View of the hebrews book of mormon isaiah

The isaiah text in the book of mormon is an inspired rendering of text taken. The storyline outline for the book of mormon probably came from ethan smiths 1823 new york novel, view of the hebrews. Many publications and materials predated the publication of the book of mormon. This includes both the many chapters duplicated whole or in large part and the many shorter statements in the book of mormon that parallel or allude to statements in the bible. In 1996, view of the hebrews was republished by the byu religious studies center, with charles d.

View of the hebrews 1823 ethan smith internet archive. Isaiah variants in the book of mormon religious studies. 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. Joseph smith quoted view of the hebrews as supporting the book of mormon. In the book of mormon, there are many chapters of isaiah directly incorporated from the king james version kjv of the bible, complete with translation errors that were obviously not possible to have been recorded on the gold plates since the kjv was not available until thousands of years.

The vast majority of the book of mormons isaiah verses are not found in view of the hebrews. Deseret book, 1987, 9, who accepts the statement of daniel ludlow, companion to your study of the book of mormon salt lake city. The only reason why this book continues to be in print is because its been cited as a possible source of influence on the writers of the book of mormon. Deuteroisaiah verses in the book of mormon overview of the deuteroisaiah problem in the book of mormon. 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. Mormon challenges could the book of mormon story have. Smith served congregations for several years at a time in new hampshire, vermont, and massachusetts. The first 39 chapters prophesy doom for a sinful judah and for all the nations of the world that oppose god, while the last 27 prophesy the restoration of the nation of israel and a new creation in gods glorious future kingdom. Some also postulate a link between ethan smith and oliver cowdery, since both men lived in poultney. It is unknown if joseph smith had access to view of the hebrews when he dictated the book of mormon.

The vast majority of the book of mormon s isaiah verses are not found in view of the hebrews. 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. Numerous commentators on mormon doctrine, from lds church general authority b. 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. Some 58 are paraphrased and 11 others are variants and or paraphrases.

There are so many spiritually enlightening and motivating passages and details in the book of mormon about salvation, the atonement and jesus christ himself that it makes view of the. 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. The author, ethan smith no relation to joseph smith, was pastor of the congregational church in poultney, vermont. View of the hebrews contrary to popular belief, the book of mormon was not the first to suggest. Besides the fact that there is no evidence that he ever saw a copy of that book, this allegation can be tested empirically by comparing the isaiah. None of these are referenced in the book of mormon. There are nine isaiah chapters commonly used in view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Joseph smiths interpretation of isaiah in the book of mormon. A comparison of passages from isaiah and other old testament prophets in ethan smiths view of the hebrews and the book of mormon 1971. Regardless of how the book of mormon as a whole is explained, it is really beyond reasonable doubt that a major source used in the book of mormon is the kjv.

Not a few things merely, one or two, or half dozen, but many. 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. Aug 17, 2019 lets assume for a moment that joseph smith plagiarized view of the hebrews in the book of mormon. Deutero isaiah verses in the book of mormon overview of the deutero isaiah problem in the book of mormon. Numerous commentators on mormon history, from lds church general authority b. The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which the oliver cowdrey family attended. View of the hebrews 1825 edition introduction mormon general authority b.

Alleged relationships of view of the hebrews to the book of mormon have attracted interest periodically through the years. The prophets of ii nephi quote from 20 chapters and make allusions andor references to parts of two more chapters, making a total of 22. The book of isaiah is the first of the latter prophets in the hebrew bible, preceding ezekiel, and jeremiah. Another 2,000 words were taken from the new testament. It is to the variants that we will give our attention here. 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.

View of the hebrews was published in 1823 and a second edition was published in 1825. There was, however, a reference to view of the hebrews within joseph smiths lifetime, but it came from the prophet himself. Abinadis commentary on isaiah religious studies center. Alleged relationships of view of the hebrews to the book of mormon have. Brodie bases her claim of plagiarism from view of the. May 31, 2019 the storyline outline for the book of mormon probably came from ethan smiths 1823 new york novel, view of the hebrews. But the differences between these books are very significant. The thesis of the book is that the american indians are of hebrew origin. The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which. If anything, the book of mormon avoids the texts which view of the hebrews finds so compelling. Criticisms related to view of the hebrews and the book of mormon it is claimed that a 19th century work by ethan smith, view of the hebrews. In the view of the hebrews, it is ethan smith who quotes freely from isaiah, although generally from different chapters than those quoted in the book of mormon.

Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrewsanalysis. 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. 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. The book of mormon narrative says that the jews who left jerusalem for the new world had with them the scriptures written up until that point 600 b. For example, they misquote the book of mormon s account of samuel the lamanite to make it sound like the view of the hebrews account of jesus ben ananias. The full title of the 1825 edition is view of the hebrews. 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 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. Is view of the hebrews a source for the book of mormon.

