E HAVE BEEN TOLD by the mainstream media that if science were to discover
that intelligent life exists somewhere else in the universe, it would radically
change our way of thinking, from top to bottom. Imagine, then, if it were proven
that, circa 1906 to 1955, invisible super-intelligent beings collaborated with a small group of
humans for the purpose of bringing a revelation of epochal significance to our planet!
However, the miraculous materialization of the Urantia Papers can never be proven. And
perhaps the superhuman revelators who were involved wanted it just that way. They knew
that one of the least desirable reasons to believe anything is because of some supposed
supernormal origin. The Urantia Papers were always intended to stand upon their own
merits. Their origin was to remain a spiritual mystery, and belief in their authenticity a matter
of faith. Somehow, due to indiscretions by a few members of the human contact commission,
it didn’t work out that way ...
 Those of us who measure our readership in decades
rather than in years recall a time when it was virtually
forbidden to discuss the origin of The Urantia Book. All
we knew were conflicting rumors, fragmented stories
and mysterious “mandates” about what took place from
early in the twentieth century until late in 1955. We
wanted to know the truth about what really happened
during the fifty-year period of the Revelation. We all
hoped that one day an old-timer would write a history of the
Papers that was carefully researched and documented. Time
passed, and then one day a group of us realized that while we waited we had
become old-timers ourselves. If an objective, reliable history was to be written,
we would have to be the ones to write it.
None of us had any idea of what we would uncover in our search for
truth. We were often made uncomfortable and even shocked by what we
discovered. But at each juncture we all agreed to follow the truth
wherever it led. In the words of the Master: “There cannot be
peace between light and darkness, between life and death,
between truth and error.” It took us over two years to
complete our history. When we were done, I wrote this
passage in the Preface:
“Histories are inescapably adversarial and painful processes. The
Urantians who undertook this task of developing a good, sound
history are aware that the final product is a compelling argument
that could help shape the destiny of the Urantia Papers. The
stakes are high, because what is ultimately at issue are the
various philosophies and agendas of those organizations and
individuals who seek to control the Urantia Revelation. It will
come as no surprise then, that the interpretations of the events
relating to the Urantia Papers are destined to be fiercely
contested. Sometimes the facts about the Urantia Papers
are at issue, but more often the meaning of the facts will be
the center of historical controversy.”
We have presented and carefully documented our
findings. Readers can decide for themselves how
effectively we presented the myriad of issues surrounding
the insertion of the Revelation into the evolutionary
mainstream.
The original printing of 5,000 copies of A History of
the Urantia Papers sold out rather quickly. Many Urantians
were disappointed. In the meantime, some young Urantians
have expressed interest in the origin and history of the
Revelation. Fortunately, advanced publishing technology
now makes it possible to produce an enlarged edition of the
original history in a quality paperback version at a
reasonable price. Our new edition is available on
www.amazon.com or your favorite bookstore.
FROM THE FOREWORD TO
THE SECOND EDITION ...
“Nearly ten years have passed since
we published A History of the Urantia
Papers. Since then, two key events
have taken place regarding the
Urantia Papers. First, the Papers
themselves are now in the public
domain after a successful lawsuit.
Second, The Sherman Diaries
have been published, providing a
great deal of additional information
about the early culture of the Urantia
movement, and the principle players
involved in its publication.
“However, our interest in publishing the
History was never to attempt a chronicle of the
Urantia movement. Our concern was always the
Papers themselves. It was in this spirit that
Meredith Sprunger, myself, and fourteen
longtime readers contributed, edited, and signed
off on our original History. We meticulously
documented and indexed the material we
presented. Our primary source of evidence was
the book itself, and its various printings. Next
we relied upon documentation from the Urantia
Foundation and its supporters. Third, we studied
various documents from Urantia Brotherhood,
and letters, books, and other materials gathered
from various individuals, some of whom were
hostile to our history project. To date,
predictable grumbles have been heard by those
who disagree with our findings, but no
documentation we have presented has ever
been challenged. We were not encumbered by
any authorization or sanctioning by an “official”
Urantian organization. We followed the truth
wherever it led ...
“When our History was written, only two
documents were available regarding the so-
called “Sherman tempest.” One was written by
Harold Sherman himself, and the other was a
rebuttal written by Clyde Bedell. Both
documents were written nearly 35 years after the
fact. With the publication of five volumes of The
Sherman Diaries it became obvious that both of
these previous accounts were inaccurate. The
Diaries were written in real time by Harold and
Martha Sherman, and cast a very different light
on what took place. The Diaries also dispel
many illusions about the culture of the Forum
itself. I have elected to leave the account of the
“Sherman tempest” in chapter seven as I wrote it
originally, and provide the revised account
(based on the Diaries) as a supplement inserted
after the index in this second edition. This new
A History of the Urantia Papers is a compelling page-turner you will not be able
to put down. A perfect gift for family and friends . . . they will find the real story
plausible and intriguing. Here are a few highlights of this important book ...
account is important because over the years
Harold Sherman came to believe that Dr. Sadler
altered the original Papers before their
publication. He had no difficulty
believing the Urantia Papers are a
significant revelation, but he
became convinced that Dr.
