Roberts authored a manuscript titled studies of the book of mormon, comparing the content of the book of mormon with view of the hebrews. Lds revelations view of the hebrews book of mormon 1. Is the book of mormon plagiarized from view of the hebrews. View of the hebrews and the book of mormon book of mormon. Lets face it, they say, joseph smith was an uneducated young man living in poverty with almost no access to books, and he dictated the entire text of the book of mormon in 63 days. The book of mormon view of the hebrews the king james bible the book of mormon tells the story of inspired seers and prophets. Joseph smith quoted view of the hebrews as supporting the book of mormon. Posted in bom, book of mormon, tagged bh roberts, book of mormon, ethan smith, joseph smith, parallels between book of mormon and view of the hebrews on 04102019 comments. If the view of the hebrews served as the basis for the book of mormon, one would think that the bible scriptures used by ethan smith would be mined by joseph smith for the book of mormon. Aug 16, 2016 a look at the major differences between the view of the hebrews claims that the native americans are the lost ten tribes of israel, and the book of mormon claiming that the nephites are. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, the largest church in mormonism, is philosemitic in.
The book of mormon might have remained no more than an intangible promise to a group of money diggers if joseph had not come across a copy of view of the hebrews. It was distributed free of charge around the world, especially in israel and new york city. Out of the top matches, we discovered a book called the late war between the united states and great britain, a scriptural style account of the war of 1812 published in new york in 1816. The prevailing theory of the day was the spalding theory, which quickly lost credibility upon the discovery of an actual spalding manuscript in 1884 which bore no resemblance to the book of mormon. It is one of several books reflecting the popular fascination at the time of joseph smith with the question of indian origins. View of the hebrews 1825 edition introduction mormons. The view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon origin originated after the rediscovery of the spalding manuscript, which led to the original demise of the spalding theory. The theory the joseph smith plagiarized view of the hebrews was never advanced during his lifetime. Contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. Did ethan smiths view of the hebrews furnish structural material.
When the late war was published, joseph would have been 12 years old. Mitchill was pleased that a historian had used the scriptural style. It was not long, however, before a number of people realised that the view of the hebrews and the book of mormon had some rather startling similarities. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism. As such, mormons regard jews as a covenant people of god and hold them in high esteem.
The book of mormon is one book of several in this genre. We know that joseph smith was familiar with view of the hebrews as he. The book of mormon vs mormonism by richard packham most people mormons and nonmormons alike assume that the mormon religion is based on its holy book, the book of mormon and that by reading that book one can learn what mormonism is all about. Oliver cowdery, one of the book of mormon witnesses, lived in poultney when view of the hebrews was published. Did view of the hebrews influence themes in joseph smiths.
The mormon church teaches that the gospel consists of christs redemptive work plus our obedience to laws, principles, ordinances, and rites. Roberts privately researched the link between the book of mormon and the view of the hebrews, josephs father having the same dream in 1811 as lehis dream, and other sources that were available to joseph smith, oliver cowdery, martin harris and others before the publication of the book of mormon. The book of mormon makes reference to this event in history, in the first and second books of nephi. The book of mormon in hebrew was published by the latter day saints in 1981. View of the hebrews flooded the area in which joseph smith lived. Mormonism, or the latter day saint movement, teaches that its adherents are either direct descendants of the house of israel or adopted into it. A few years later it was withdrew from public distribution and the. An unparallel, in welch, reexploring the book of mormon provo. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up in a hill in. The view of the hebrews, has numerous references to the gathering and scattering of israel in the last days. Cowdery met joseph smith on or near april 57, 1829 and within days of meeting each other cowdery. Did view of the hebrews influence themes in joseph smith. A look at the major differences between the view of the hebrews claims that the native americans are the lost ten tribes of israel, and. Many concepts from the book of mormon are present in this book notably 2000 stripling warriors, a liahonalike description of a metal device, the freeman movement, rod of iron, standard of liberty, brass plates, cataclysmic earthquakes followed by great darkness, chiasmus, and many, many more.
There are a significant number of differences between the two books, which are easily discovered upon reading ethan smiths work. While not claiming any divine command, this smith, like his prophetic namesake, also argued that native americans were descended from the ten lost tribes of israel. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. View of the hebrews and the book of mormon book of. But the differences between these books are very significant. Ethan smith was a minster at a church in a neighboring community in vermont when joseph smith came.
Jul 06, 2011 the contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible constitute a most serious obstacle to accepting the book of mormon as latterday scripture supplemental to the bible. These include endowments, celestial marriage, and specific tithing. In october 20, the authors conducted a data analysis comparing the book of mormon to over 100,000 books from the pre1830s era. Is view of the hebrews a source for the book of mormon. Episodes of mormon miscellaneous, a talk show on mormon history, scripture, doctrine and many controversial topics, by lds host, van hale, now in its 38th year.
