Scripture use in view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Aug 17, 2011 the joseph smith translation jst is the king james version of the bible with joseph smiths revisionsmostly in the form of additions, though with some other kinds of changes. There was a reference to view of the hebrews within joseph smith s lifetime coming from the prophet himself. View of the hebrews contrary to popular belief, the book of mormon was not the first to suggest. Another book, the wonders of nature and providence displayed, was in the local manchester library five miles from joseph smiths home and extant records show that it was reportedly checked out during the years 1826 to 1828. Joseph smiths transformation of hebrews in alma 12. Very interesting comparisons involving portions of the book of isaiah. 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. 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.
View of the hebrews and the book of mormon book of mormon. View of the hebrews was published in 1823 and a second edition was published in 1825. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. For instance, it is often thought the book of mormon. 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. First of 15 parts of online version of 1824 book view of the hebrews by ethan smith. Smith supposedly produced these revisions under divine inspiration. New approaches to the book of mormon brent lee metcalfe, editor. Sidebyside columns comparing what is written in ethan smith s view of the hebrews with joseph smith s the book of mormon. Currently, in a dramatic shift of opinion, critics argue that joseph smith was a creative genius who pulled ideas from books such as view of the hebrews and the late war between the united states and great britain.
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. Priests book was cited as evidence for the book of mormon. This book includes a long selection from ethan smiths book and attempts to establish a hebrew. This book is significant for it contains parallels to the content of the book of mormon. Roberts and fawn brodie, joseph smith s, 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 smith s book. Several commentators on mormon history and the book of mormon, including lds church general authority b.
The view of the hebrews is a 1823 book written by ethan smith, a united states congregationalist minister. Coray worked with her husband to compile these books of notes and other sources into a manuscript, which was then copied. Ethan smiths view of the hebrews for parts of the book of mormon has. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when. Why thousands of errors in the original 1830 the book of mormon.
Parallel between the book of mormon and view of the hebrews, by ethan smith b h roberts includes photo of b. The messiah did not visit the americas in view of the hebrews. The joseph smith translation jst is the king james version of the bible with joseph smith s revisionsmostly in the form of additions, though with some other kinds of changes. 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. Chapter 3 is the longest chapter in view of the hebrews. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is based. Is the book of mormon really inspired like the bible. Joseph smith was born in vermont, but the book of mormon was first published in palmyra new york, a good distance away.
Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Lds did joseph smith and the 1830 bom plagairize the 1823. 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. One need only spend an afternoon reading through the most recent crop of books and essays dedicated to explaining away joseph smith and the church he restored as mere products of the nineteenth century to realize that the need for accessible copies of ethan smith s view of the hebrews has perhaps never been greater than at present. No direct evidence exists that would prove or disprove joseph smith had read view of the hebrews. To plagiarize means to pass off someone elses words as ones own. 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.
Ces letter incorrectly lists sharon, vermont as the location of the 1830 book of mormon. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. 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. Similarities between the book of mormon and view of the hebrews book. This book includes a long selection from ethan smiths book and attempts to establish a hebrew origin for native americans. View of the hebrews critics claim that a 19th century work by ethan smith, view of the hebrews, provided source material for joseph smith s construction of the book of mormon. Joseph smith quoted view of the hebrews as supporting the book of. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism. Josephs plagiarism in book of mormon and other revelations. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon. Plagiarism suspicion has been raised for two minor authors of joseph smiths time period who were not latterday saints. Another book, the wonders of nature and providence displayed, was in the local manchester library five miles from joseph smith s home and extant records show that it was reportedly checked out during the years 1826 to 1828.
How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american democracy. 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 1823 book of mormon1829 very very similar stories. Cowdery october 3, 1806 march 3, 1850 was, with joseph smith, an important participant in the formative period of the latter day saint movement between 1829 and 1836. So we must now believe that joseph smith studied both editions and perhaps even compared the text of the two versions. He was the first baptized latter day saint, one of the three witnesses of the book of mormons golden plates, one of the first latter day saint apostles, and the second elder of the church. At that time, joseph smith was the editor of the times and.
Another look at book of mormon and view of the hebrews. 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. Is the book of mormon plagiarized from view of the hebrews. The book of hebrews and the joseph smith translation. Referring to the borrowing of the ideas from view of the hebrews, persuitte writes, joseph did not plagiarizein the technical sense of that word view of the hebrews. The book of mormon was written by joseph smith in march 1830. 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. Ethan smith was a minster at a church in a neighboring community in vermont when joseph smith came up with the idea to write and publish the book of mormon. So, the current argument being made is that joseph smith was a creative genius who read numerous books, such as view of the hebrews and the late war between the united states and great britain and then copied ideas and stories from them.
Nov 05, 2011 view of the hebrews 1823 book of mormon1829 very very similar stories. The epistle of paul the apostle to the hebrews the epistle of paul the apostle to the hebrews, new testament teacher resource manual 2002, 22229 author and date. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when writing the book of mormon by jeff lindsay. Absence of joseph smith in the book of mormon religious. On early modern english and the book of mormon times. Ethan smith was a pastor of a congregational church in poultney, vermont. Did view of the hebrews influence themes in joseph smith. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Could joseph smith have authored the book of mormon. More on joseph smiths plagiarism in the book of mormon. To have done this, he would have needed a copy of view of the hebrews. It is one of several books reflecting the popular fascination at the time of joseph smith.