Sadler had contaminated them
with his own ideas. This issue
obviously needs to be
addressed, and I have done so
in the back section of this new
edition of our History.
“Our new edition also contains
important material from a 2007 book
published by Cambridge University Press of
the United Kingdom. The Invention of Sacred
Tradition is an anthology that includes a serious
study of the origin and nature of The Urantia
Book. The author of the chapter titled: The
peculiar sleep; receiving the Urantia Book, is
Sarah Lewis. Professor Lewis drew freely from
our History (as well as a dozen other sources) for
her commentary. In the section on authorship,
she refers to a statistical analysis study by Ken
Glasziou. This analysis concluded that a
minimum of nine authors were involved with
authoring The Urantia Book. Glasziou applied
his analysis to Dr. Sadler’s numerous books, and
determined that Sadler was not one of the
authors of the Urantia Papers. Pertinent findings
in her study are included as Supplement 2 in this
edition of the History, inserted after the new
material on the Sherman tempest.
“Finally, Supplement 3 tells the story of
Center for Urantia Book Synergy, or ‘CUBS,’
and the important contributions it made in the
struggle to free the Revelation during the
turbulence and strife of the 1980s and early
1990s. The CUBS litigation was the first of the
final three Foundation-initiated lawsuits that
eventuated in the loss of its copyright and the
release of the Revelation into the public domain.
“New copies of our original History are hard
to find, and at this writing are selling for well
over a hundred dollars on Amazon. This
paperback edition will be welcomed by
dedicated students of The Urantia Book who
may have failed to obtain a copy of the original
History. A handful of typos have been corrected,
and the new edition contains all the material in
the first edition, plus the updates explained
above.”
Larry Mullins
St. Augustine, Florida
 SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2010 EDITION
When he was forty years of age, Reverend Meredith
Sprunger rejected the Urantia Papers. Then, in 1956,
unusual circumstances set into motion events that would
cause him to reconsider The Urantia Book and would
eventually reconfigure his life ... PAGES 13-19.
The amazing passages in the 1929 book, The Mind at
Mischief by William Sadler, that would allure Dr. Sprunger
and several associate pastors to Chicago to meet the
famous psychiatrist ... PAGES 20-25.
In May of 1958, the two colleagues, Sadler and Sprunger
met. Sadler spoke freely about the Revelation, with the
exception of two things he said he could never
disclose. What were they? ... PAGES 30-32.
In the early days of the Forum, Dr. Sadler became
concerned that his wife and members of the group were
beginning to believe the material they were getting. When
he cautioned them about maintaining objectivity, he was
astounded by the reaction ... PAGES 33-35.
The sleeping subject was silent through many sessions,
until Lena Sadler chanced to ask a question. This
innocent question initiated the first contact ... PAGE 50.
Many original concepts are introduced to the Sadlers that
“altered” their religious beliefs “over a twenty year period
of pre-education” ... PAGES 88-92.
The turning point of the early contacts took place when
Dr. Sadler engaged an especially “electric” personality. His
challenge to Dr. Sadler eventually led to the Forum’s
involvement and the Urantia Papers ... PAGES 54-55.
Circa 1923, the Sadlers began a large, informal Sunday
meeting that would eventually become the Forum. One
afternoon Dr. Sadler generated great interest when he
mentioned to the Forum that there was a single case of
apparent psychic phenomena he was unable to explain
scientifically ... PAGE 65-66.
The Forum submits several hundred difficult questions to
stump the alleged contact. Before Dr. Sadler can present
them, the answers are materialized and a new phase of
the revelation begins ... PAGES 66-68.
The first “Paper” was read to the Forum on January 18,
1925. It made little impression on the members. It is likely
that no one had a clue that they had suddenly become
involved with an epochal revelation ... PAGES 75-76.
Revelation is not religion, it rather synthesizes “the
apparently divergent sciences of nature and the theology
of religion into a consistent and logical universe
philosophy” ... PAGE 98.
How were the Urantia Papers materialized into the
English language? ... PAGES 105-111.
Circa 1929, the Forum members are advised that they
now know enough to ask “more intelligent questions,” and
are ordered to begin a new reading of the Papers ...
PAGE 82-83.
During the next five years the original 57 Papers increase
to 118 ... PAGE 114.
In 1935, the complete Jesus Papers arrive (to the
surprise of the Sadlers and the Forum since they were
not in response to questions) ... PAGE 117-118.