Similarities between the book of mormon and view of the. Abinadis commentary on isaiah 53, although sometimes confusing to church members, amplifies the beautiful message of isaiah. Table of contents critics point to the fact that view of the hebrews cites the biblical book of isaiah, and claim that this represents an influence upon the book of mormon text. The book of mormon shares some thematic elements with view of the hebrews. It was ethan smiths 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. This video goes over the many similarities between the two books. The view of the hebrews relatively unknown to the general public, view of the hebrews is an 1823 book written by ethan smith december 19, 1762 august 29, 1849, no relation to joseph smith which argues that native americans were descended from the hebrews. View of the hebrews flooded the area in which joseph smith lived. The first 39 chapters prophesy doom for a sinful judah and for all the nations of the world that oppose god, while the last 27 prophesy the restoration of the nation. View of the hebrews is an 1823 book written by ethan smith, a united states congregationalist minister, who argued that native americans were descended from the ten lost tribes of israel. Lds revelations view of the hebrews book of mormon 1. Lets assume for a moment that joseph smith plagiarized view of the hebrews in the book of mormon. Chapter 2 lists many prophecies about the restoration of israel, including deuteronomy 30.

Plagiarism the book of mormon narrative says that the jews who left jerusalem for the new world had with them the scriptures written up until that point 600 b. If joseph plagiarized ethans view of the hebrews he missed many opportunities to support the book of mormon with the information of his day. Ethan smith\s ideas that indians were displaced hebrews, and his wide use of isaiah, which bh roberts covered well. In fact, much of the information included in the book of mormon was contrary to what was known in 1830 about the ancient old and new worlds. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. Ethan smiths book was published in the adjoining county west of windsor county, where joseph smith was born and lived from 1805 to 1811. Did view of the hebrews influence themes in joseph smiths. Apr 15, 2016 watch our overview video on the first 39 chapters of the book of isaiah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.

Nevertheless, there is no evidence that joseph smith ever knew anything about this book. Two factors led to my study of the isaiah variants in the book of mormon. That the book of mormon quotes from isaiah is not a problem, except that joseph smiths 1830 translation reads nearly verbatim to the 1611 king james translation. Similarities between the book of mormon and the view of the hebrews the view of the hebrews is a 1823 book written by ethan smith, a united states congregationalist minister. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when. Woodbridge riley, a nonlatterday saint who published his ph. Ces letter picks 34 parallels between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon.

View of the hebrews 1825 edition introduction mormons. Mark twain once said after reading the book of mormon, it is chloroform in print. Ever since the great american prophet joseph smith, jr. Mormon challenges could the book of mormon story have come. For example, they misquote the book of mormons account of samuel the lamanite to make it sound like the view of the hebrews account of jesus ben ananias. Some critics have tried to explain the isaiah passages in the book of mormon as the result of an idea that joseph smith supposedly got from a book written in 1825 called view of the hebrews. 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. An unparallel, in welch, reexploring the book of mormon provo. They ignore, however, that view of the hebrews also uses many other scriptural citations.

Ethan smith 17621849 was a new england congregationalist clergyman. 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. Despite the churchs claims, the roots of mormonism, rather than being ancient and old world, are often instead nineteenth century and very american. Commenting on the striking parallels shared by view of the hebrews and the book of mormon, b. Spalding\s romantic style, repeated \and it came to pass\, and \wonder tales\. Both books quote extensively from the old testament prophecies of the book of isaiah.

Nephi, spake much unto them concerning the restoration of the jews in the. Ethan smith republished view of the hebrews, revised and enlarged, in 1835. 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. View of the hebrews reports that the indians are israelites because they use the word hallelujah. Population migrations in the book of mormon, however, always move from the south to the north. Ethan smiths view of the hebrews, published seven years before the book of mormon is. Did ethan smiths view of the hebrews furnish structural material. If joseph smith composed this book, the act was a miracle. Analysis of isaiah scriptures used in book of mormon and view of the hebrews and analysis of nonisaiah. View of the hebrews and the book of mormon book of mormon. Ces letter misportrays the content of the two books.

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. A comparison of passages from isaiah and other old testament. That the book of mormon quotes from isaiah is not a problem, except that joseph smiths 1830 translation reads nearly verbatim to. A comparison of passages from isaiah and other old. These are critical points for view of the hebrews, since amos 8. The extensive use of isaiah poses several problems.

No one seems to have suggested any connection between ethan smiths view of the hebrews hereafter vh and the book of mormon until 1903. 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. 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. Jan 01, 1977 mark twain once said after reading the book of mormon, it is chloroform in print. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism. To have done this, he would have needed a copy of view of the hebrews. Watch our overview video on the first 39 chapters of the book of isaiah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Compare the similar view of kent jackson, nephi and isaiah 2 nephi 1125, in kent jackson, ed. 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. Did joseph smith plagiarize the book view of the hebrews. Of the 478 verses in the book of mormon quoted from the book of isaiah, 201 agree with the king james reading while 207 show variations. Many concepts from the book of mormon are present in this book notably 2000 stripling warriors, a liahonalike description of a metal device, the freeman movement, rod of iron, standard of liberty, brass plates, cataclysmic earthquakes followed by great darkness, chiasmus, and many, many more.