Was the view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon origin advanced during the lifetime of joseph smith. A very short introduction to the book of mormon daves. View of the hebrews reports that the indians are israelites because they use the word hallelujah. Effectively on that link i have provided, fair 100% without a doubt proves that the entire view of the hebrews theory is utter garbage. Alleged relationships of view of the hebrews to the book of mormon have. Oaks tried to suppress this book, no one was excommunicated and the history was too perfectly done to dispute it b. In the few cases where view of the hebrews has something in common with the book of mormon regarding matters not treated in those other sources, the similarities are superficial only. View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle.
Despite the churchs claims, the roots of mormonism, rather than being ancient and old world, are often instead nineteenth century and very american. It was first published in 1823 the book of mormon was published 6 years later in 1829. If the book of mormon is not historical, but rather a reflection of the misconceptions current in joseph smiths. The book of mormon was emphatically a new revelation, and it insists that miracles continue today mormon 9.
Between 1817 and 1819 it was marketed for the use of. 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. The book view of the hebrews was published in 1823, 7 years before the book of mormon. What are the similarities and differences between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. What specific books are believed to have inspired or. The theory the joseph smith plagiarized view of the hebrews was never advanced during his lifetime.
View of the hebrews is an 1823 book written by ethan smith which argues that native americans were descended from the hebrews. Roberts authored a manuscript titled studies of the book of mormon, comparing the content of the book of mormon with view of the hebrews. The storyline outline for the book of mormon probably came from ethan smiths 1823 new york novel, view of the hebrews. What specific books are believed to have inspired or influenced joseph smith in his authoring of the book of mormon. These books have a number of teachings that closely parallel the theological issues addressed in hebrews.
Learn more view of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america 2nd edition. Criticisms related to view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Ever since the great american prophet joseph smith, jr. In october 20, the authors conducted a data analysis comparing the book of mormon to over 100,000 books from the pre1830s era. Ethan smith republished view of the hebrews, revised and enlarged, in 1835. Interestingly, oliver cowdery, scribe, and later witness of the book of mormon, lived in poultney for 22 years until 1825. Ethan smith was a minister of a congregational church in poultney, vermont from 1821 to 1826 when he wrote view of the hebrews.
Since the book of mormon was first published in 1830, its critics have endeavored to find explanations for it other than the one given by joseph smith. 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. Studies of the book of mormon, edited by brigham d. The view of the hebrews theory became more popular as the availability of the book itself diminished. 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. Several commentators on mormon history and the book of mormon, including lds church general authority b. Mar 03, 2020 it seems likely that most latterday saints are unfamiliar with the theory. What do mormons think about the theory that the 1816 book. Was the view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon. He writes about those who oppose the church who may believe that joseph smith copied large portions of the book of mormon from a book called a view of the hebrews. The book of mormon is one of the most influential, as well as controversial, religious documents in american history, and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world, including members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, the fourthlargest.
He therefore asserts that joseph apparently had the first edition as well as the second edition of view of the hebrews, as those sentences appear to have provided the basis for a turning point in the book of mormon p. I mean the mormon belief didnt come along til the 1800s right. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is based. One of the conspiracy theories that gained traction after the solomon. 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. Brodie, have discussed the possibility that view of the hebrews may have provided source material. Book of mormon published the latter part of march, 1830. Is the book of mormon plagiarized from view of the hebrews. Lds revelations view of the hebrews book of mormon 1.
May 31, 2019 the storyline outline for the book of mormon probably came from ethan smiths 1823 new york novel, view of the hebrews. Gold plates of book of mormon given into custody of joseph smith for, translation. The book of mormon is one of the most influential, as well as controversial, religious documents in american history, and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world, including members of the church of jesus christ of latterday. Though imbuing numbers with symbolic significance has little import in modern society, it will be seen that the book of mormon shows signs of being written by one or more authors familiar with numerology as practiced by the ancient hebrews, specifically the repeated usage of the emblematic number seven and its multiples, and that such.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Joseph smith quoted view of the hebrews as supporting the book of mormon. View of the hebrews is an 1823 book written by ethan smith, a congregationalist minister in vermont, who argued that native americans were descended from the ten lost tribes of israel, a relatively common view during the early nineteenth century. Church members believe that the book of mormon is more correct than the bible because the bible was the result of a multiplegeneration translation process and the book of mormon was not. Numerous commentators on mormon doctrine, from lds church general authority b. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews.
The book of mormon also takes many of its concepts from a book called view of the hebrews, published in 1825 by ethan smith not related to joseph smith five years prior to the book of mormon s publication. View of the hebrews flooded the area in which joseph smith lived. 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. Mormon tabernacle camp on their arrival in utah, from charles mackays the mormons, or latterday saints. Its not so much a question of borrowing as of the existence in the. Some have suggested that the source for much of the history and theology in the book of mormon was an early nineteenthcentury book entitled view of the hebrews, by ethan smith. The best evidence that argues against view of the hebrews as the primary source for the book of mormon is a reading of the text itself, yet the ability to access that text had become more difficult over the years. It seems likely that most latterday saints are unfamiliar with the theory. More on joseph smiths plagiarism in the book of mormon. View of the hebrews and the book of mormon book of mormon. It contained books like the rule of the community, the damascus covenant, the war scroll, the midrash on melchizedek, as well as sections of 1 enoch called the book of the watchers and the book of dreams. 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. Fairmormon faithful answers to criticisms of the lds church. This video goes over the many similarities between the two books.