Dr. Sadler and Bill attempt to write a Foreword to the
Papers, it is rejected. The Contact Commission is advised
that no human content would be allowed in The Urantia
Book ... PAGES 127-128.
The Forum is advised (through the Contact Commission)
that the general lack of enthusiasm is shocking. “I
admonish you to be ever alert to the extraordinary trust
that has been place in your hands” ... PAGE 131.
The “Sherman Tempest,” 1942, shakes up the culture of the
Forum ... PAGES 135-140. (Also see revisions to the
“Tempest” based upon the Sherman Diaries in Supplement
2, after the index).
1942-1945, the Urantia Papers are set in type, proofed,
approved, and the printing plates are cast. “Informal”
proofing continues, and additional errors are detected in
pages printed from the plates ... PAGES 140-146.
Why were the original manuscripts ordered to be
destroyed? ... PAGES 146 and 149.
A list of some of the more significant editorial changes that
were made to the text in subsequent printings after the
original printing in 1955 ... PAGES 151-157.
After ten years of delays, The Urantia Book is published. A
final message is received: “You are now on your own” and,
after nearly fifty years, the connection between mortals and
the unseen super-mortal “contact commission” went dead.
Dr. Sadler: “They didn’t even say goodbye” ... PAGE 183.
The fate of the Contact Commissioners ... PAGES 189-190.
1967-1968, The destruction and replacement of many of
the original plates by Urantia Foundation for the second
printing of The Urantia Book ... PAGES 193-231.
1971, Urantia Foundation elects to complete the
destruction of the original plates. PAGE 216.
June 20, 1973 speech by Martin Myers at a Urantia
conference seems to signal a shift to more authoritarian
leadership by Urantia Foundation, announcing “secret
mandates” ... PAGES 235-237.
Urantia Foundation institutes “slow growth” policies, and
begins launching lawsuits against Urantians to enforce
these policies ... PAGES 237-240; 257-263; Supplement 3.
In January 1983, Vern Grimsley, “Special Agent” for Urantia
Foundation, claims to be receiving messages from
“midwayers,” and warns that World War III is eminent ...
PAGES 240-257.
Review of findings ... PAGES 275-279.
The misuse and distortion of so-called “secret documents”
and apocrypha ... PAGES 279-287.
Did Dr. Sadler authorize changes to the text? ... PAGES
287-288.
2000, “The Golden Years,” a Urantia-authorized history of
the Urantia movement to commemorate its fiftieth
anniversary. In several cases it conflicts with previous
Foundation documentation ... PAGES 288-292.
Appendixes and supporting documentation ... PAGES 310-
403. Three important Supplements follow the index.
Supplement 1: The “Sherman Tempest” according to The
Sherman Diaries. This is very valuable historic information.
What does it really prove?
Supplement 2: Serious scholars evaluate the Urantia
Papers .. In 2007, Cambridge University Press published
The Invention of Sacred Tradition, a book that examines
the phenomena of what the editors term “invented
traditions” in religion. The Invention of Sacred Tradition is of
special interest to Urantians for several reasons.
Supplement 3: The Story of “CUBS”, Center for Urantia
Book Synergy, and the pivotal role it played during the
turbulent years of litigation until the Revelation was set
free. Finally, in January of 2008, the Board of Trustees
amended and greatly liberalized Urantia Foundation’s
policy regarding the use of the Foundation’s registered
marks: the words “Urantia” and “Urantian,” and the Banner
of Michael, the Concentric-Circles Symbol.
“Larry Mullins and Dr. Meredith Sprunger’s A
History of the Urantia Papers is by far the clearest,
most carefully researched and documented
history of The Urantia Book yet to appear in print.
Their team explores the inconsistencies in the
‘official’ story, removing much of the fog from the
speculative windows through which the formative
events of the readership community have been
traditionally viewed. The careful review of the
process by which changes have been made to the
text between printings as well as the concluding
analysis of Urantia Foundation’s use of ‘messages’
as a means of attempting to establish proprietary
control over the revelation border on shocking and
raise questions which cry out for answers. This is
a must-read for any serious student of the fifth
epochal revelation.”
David Kantor
Chairman: International Fellowship Committee, The
Urantia Book Fellowship
Webmaster: urantiabook.org, librourantia.org
From the Introduction:
“Many members of the Urantian community on
both sides of the Atlantic have so far suffered the
consequences of an ‘official,’ biased interpretation
of the events leading to the materialization,
authorship, and controlled dissemination of the
Papers, and find them unacceptable. It is my
experience, being a Spanish reader of the Papers
acquainted with this issue, that due to the lack of a
sound narrative, many members of the Spanish-
Urantian community are being deceived by a
misleading, undocumented interpretation of the
origins of the Papers. Mullins’ dissemination and
translation into different languages of his
competing, well-founded version of the facts will, of
course, not be welcomed by the ‘establishment’
with its vested interest in its ‘rightness,’ but it will
open the eyes of many readers around the world.”
