Learn more view of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america 2nd edition. No other book, aside from the first book of napoleon, approaches the density of rare phrases 4grams, specifically that are shared by the book of mormon. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. 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. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when.
The spiritual text that forms the basis of mormonism, in the last edition edited by its founder, joseph smith, jr. 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. Is view of the hebrews a source for the book of mormon. Posted in book of mormon, tagged bh roberts, book of mormon, ethan smith, false gospel, joseph smith, parallels between book of mormon and view of the hebrews, view of the hebrews on 04242014 1 comment. The view of the book of mormon as hoax distorts joseph smith beyond recognition and creates an impossible paradox. The book of mormon, published in 1830, and ethan smiths 1823 book view of the hebrews parallel each other in some two dozen general themes.
The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu. The book of mormon was emphatically a new revelation, and it insists that miracles continue today mormon 9. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. 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.
Is the lds view that the bible is corrupted and untrustworthy a fair and accurate assessment. 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. New evidence furnished of the divinity of the bible 169 appendix. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when writing the book of mormon by jeff lindsay. In his not allowing for other possible conclusions, norwood felt that persuitte had unjustly robbed joseph smith, jr. The intent in publishing it has been to make it available to all.
The book provides an honest comparison of the source material available to joseph smith, a book titled view of the hebrews, that preceded the book of mormon. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrewscriticalsources. The view of the hebrews theory was examined in detail by b. The strength of the argument that the book of mormon is a remix of the late war rests on the cumulative improbability of finding all of these phrases somewhere else. Reverend ethan smith was the author of view of the hebrews. Dna evidence that lamanites are not the principal ancestors of native american indians. Fairmormon faithful answers to criticisms of the lds church.
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. The view of the hebrews theory became more popular as the availability of the book itself diminished. This wellwritten book is relevant to every member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. 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.
You can read view of the hebrews online at no charge at in addition to that theres a lot of great information at the website as well. One of the mormon evidences is to ask you to consider if joseph smith could have fabricated the book of mormon. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life. In an article published in the times and seasons on june 1, 1842, joseph quoted view of the hebrews in support of the book of mormon. Did josephs changes to the bible restore parts that were lost from the. Could joseph smith have used ethan smiths view of the hebrews as a guideline for creating the book of mormon. Is the book of mormon plagiarized from view of the hebrews. One of the conspiracy theories that gained traction after the solomon. Joseph smith quoted view of the hebrews as supporting the book of mormon.
Introduces perspectives on the author, audience, date and purpose of the book of hebrews that can help us interpret the original meaning and apply this book to our modern world. The messiah did not visit the americas in view of the hebrews. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that joseph smith ever knew anything about this book. View of the hebrews was published in 1823 and a second edition was published in 1825. For almost 200 years now, critics have been scrambling to prove that the book of mormon is nothing but a work of fiction. Was the view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon origin advanced during the lifetime of joseph smith. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. Several changes to the book of hebrews in joseph smiths translation reflect smiths lack of understanding of the bible. The book view of the hebrews was published in 1823, 7 years before the book of mormon. After reading jeremys letter, the director promised him a response. 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. Criticisms related to view of the hebrews and the book of mormon.
Oliver cowdery was a thirdcousin of lucy mack smith, joseph smiths mother. View of the hebrews and the book of mormon book of. In the 20th century, mormon scholars noted the parallels between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon and suggested that joseph smith had used view of the hebrews as a source in composing the book of mormon, or that he was at least influenced by the popular 19thcentury ideas expounded in the earlier work. Several commentators on mormon history and the book of mormon, including lds church general authority b.
Jeremy runnells was offered an opportunity to discuss his own doubts with a director of the church educational system ces and was assured that his doubts could be resolved. Cowdery served as scribe during the transcription of the book of mormon, and was one of the three witnesses to the golden plates. 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. Ethan smiths book was published in the adjoining county west of windsor county, where joseph smith was born and lived from 1805 to 1811. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins.
View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Interestingly, oliver cowdery, scribe, and later witness of the book of mormon, lived in poultney for 22 years until 1825. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrewsnon. 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. This book is a faithful and accurate reproduction of the 1825 second edition of view of the hebrews. Despite the churchs claims, the roots of mormonism, rather than being ancient and old world, are often instead nineteenth century and very american. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrewsanalysis. Ethan smith was a minister of a congregational church in poultney, vermont from 1821 to 1826 when he wrote view of the hebrews. 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. Alleged relationships of view of the hebrews to the book of mormon have attracted interest periodically through the years. Some critics claim that joseph smith copied much of the structure and content of the book of mormon from the 1823 book view of the hebrews by ethan smith no relation to joseph smith. Their variety of traditions, historical and religious, do wonderfully accord with the idea, that they descended from the ancient ten tribes. The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which.
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. View of the hebrews claim not present in book of mormon no revelation. Mormonleaks is a research project that seeks to reconstruct the authentic narrative of the origins of the mormon canon by combining macroanalytic computing tools with contemporary historical evidence the historical records reveal a small pool of candidate authors collaborating in western new york and northern ohio to create the mormon scriptures. 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. Ces letter my search for answers to my mormon doubts. Ethan smith republished view of the hebrews, revised and enlarged, in 1835. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi.
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. 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 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. But what are the things the devil does not want anyone to know about the book of mormon, the keystone of our religion. View of the hebrews would be just another one of those early 19thcentury 10 lost tribes theories were it not for the fact that ethan smith and oliver cowdery shared the same time and place and that there are so many parallels between view and the book of mormon. Was the view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon. The book of mormon and view of the hebrews have only 30 verses from isaiah in common, some of which are in isaiah 11, which entire chapter ethan smith. And the days of miracles are thought to be past 127. There are kjv italics present in the book of mormon. There are all sorts lists of things that critics of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints seem to think its members ought to know. The book of mormon states in a rather late passage that lehi was a descendant of manasseh, the son of joseph alma 10. 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. View of the hebrews proposes that the american indians are descended from the. The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which the oliver cowdrey family attended.
Roberts took the position of examining the book of mormon from a. View of the hebrews denies new revelation or miracles. Consequently, too few have seen the book to ascertain whether the claim that it is a source of the book of mormon can be substantiated. Ever since the great american prophet joseph smith, jr. Had circumstances permitted a marked grave for the slain prophet, a fitting headstone could have read, by joseph smith, junior, author and proprietor. 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. What are the similarities and differences between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Jesus ben anunus did not have stones thrown at him.
Did ethan smiths view of the hebrews furnish structural material for joseph smiths book of. It was first published in 1823 the book of mormon was published 6 years later in 1829. Joseph smith was born in vermont, but the book of mormon was first published in palmyra new york, a good distance away. Roberts view of the hebrews parallels have validity under church supported hemispheric model. Because it has not been republished since 1825 aside from photocopy printings, those wishing to study view of the hebrews have had difficulty finding a copy. They did this in 2009 and mt responded then and now again in 2012 which we respond to below. The above donut chart shows percentages of the book of mormon section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on if one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 62.
Did view of the hebrews influence themes in joseph smith. Ethan smith was a pastor in poultney, vermont when he wrote and published the book. The book of mormon shares some thematic elements with view of the hebrews. But persuittes parallels certainly fall short of proving his contention that the resultant preponderance of evidence demonstrates conclusively that the book of mormon had its conceptual origins in view of the hebrews. Ara norwood once faulted persuitte for starting out with the presupposition that the book of mormon is directly dependent upon ethan smiths view of the hebrews. Ces letter is one latterday saints honest quest to get official answers from the lds church on its troubling origins, history, and practices.