View of the hebrews claim not present in book of mormon no revelation. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of mormon. Fairmormon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing welldocumented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. If by christian we mean someone who calls them self a christian, then mormons are definitely christians, as they do consider themselves to be. Jul 24, 2019 for almost 200 years now, critics have been scrambling to prove that the book of mormon is nothing but a work of fiction. 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. This book, written by a minister, ethan smith, demonstrates that the book of mormon was not unique in its assertion that the native americans were descended from the house of israel within a religious history framework. Similarities between the book of mormon and view of the. Could joseph smith have used ethan smiths view of the hebrews as a guideline for creating the book of mormon. Scripture use in view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. As noted repeatedly in various sections of this book, josephlike all prophets was, in part, a product of his milieu. 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.
Reflecting his talent for combining history and theology, b. View of the hebrews was published in 1823 and a second edition was published in 1825. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when. Turns out we only scratch the surface, even though the episode really is that long you might want to digest it in smaller bytes. Several changes to the book of hebrews in joseph smiths translation reflect smiths lack of understanding of the bible. 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. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism. Ethan smiths close proximity to joseph and relationship with the cowdery family is interesting, but ultimately the point of these comparisons is to demonstrate the environment that the book of mormon came out of. The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which the oliver cowdrey family attended. An imagination, it could with reason be urged, which, given the suggestions that are to be found in the common knowledge of accepted american antiquities of the times, supplemented sic by such a work as ethan smiths, view of the hebrews, would make it possible for him to create a book such as the book of mormon is.
The book of mormon also takes many of its concepts from a book called view of the hebrews, published in 1825 by ethan smith not related to joseph smith five years prior to the book of mormons publication. They did this in 2009 and mt responded then and now again in 2012 which we respond to below. The book of mormon by joseph smith and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This theory that there was a connection between the book of mormon and the late war between the united states and great britain was. Oliver cowdery, one of the book of mormon witnesses, lived in poultney when view of the hebrews was published. View of the hebrews denies new revelation or miracles. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. T he w rit er has h ad hi s ears open to objections. New evidence furnished of the divinity of the bible 169 appendix. His worldview, environment, and education no doubt influenced his interpretation of scripture, how it related to his surroundings, his understanding of past and future prophecies, and his interpretation of. Early mormons occasionally cited the view of the hebrews to support the authenticity of the book of mormon.
The spiritual text that forms the basis of mormonism, in the last edition edited by its founder, joseph smith, jr. Population migrations in the book of mormon, however, always move from the south to the north. Roberts and fawn brodie, joseph smiths, biographer noted the considerable similarities in the content of view of the hebrews and the book of mormon, which was published seven years after ethan smiths book. View of the hebrews critics claim that a 19th century work by ethan smith, view of the hebrews, provided source material for joseph smiths construction of the book of mormon. Welch listed some 84 differences between the two books. There are 34 parallels between the book of mormon and the view of the hebrews, as acknowledged by former church historian b. 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. The mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The book of mormon, another testament of jesus christ an account written by the hand of mormon joseph smith, jun. These are critical points for view of the hebrews, since amos 8. The view of the hebrews theory was examined in detail by b. View of the hebrews 2 nd edition by ethan smith manuscript story by solomon spaulding i also give you a comparison between this story and the book of mormon.
Critics 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 church that. The church is focused on helping and teaching at the most basic of levels which is why they dont get into it. The book of mormon by joseph smith and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles. 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. View of the hebrews 1825 edition introduction mormons.
View of the hebrews, 1823oliver knew ethan smith, bh roberts thought bom was plagiarized from it, native americas of hebrew origin and came to america, yellow leaves buried in a hill, breastplate, urim and thummim, man standing on a wall saying wo to this city and then attacked, gospel preached in americas, savior figure. This, of course, is the same apocryphal book we have been discussing. 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. Roberts history of the church2 yes, the very one where after compiling he concluded that joseph could have written the book of. For almost 200 years now, critics have been scrambling to prove that the book of mormon is nothing but a work of fiction. View of the hebrews proposes that the american indians are descended from the lost ten tribes of israel. For mormon, i will take this word to mean a member of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints lds, the largest and most missionaryoriented mormon denomination in the world. And the days of miracles are thought to be past 127. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrewsnon. So we must now believe that joseph smith studied both editions and perhaps even compared the text of the two versions. 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. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes.
The excommunication of the hebrews deeply affecting 154 2. He also warns the authorities that they need to look at his research because it will cause problems for the church in the future if they dont answer the questions he has posed. 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. Roberts encountered quotations taken from 2 esdras. Numerous commentators on mormon history, from lds church general authority b. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Published 1823, first edition 1825, second edition 1830, first edition location vermont poultney, rutland county note.
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