Ángel F. Sánchez-Escobar, Ph.D.
(Vanderbilt University)
Seville, Spain
“Thank You! I am glad I lived to see this work
published!”
Helena Sprague
Trustee Emeritus Urantia Foundation
4/12/85 - 7/7/89
“The Urantia Papers, published as “The Urantia
Book,” constitute an epochal revelation of spiritual
truth to our beleaguered planet (“Urantia”). There is
a mystery associated with the origin of the Papers,
a mystery which has given rise to much
controversy, confusion, and misinformation, both
innocent and scurrilous. In “A History of the Urantia
Papers,” Larry Mullins, assisted by Dr. Meredith
Sprunger, presents the most complete, thoroughly
researched, well-documented, cogently-structured,
and intelligently-argued account of the Urantia
Papers and what people have done with them that
we are likely to get in this world. This History is a
must for students of The Urantia Book and a great
service to our planet.”
Daniel Love Glazer
“Larry Mullins and Dr. Meredith Sprunger have
provided the peoples of Urantia with a wonderfully
historical resource surrounding the evolution and
early dissemination of the Urantia Papers and
Urantia Book dating back to 1906. This inspired
accounting will assist every reader towards gaining
a more holistic perspective of the individual and
collective activities required to bring to print this
Fifth Epochal Revelation for all humanity. A must
read for all Urantia Book readers and perhaps more
importantly, required reading for all earth travelers.”
Gary McSweeney

Larry Mullins was handed a 1955
first printing of The Urantia Book in
1968 by an advertising colleague,
Clyde Bedell. Bedell was a
member of the original Forum that
helped publish the Urantia Papers as
a book. Larry is author of Jesus:
God & Man (1976), the first
derivative work to be accepted for
publication by Urantia Foundation.
He has served the Urantia
movement as President of the First
Urantia Society of Oklahoma, and
eight years as a General Councilor
for Urantia Brotherhood. He is a
noted public speaker and the author
of several books on the Self-
Actualization process including
Immature People with Power: How
to Handle Them and most recently:
The MetaValues Breakthrough. In
reference to writing this book, Larry
believes A History of the Urantia
Papers is the achievement of a team
of dedicated Urantians. He adds
that he is fortunate that his wife,
Joan Batson Mullins, a long-time
student of the Urantia Papers,
worked so hard and contributed so
enthusiastically to this project.
Joan and Larry live in St. Augustine
Florida. Larry is CEO of UltraSales,
Inc., a nationally syndicated
advertising and marketing business.
The process of
the “baptism of
joys and
sorrows” on the
evolutionary seas of
struggle continues.
Some Urantians believe
we are now engaged in the
preliminary stages of an
authentic new age of religion in
the world. Time will tell. How soon
a significant leadership role may be
assumed by Urantians is open to
question. In Chapter Eight we reported
that Bill Sadler, Jr. (presumably) quoted
the Revelators as saying: “You will
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.UrantiaPapersHistory.com
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK ... SEARCH: Urantia Papers History
THE ORIGINAL
EDITING AND
Dr. Meredith
PRODUCTION
Justin Sprunger
TEAM:
has had a
remarkable career
Joan Batson Mullins
as a college
Michelle Mullins
president,
Dr. Ángel F. Sánchez-
professor, and
Escobar
executive
Donald Shea Green
administrator, a licensed psychologist
Eric Cosh
and therapist, and an ordained
James “JJ” Johnson
minister. He has served congregations
David Kantor
in the midwest and taught at
Victor McGonegal
Elmherst College and the Indiana
Merritt Horn Institute of Technology, functioning
Jeanne Horn as the head of the Department of
Dr. Jill Strunk Psychology, Chairman of the
Norm Du Val Division of Liberal Arts, and as
Rosey Lieske President. He is the only living
colleague of Dr. William Sadler
David Biggs
(1875-1969), a prominent Chicago
Andre Radatus
psychiatrist and debunker of psychic
phenomena. Dr. Sprunger is a
devoted Urantian, serving in
numerous capacities including
President of Urantia Brotherhood. He
is author of many secondary works,
including his book Spiritual
Psychology (Jemenon, 1988). Dr.
Sprunger is probably the most
reliable source of first-hand
information about the intriguing
origin and history of the Urantia
Papers. He is founder of The
Spiritual Fellowship organization,
and lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
http://www.thespiritualfellowship.org
doubtless live and die without realizing
you are participating in the birth of a
new age of religion on this world.”
Perhaps none of us will ever
know the significance of our
efforts. On the other hand,
we can be confident we
are doing all we can if we
act according to our
best understanding of
God’s guidance. The
important thing is to act.
“The act is ours, the
consequences, God’s.”