The bible is an ancient record of gods dealings with some of the people in the middle east. The bible vs the book of mormon basic mormon beliefs. Ethan smith was a minister of a congregational church in poultney, vermont from 1821 to 1826 when he wrote view of the hebrews. Mormon missionaries usually try to get prospective converts investigators to read it as soon. The book of mormon does not claim that the native americans are descendants of the lost tribes of israel, whereas view of the hebrews states explicitly that the native americans are the ten lost tribes of israel who were preserved by the lord in an outcast and a savage state. It was ethan smiths book that would provide the young seer with the concepts that would get his active imagination to work on transforming the expectations of the treasure hunters. The contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible constitute a most serious obstacle to accepting the book of mormon as latterday scripture supplemental to the bible. In 1996, view of the hebrews was republished by the byu religious studies center, with charles d. We talk about ways in which to corroborate a fraudulent narrative. View of the hebrews was published in 1823 and a second edition was published in 1825. This video goes over the many similarities between the two books.
Brodie, biographer of joseph smith, have noted similarities in the content of view of the hebrews and the book of mormon, which was first published in 1830, seven years after ethan smiths book. Did ethan smiths view of the hebrews furnish structural material for joseph smiths book of mormon. These are critical points for view of the hebrews, since amos 8. View of the hebrews reports that the indians are israelites because they use the word hallelujah. The storyline outline for the book of mormon probably came from ethan smiths 1823 new york novel, view of the hebrews. Interestingly, oliver cowdery, scribe, and later witness of the book of mormon, lived in poultney for 22 years until 1825. But to achieve exaltation or godhood it is available only to mormons who obey the teachings specific to the book of mormon. There are a significant number of differences between the two books, which are easily discovered upon. That is what mormon leaders used to think or at least preach to those who didnt understand that one came before the other and was likely in joseph smiths.
Roberts concluded that this book, originally published in poultney, vermont in 1823 7 years prior to the book of mormon was available to joseph smith and contained enough parallel material to the book of mormon so as to furnish a virtual groundplan for it. Ethan smith, pastor of the congregational church in poultney, vermont, argued that the native americans were scattered israelites who would soon be restored into the gospel fold. It has been pointed out in these pages that there are many things in the former book that might well have suggested many major things in the other. Another look at book of mormon and view of the hebrews. Contrary to popular belief, the book of mormon was not the first to suggest that jews. Some also postulate a link between ethan smith and oliver cowdery, since both men lived in poultney, vermont while smith served as the pastor of the.
Published 1823, first edition 1825, second edition 1830, first edition location vermont poultney, rutland county note. It has been pointed out in these pages that there are many things in the former book that might well have suggested many major things in. More specifically, it is a collection of books the word bible literally means the books written by prophets over centuries. Joseph made it up or stole the ideas from someone else. The bible is not a book but a collection of 66 books, written over a span of 1600 years across 3 continents, by over 40 writers inspired by god in 3 languages yet it has one primary theme the glory of god and salvat.
Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon. It is claimed that a 19th century work by ethan smith, view of the hebrews, provided source material for joseph smiths construction of the book of mormon. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is based. For almost 200 years now, critics have been scrambling to prove that the book of mormon is nothing but a work of fiction. The book of mormon mentions the word hebrew in only one verse, and even that passage, mormon 9. No direct evidence exists that would prove or disprove joseph smith had read view of the hebrews. View of the hebrews talks of indian traditions that state that their fathers were able to foretell the future and control nature. Similarities between the book of mormon and the view of the hebrews the view of the hebrews is a 1823 book written by ethan smith, a united states congregationalist minister. The book of mormon claims that jesuss atonement provided for the immortality for all people. The book of mormon teaches that little children are not capable of sin because they do not have a sinful nature moroni 8.
Population migrations in the book of mormon, however, always move from the south to the north. Ethan smiths view of the hebrews, published seven years before the book of mormon is thought to be source material for joseph smiths book of mormon. Ces letter picks 34 parallels between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. A few years later it was withdrew from public distribution and the remaining copies were kept by the lds archives. Numerous commentators on mormon history, from lds church general authority b. The view of the hebrews theory was examined in detail by b. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels 04242014 by lifeafterministry if such may have been the fact, that a part of the ten tribes came over to america, in the way we have supposed, leaving the cold regions of assareth behind them in quest of a milder climate, it would be natural to look for tokens of the presence of jews of some. Therefore, during the past thirty years some non mormon scholars, realizing the weakness of the spaulding manuscript theory, have postulated that joseph smith might have gained some of the ideas for the book of mormon from a book by ethan smith entitled view of the hebrews, first published in vermont in 1823, with a revised, enlarged edition.
