If the book of mormon is not historical, but rather a reflection of the misconceptions current in joseph smiths. View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america 9781930679610. He later says ethan smiths view of the hebrews was not available to him at this time. Contains reprint of the parallels between the book of mormon and the view of the hebrews, by the mormon historian b. Roberts studies of the book of mormon this book contains manuscripts of roberts who was a general authority, author, and church historian in which he expresses some serious doubts about the authenticity of the book of mormon and frankly admits that joseph smith had a vivid enough imagination and the source material available to produce the book of mormon. Alleged relationships of view of the hebrews to the book of mormon. Well, if joseph smith used ethan smiths view of the hebrews as the main source for the book of mormon, as many critics claim, it is a miracle for the same. Roberts, studies of the book of mormon, university of illinois press, 1985, p. Places of deposit of books for the jews are established extensively in the four quarters of the world. Not a few things stuff you missed in sunday school. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life. The two books, view of the hebrews and the book of mormon have been undergoing comparisons for decades.
View of the hebrews flooded the area in which joseph smith lived. Ethan smith was a pastor in poultney, vermont when he wrote and published the book. Roberts, a president of seventy and general authority, investigated many accusations against the book of mormons veracity. 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. A mormon general authoritys doubts about the authenticity. Signature books, 1992, 377 pages, paperback, isbn 1560850272 incredible as it may seem to many latterday saints, brigham h. 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. Buy a cheap copy of studies of the book of mormon by b. In fact roberts dedicates approximately 150 pages or about half of the book to the parallels between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Roberts, as the church historian, addresses the leaders of the lds religion in full faith that they will be able to receive divine answers to the historical inaccuracies of the book of mormon. Aug 17, 2019 lets assume for a moment that joseph smith plagiarized view of the hebrews in the book of mormon. Subsequent research, however, strongly indicates that roberts remained committed to the full claims of the origin and doctrine of the book of mormon to the end of his life welch, pp. To have done this, he would have needed a copy of view of the hebrews. Roberts indepth studies of book of mormon origins led him to doubt the.
Studies of the book of mormon brigham henry roberts. Roberts goes through chapter by chapter of ethan smiths book to show the similarites between the two books. Did ethan smiths view of the hebrews furnish structural material for joseph smiths book of mormon. Photo reprint of the 1825 edition that is believed to have influenced joseph smith during his creation of the book of mormon. Roberts was asked by church leaders to compare view of the hebrews and the book of mormon, he produced a confidential report, later published as studies of the book of mormon, that noted eighteen points of similarity. 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. Roberts didnt know of them, and neither did joseph smith. If the book of mormon is not historical, but rather a reflection of the misconceptions current in joseph smiths day. Approximately 25,000 words in the book of mormon consist of passages from the old testament, mainly chapters from isaiah that ethan smith mentioned in view of the hebrews. Roberts, studies of the book of mormon, 2nd edition salt lake city. View of the hebrews 1825 by ethan smith this book, written by a minister named ethan smith, contained stories and information proposing that the first settlers of ancient america were the lost ten tribes of israel. Roberts s studies of the book of mormon has been added to.
Other and similar societies in favour of the jews are becoming numerous. In addition, fawn brodies book, no man knows my history, and g. He also was a member of the first council of seventy 18881933. Publications predating the book of mormon, such as view of the hebrews provided the structural material for the book of mormon. In 1927 the well respected lds historian bh roberts wrote a letter to lds apostle richard r.
This is also published by signature books and shows how joseph smith used the book view of the hebrews as the primary source for the bofm. His book contained reports from missionaries and traders who lived among the indians. Roberts experience highlights the problem that the mormon church, which claims to posses modern revelation, is unable to provide answers to the many questions that plague it. When roberts confessed that he had no answer for some of the difficulties, and the general authorities chose to ignore them, roberts produced a book of mormon study, a treatise of more than 400 pages. Roberts writes a defense of the book of mormon called new witness. The excommunication of the hebrews deeply affecting 154 2.
Roberts took the position of examining the book of mormon from a. A mormon general authoritys doubts about the authenticity of. Between 1921 and 1922 he composed a list of parallels between the view of the hebrews and the book of mormon as any good scholar would do. Reverend ethan smith was the author of view of the hebrews. Roberts studies of the book of mormon and mckays no man knows my history are the definitive works on early mormon church history. At about the same time as the m exchange, roberts had replied in similar fashion to a question about the translating of the book of mormon from an h. Learn more view of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america 2nd edition. Roberts spoke of his book of mormon studies and then gave christensen his considered judgment. Roberts, a member of the first quorum of seventy, undertook a. The book view of the hebrews was published in 1823, 7 years before the book of mormon. Are there striking parallels between the book of mormon and ethan smiths 1823 novel, view of the hebrews, a fictional account of israelites from the lost ten tribes who migrated to the americas after the destruction of jerusalem. Roberts was a latterday saint general authority and intellectual who drafted several writings in 1922 dealing with alleged problems in the book of mormon see brigham d.
Ethan smith played no part in the formation of the book of mormon. Origin of new world peoples view of the hebrews and the book of mormon claim that the hebrews occupied the whole extent of the american continents and that this idea was very generally obtained throughout new england. Ethan smiths view of the hebrews 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. He pleads with them to receive revelation and put to silence the scientific evidence standing against them.