But joseph was not so careless as to quote ethan smith s book word for word. We believe it did, and startling new scriptural, prophetic, physical, and dna evidences strongly point to the location of the. 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 18571933, a general authority of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, which examine the validity of the book of mormon as a translation of an ancient american source. Parallel between the book of mormon and view of the. As a former mormon bishop i can tell you that this information, combined with the other major work view of the hebrews available to joseph smith, answers a solid 80% of how he built the book of mormon. View of the hebrews 1825 edition introduction mormons. Many publications and materials predated the publication of the book of mormon. A view of the hebrews and the spaulding manuscript were appealed to in the 19th century as the source for the book of mormon. View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america 9781930679610.
Oliver cowdery also a poultney, vermont resident was a member of ethans congregation during this time and before he went to new york to join his distant cousin joseph smith. Lets assume for a moment that joseph smith plagiarized view of the hebrews in the book of mormon. Ethan smith, a minister, wrote view of the hebrews, a religious work suggesting that the american indians were descended from hebrews who had migrated to the americas in precolumbian times. Did joseph smith plagiarize the book view of the hebrews. 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. One of the conspiracy theories that gained traction after the solomon spalding theory fell short see our episode on this was the idea that joseph smith stole ideas and themes from ethan smith.
His book contained reports from missionaries and traders who lived among the indians. The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which the oliver cowdrey family attended. 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. There was, however, a reference to view of the hebrews within joseph smiths lifetime, but it came from the prophet himself.
Mar 07, 2016 shortly following the death of joseph smith in 1844, and into 1845, lucy mack smith dictated her recollections and family story to nauvoo schoolteacher martha jane coray. It is altogether probable that these two bookspriests wonders of nature and providence, 1824. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. 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. David persuitte, joseph smith and the origins of the book.
Very informative on the background of 19th century new york and new england from which mormonisms founders emerged. 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. 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. Ethan smith was a pastor in poultney, vermont when he wrote and published the book. Is the book of mormon like any other nineteenth century.
Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. His position was not uncommon among religious scholars, who based their history on the bible. View of the hebrews 1825 edition introduction mormons in transition. But joseph was not so careless as to quote ethan smiths book word for word. They are now referred to as the joseph smith papyri. 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 smith s view of the hebrews. Rare 1830 edition book of mormon joseph smith on cd ebook. Joseph smith quoted view of the hebrews as supporting the book of mormon. From early on in the history of attacks on the book of mormon critics saw joseph smith plagiarizing the text. View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america. Reverend ethan smith was the author of view of the hebrews. Joseph smith quoted view of the hebrews as supporting the book of mormon there was, however, a reference to view of the hebrews within joseph smiths lifetime, but it came from the prophet himself. 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. In spite of its weaknesses, this theory continues to surface from time to time even in our day.
One of the mormon evidences is to ask you to consider if joseph smith could have fabricated the book of mormon. However, in 1966 several fragments of the papyri were found in the archives of the metropolitan museum of art in new york and in the lds church archives. More significantly, joseph smith and subsequent leaders such as brigham young never submitted to any church authority, whether from the past the church fathers. Another more recent theory, also open to criticism, suggests that joseph smith used ethan smiths no relation view of the hebrews, which was published during the 1820s, to help him write the book of mormon.
View of the hebrews1823 book of mormon1829 very very. Proof joseph smith was killed in a two way gun battle. Did view of the hebrews influence themes in joseph smiths. Mormonism and masonry, the sub ject of josephs possible reliance on. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life. Studies of the book of mormon is a collection of essays written at the beginning of the 20th century though not published until 1985 by b. I in 1823, a man by the name of ethan smith no relation to joseph smith published the first edition of a book he called view of the hebrews. The book and the man, joseph smith, kindled a religion that today numbers over nine million members. Ethan smith, pastor of the congregational church in poultney, vermont, argued that the native americans were scattered israelites who would soon. A mormon general authoritys doubts about the authenticity.
View of the hebrews ethan smith original book of mormonlatter daycd ebook pdf. Ever since the great american prophet joseph smith, jr. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life after. In nauvoo, illinois, smith established a theocracy, ran for president, and tested the limits of religious freedom. 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. Finally, joseph smith, while acting as editor of the times and seasons, approvingly republished a quotation from view of the hebrews.
Similarities between the book of mormon and the view of the hebrews. Ethan smith s book proposes that the american indians were the lost tribes of. Joseph quotes view of the hebrews in support of the book of mormon. The book of abraham papyri were thought to have been lost in the 1871 great chicago fire. Ethan smith 17621894 was a new england congregationalist clergyman in the united states who wrote view of the hebrews 1823, a book that argued that native americans were descended from the ten lost tribes of israel. 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. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american. Is view of the hebrews a source for the book of mormon. In the june 1 and june 15 issues of the 1842 times and seasons there appeared printed extracts from josiah priests book, american antiquities 1838 edition, which cites and quotes passages from voth view of the hebrews. It was ethan smith s 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.
I personally dont really think emoe in the book of mormon has the apologetic use some believe. Mar 27, 20 where did the book of mormon take place. There was, however, a reference to view of the hebrews within joseph smith s lifetime, but it came from the prophet himself. Hardly any of these points are found in the book of mormon, as one would expect if joseph smith were using view of the hebrews or trying to make his book persuasive. Ohio to collect derogatory evidence against joseph smith and the book of mormon. Lds revelations view of the hebrews book of mormon 1.
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