Fair mormon view of the hebrews and books

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. Similarities between the book of mormon and view of the. 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. Early mormons occasionally cited the view of the hebrews to support the authenticity of the book of mormon. T he w rit er has h ad hi s ears open to objections. It is not similar to the book of mormon at all, and this has been wellcovered in publications such as larry morrisons discussion of oliver cowderys vermont years, which shows the theory that the book of mormon could have been based on view of the hebrews is untenable. Ever since the great american prophet joseph smith, jr. 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. Oaks tried to suppress this book, no one was excommunicated and the history was too perfectly done to dispute it b. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the. 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 point of comparisons to books like view of the hebrews is not to prove that joseph smith ripped off ethan smith.

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. 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. Published 1823, first edition 1825, second edition 1830, first edition location vermont poultney, rutland county note. 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. 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. May 31, 2019 the storyline outline for the book of mormon probably came from ethan smiths 1823 new york novel, 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. 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. View of the hebrews 1825 edition introduction mormons. Alleged relationships of view of the hebrews to the book of mormon have. It was first published in 1823 the book of mormon was published 6 years later in 1829.

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 seems likely that most latterday saints are unfamiliar with the theory. The view of the hebrews theory was examined in detail by b. The book of mormon by joseph smith and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Learn more view of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america 2nd edition. Scripture use in view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. 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. Josephs environment and the book of mormon book of. What specific books are believed to have inspired or.

If by christian we mean someone who calls them self a christian, then mormons are definitely christians, as they do consider themselves to be. Reflecting his talent for combining history and theology, b. 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. This theory that there was a connection between the book of mormon and the late war between the united states and great britain was. The mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Was the view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon origin advanced during the lifetime of joseph smith. If the book of mormon is not historical, but rather a reflection of the misconceptions current in joseph smiths. 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. Interestingly, oliver cowdery, scribe, and later witness of the book of mormon, lived in poultney for 22 years until 1825. 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. A very short introduction to the book of mormon daves.

Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. Is the book of mormon plagiarized from view of the hebrews. 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. The spiritual text that forms the basis of mormonism, in the last edition edited by its founder, joseph smith, jr. Despite the churchs claims, the roots of mormonism, rather than being ancient and old world, are often instead nineteenth century and very american. View of the hebrews reports that the indians are israelites because they use the word hallelujah. 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. Several commentators on mormon history and the book of mormon, including lds church general authority b. Ethan smith republished view of the hebrews, revised and enlarged, in 1835. Criticisms related to view of the hebrews and the book of mormon.

Mormon tabernacle camp on their arrival in utah, from charles mackays the mormons, or latterday saints. What do mormons think about the theory that the 1816 book. So we must now believe that joseph smith studied both editions and perhaps even compared the text of the two versions. These are critical points for view of the hebrews, since amos 8. 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. 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. What are the similarities and differences between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. One of the conspiracy theories that gained traction after the solomon. Brodie, have discussed the possibility that view of the hebrews may have provided source material. 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.

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. View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. This video goes over the many similarities between the two books. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when.

Studies of the book of mormon, edited by brigham d. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Roberts history of the church2 yes, the very one where after compiling he concluded that joseph could have written the book of. 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. And the days of miracles are thought to be past 127. 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. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism. This, of course, is the same apocryphal book we have been discussing. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. 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. Gold plates of book of mormon given into custody of joseph smith for, translation. This places the apocryphal books like the book of enoch into the category of personal study.

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. Between 1817 and 1819 it was marketed for the use of. 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. 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. View of the hebrews claim not present in book of mormon no revelation.

The book view of the hebrews was published in 1823, 7 years before the book of mormon. View of the hebrews is an 1823 book written by ethan smith which argues that native americans were descended from the hebrews. These books have a number of teachings that closely parallel the theological issues addressed in hebrews. As noted repeatedly in various sections of this book, josephlike all prophets was, in part, a product of his milieu. Mormon archaeological argument that proves the historical accuracy of b of m. The book of mormon, another testament of jesus christ an account written by the hand of mormon joseph smith, jun.

What specific books are believed to have inspired or influenced joseph smith in his authoring of the book of mormon. The excommunication of the hebrews deeply affecting 154 2. Turns out we only scratch the surface, even though the episode really is that long you might want to digest it in smaller bytes. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is based. To the convincing of the jew and the gentile that jesus is the christ.

The book of mormon was emphatically a new revelation, and it insists that miracles continue today mormon 9. 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. Roberts encountered quotations taken from 2 esdras. The view of the hebrews theory became more popular as the availability of the book itself diminished. Download here on this episode, we attempt to deconstruct the book of mormon, just to see what it really is, and where it really came from. The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which the oliver cowdrey family attended. Mar 03, 2020 it seems likely that most latterday saints are unfamiliar with the theory. 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. Numerous commentators on mormon history, from lds church general authority b. Roberts considered the evident parallels between the book of mormon and ethan smiths view of the hebrews, a book that predated the mormon scripture by seven years. They did this in 2009 and mt responded then and now again in 2012 which we respond to below. The theory the joseph smith plagiarized view of the hebrews was never advanced during his lifetime. Is view of the hebrews a source for the book of mormon. View of the hebrews flooded the area in which joseph smith lived.

Effectively on that link i have provided, fair 100% without a doubt proves that the entire view of the hebrews theory is utter garbage. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrewsnon. Fairmormon faithful answers to criticisms of the lds church. Numerous commentators on mormon doctrine, from lds church general authority b. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes. 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. View of the hebrews was published in 1823 and a second edition was published in 1825. 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. 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. Several changes to the book of hebrews in joseph smiths translation reflect smiths lack of understanding of the bible. The church is focused on helping and teaching at the most basic of levels which is why they dont get into it. For almost 200 years now, critics have been scrambling to prove that the book of mormon is nothing but a work of fiction.

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. New evidence furnished of the divinity of the bible 169 appendix. In october 20, the authors conducted a data analysis comparing the book of mormon to over 100,000 books from the pre1830s era. Its not so much a question of borrowing as of the existence in the. Could joseph smith have used ethan smiths view of the hebrews as a guideline for creating the book of mormon. Was the view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon. Joseph smith quoted view of the hebrews as supporting the book of mormon.

Population migrations in the book of mormon, however, always move from the south to the north. As for the claim that most critics find the book of mormons parallels to books like view of the hebrews less than persuasive of borrowing, i think givens is not framing the issue very well here to be fair, id say the same of most others, on both sides of the debate. 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. View of the hebrews and the book of mormon book of mormon. 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. More on joseph smiths plagiarism in the book of mormon. I mean the mormon belief didnt come along til the 1800s right. Ethan smith was a minister of a congregational church in poultney, vermont from 1821 to 1826 when he wrote view of the hebrews. 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. Welch listed some 84 differences between the two books. 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.

Book of mormon published the latter part of march, 1830. Lds revelations view of the hebrews book of mormon 1. Oliver cowdery, one of the book of mormon witnesses, lived in poultney when view of the hebrews was published. 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. 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. View of the hebrews proposes that the american indians are descended from the lost ten tribes of israel. Roberts authored a manuscript titled studies of the book of mormon, comparing the content of the book of mormon with view of the hebrews.