Roberts constructed the possible argument that the book of mormon relied upon ethan smiths book. Roberts reaction roberts became convinced that view of the hebrews was the ground plan for the book of mormon. Did ethan smiths view of the hebrews furnish structural. Roberts 18571933, an lds general authority widely considered mormonisms greatest apologist and historian, 1 expressed the grave doubt that the book of mormon is a translation of ancient. In this work he compared the book of mormon to the view of the hebrews, written by ethan smith, and. View of the hebrews1823 book of mormon1829 very very. Also contains the parallels between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon by mormon historian b. Reflecting his talent for combining history and theology, b. Is view of the hebrews a source for the book of mormon. He published a popular sixvolume history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and also wrote studies of the book of mormonpublished posthumouslywhich discussed the validity of the book of mormon as an ancient. Harrisons fictitious book, mormons are peculiar people, raised public awareness about some similarities between the two books. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life after.
The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which. Did joseph smith plagiarize the book view of the hebrews. Then in the last part roberts takes the book of mormon and a view of the hebrews in two columns, side by side. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. Roberts states in the letter that his purpose in compiling a parallel was to point out how it could be urged that the smith family doubtless had view of the hebrews in their possession, noting that the question of whether view of the hebrews supplied the structural outline and some of the content for the book of mormon. Roberts, lds general authority and assistant church historian in his studies of the book of mormon posed a number of questions about the book of mormon and its origins some of which dealt with view of the hebrews. Lds revelations view of the hebrews book of mormon 1. Roberts s book of mormon activities, public and private, from 1922 when his problems study was complete until his death on 27 september 1933, reveals that every week of every month of those eleven years b.
In these papers, elder roberts bluntly lists many book of mormon. But roberts discovered from priests book, published in 1824, six years before the first edition of the book of mormon 1830, that it was the almost universal opinion of the ministers of new england and the middle states, that the indians were the descendants of the hebrews studies, p. Roberts wrote three papers that listed parallels between the book of mormon and the second edition 1825 of ethan smiths view of the hebrews. The following books and bound pamphlets are located in the safe. View of the hebrews 1823 book of mormon1829 very very similar stories. Roberts indepth studies of book of mormon origins led him to doubt the authenticity of the book.
New evidence furnished of the divinity of the bible 169 appendix. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism. Roberts writings, and are vital to understanding what b. Roberts studies of the book of mormon, dialogue 26 fall 1993, 7786. If the book of mormon is not historical, but rather a reflection of the misconceptions current in joseph smiths day regarding indian origins, then its theological claims are. Smith produced it, roberts said, by drawing upon his own natural talent and materials like ethan smiths view of the hebrews published near josephs home a few years before the translation of the book of mormon. Many commentators on mormon doctrine, from lds church general authority b. Bh roberts on book of mormon historicity the mormon memo. Check out roberts book, studies of the book of mormon b. View of the hebrews was published in 1823 and a second edition was published in 1825.
Roberts did his work on the two in 1922, interest in the parallels grew. Roberts wrote a man would get nearer to god by abiding by book of mormon precepts than by any other book. However, in 1922 roberts became aware of troubling evidence that joseph smith borrowed much of the plot and other details of the book of mormon from other books readily available to him, 2 in particular josiah priests wonders of nature and providence, and ethan smiths view of the hebrews. Roberts parallel of the book of mormon to view of the hebrews. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and. Mark twain once said after reading the book of mormon, it is chloroform in print. View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Roberts s personal papers on similarities between the book of mormon and the view of the hebrews 1 has raised again a question that has circulated for several years among certain critics. The resulting manuscripts were titled book of mormon difficulties and a parallel. Roberts considered the evident parallels between the book of mormon and ethan smiths a view to the hebrews, a book that predated the mormon scripture by seven years.
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. If joseph smith composed this book, the act was a miracle. 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 presents a manuscript written by president of the first quorum of the seventies and church historian b. No, he continued expressing his testimony of the book of mormon throughout his life. 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.
Roberts was preparing, writing, presenting, and publishing materials on the book of mormon. Lyman with a laundry list of concerns he had with the book of mormon stating his conviction the prophet had borrowed from ethan smiths work, view of the hebrews. Chamberlain, who was so satisfied with the mormon historians detailed reply that he rejoined, i am free to say that your reasons for his joseph smith so doing are not only probable. Studies of the book of mormon presents this respected church leaders investigation into mormonisms founding scripture. It also raises many questions about the ridiculous stories joseph smith put into the bofm. Roberts honest research and study is uncommon to lds historians. This was written by a q70 member who found many glaring problems with the book of mormon, including how view of the hebrews may very likely be a foundational text for it. 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. Roberts asks, did the author of the book of mormon follow too closely the course of ethan smith in this use of isaiah would be a legitimate query.
Elder roberts had sent the entire 435 pages to president heber. Brigham henry roberts march, 1857 september 27, 1933 was a historian, politician, and leader in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Despite the churchs claims, the roots of mormonism, rather than being ancient and old world, are often instead nineteenth century and very american. Roberts notes that in both view of the hebrews and the book of mormon there are extensive quotations from isaiah regarding the scattering and future gathering of israel.
Brodie, have discussed the possibility that view of the hebrews may have provided source material for the book of mormon, which mormons believe was supposedly translated from ancient golden plates by joseph smith, jr. 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. 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. Numerous commentators on mormon history, from lds church general authority b. For the view that roberts found view of the hebrews so disturbing that he abandoned his faith, see brigham d. Roberts thought, its curious the the ces letter conveniently fails to mention them. The view of the hebrews theory was examined in detail by b.
He found numerous parallels between the book of mormon and view of the hebrews. Studies of the book of mormon skip to main content. For instance, it is often thought the book of mormon. Roberts that he wrote to answer a young members questions about the book of mormon in, i believe 1930. He shows how it is very possible and most likely, that joseph smith plagiarized view of the hebrews.
View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america. Roberts list of parallels, which only had validity if one applied a hemispheric geography. Roberts asked for help with the similarities between the two books. Was the book of mormon a plagiarism of a book called a.