As such, mormons regard jews as a covenant people of god, and hold them in high esteem. For example, they misquote the book of mormons account of samuel the lamanite to make it sound like the view of the hebrews account of jesus ben ananias many of the parallels are. A potent representation of how the book of mormon follows popular but ultimately falsified early 19th century beliefs about the native americans and a possible direct source of influence for some specific book of mormon content in 1922 lds leader bh roberts stated the following. Another book, the wonders of nature and providence.
Another look at book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels. The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which the oliver cowdrey family attended. Despite the churchs claims, the roots of mormonism, rather than being ancient and old world, are often instead nineteenth century and very american. Roberts privately researched the link between the book of mormon, the view of the hebrews, josephs father having the same dream in 1811 as lehis dream, etc. Similarities between the book of mormon and view of the. Aside from what ive mentioned, the book of mormon has never met with widespread acceptance in christendom as have the books of genesis, psalms, ephesians, colossians, hebrews, etc.
Hebrew book of mormon general discussions mormon dialogue. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life. It contains a history of gods dealings with the ancient world since the days of adam until after christs death and resurrection, and continue reading the bible vs the book of mormon. Joseph smiths probable source of the book of mormon. Scripture use in view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Apr 16, 2014 the book of mormon does not claim that the native americans are descendants of the lost tribes of israel, whereas view of the hebrews states explicitly that the native americans are the ten lost tribes of israel who were preserved by the lord in an outcast and a savage state. The book and the man, joseph smith, kindled a religion that today numbers over nine million members.
Roberts took the position of examining the book of mormon from a critical perspective in order to alert the general authorities to possible future avenues of attack by critics. For almost a century critics of the authenticity of the book of mormon have claimed that view of the hebrews, first published by ethan smith in 1823 2d ed. The bible tells the story of inspired seers and prophets. Roberts concluded, assuming a hemispheric geography theory for the book of mormon, sufficient parallels existed that future critics could claim that view of the hebrews had provided a. Do mormons read the book of mormon or the holy bible. The quote above comes from the mormon periodical times and seasons which joseph smith used to post a quote from a book called view of the hebrews, authored by the minister ethan smith no relation. Do mormons read the book of mormon or the holy bible, or. More significantly, joseph smith and subsequent leaders such as brigham young never submitted to any church authority, whether from the past the church fathers. What is the difference between the bible and the book of mormon. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is based on the spaulding manuscript or on ethan smiths view of the hebrews.
Whereas the kjv says, therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of christ, let us go on unto perfection, the jst adds the word not to the first clause. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, the largest church in mormonism, is philosemitic in its doctrine. The book of mormon is an ancient record of gods dealings with some of the people in the americas note that i said some of the people in the americasthe mormon church does not teach that the people in the book of mormon were the. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when. What is the difference between the bible and the book of. Woodworth for almost a century critics of the authenticity of the book of mormon have claimed that view of the hebrews, first published by ethan smith in 1823 2d ed. May 31, 2019 the storyline outline for the book of mormon probably came from ethan smiths 1823 new york novel, view of the hebrews. An excellent example of joseph smiths uninspired translation is his handling of hebrews 6. Book of mormon vs mormonism by richard packham most people mormons and nonmormons alike assume that the mormon religion is based on its holy book, the book of mormon and that by reading that book one can learn what mormonism is all about. Criticisms related to view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Debunking the view of the hebrewsbook of mormon connection.
The book of mormon shares some thematic elements with. When mormon missionaries properly called latter day saints or simply lds come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the book of mormon and tell you about its author, joseph smith. Exaggerated similarities between the book of mormon and view. For example, they misquote the book of mormon s account of samuel the lamanite to make it sound like the view of the hebrews account of jesus ben ananias. Mormon missionaries usually try to get prospective converts investigators to read it as soon as possible, implying that by. Exaggerated similarities between the book of mormon and.
The book of mormon, also has references to the same subject in chapters 19, 20, and 21 of first nephi. If ethan smith suspected or even wished to charge that the book of mormon plagiarized or purloined from his work, it is strange that he proceeded as if there was no relationship between the two books. Ethan smith republished view of the hebrews, revised and enlarged, in 1835. Ces letter misportrays the content of the two books.
Interestingly, an academic in new york named samuel mitchill wrote a letter of endorsement for hunts work, published in the preface of the late war. Pre1830 works that possibly influenced the book of mormon a list of books available in joseph smiths time written about topics present in the book of mormon. It was first published in 1823 the book of mormon was published 6 years later in 1829. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life after. Mormons are pretty much wedded to the kjv even though they claim to believe the bible is the word of god as far as it is translated correctly, and the kjv is wellknown to have incorrect or suboptimal translation.