Bh roberts view of the hebrews book 1

View of the hebrews is an 1823 book written by ethan smith, a congregationalist minister in. 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. Roberts, a member of the first quorum of seventy, undertook a study. The excommunication of the hebrews deeply affecting 154 2.

Contains reprint of the parallels between the book of mormon and the view of the hebrews, by the mormon historian b. 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 suspect as well, roberts asserted. 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. The book view of the hebrews was published in 1823, 7 years before the book of mormon. The view of the hebrews theory was examined in detail by b. Roberts also compared the book of mormon with ethan smith s view of the hebrews 1823, published five years before the book of mormon. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading studies of the book of mormon. Smith, a vermont clergyman, drew on, what were at the time, commonplace ideas about the relationship of the hebrews and the american indians. Reverend ethan smith was the author of view of the hebrews. Signature books, 1992, 377 pages, paperback, isbn 1 560850272 incredible as it may seem to many latterday saints, brigham h. 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. 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. In 1927 the well respected lds historian bh roberts wrote a letter to lds apostle richard r. 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.

Was the book of mormon a plagiarism of a book called a. This was a relatively common view during the early nineteenth century, as most europeans and americans had a view of history as biblical. 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. 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. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. View of the hebrews by ethan smith, photomechanical. A comparison of passages from isaiah and other old testament prophets of ethan smiths view of the hebrews and the book of mormon, masters thesis, brigham young university, 1971. Did ethan smiths view of the hebrews furnish structural material.

Roberts s studies of the book of mormon has been added to. 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. In this work he compared the book of mormon to the view of the hebrews, written by ethan smith, and. Roberts was preparing, writing, presenting, and publishing materials on the book of mormon. It is one of several books reflecting the popular fascination at the time of joseph smith with the question of indian origins. 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. 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. 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, a president of seventy and general authority, investigated many accusations against the book of mormons veracity. It is one of several books reflecting the popular fascination at the time of joseph smith with the question. Roberts that he wrote to answer a young members questions about the book of mormon in, i believe 1930. Roberts indepth studies of book of mormon origins led him to doubt the. Available for the first time fifty years after the authors death, studies of the book of mormon presents this respected church leaders investigation into. 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 1823 book of mormon1829 very very similar stories. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life. Ethan smith was a pastor in poultney, vermont when he wrote and published the book. Buy a cheap copy of studies of the book of mormon by b. 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. Numerous commentators on mormon history, from lds church general authority b. I first seriously encountered the writings of elder b. If the book of mormon is not historical, but rather a reflection of the misconceptions current in joseph smiths day. He was one of the first people ever to make a scholarly study of the book of mormon. Roberts took the position of examining the book of mormon from a. 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. Reflecting his talent for combining history and theology, b. Studies of the book of mormon kindle edition by roberts.

View of the hebrews1823 book of mormon1829 very very. 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. 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. Check out roberts book, studies of the book of mormon b. That book, view of the hebrews vh, argues that the american. This book presents a manuscript written by president of the first quorum of the seventies and church historian b. Roberts, studies of the book of mormon, university of illinois press, 1985, p. It is one of several books reflecting the popular fascination at the time of. New evidence furnished of the divinity of the bible 169 appendix. If joseph smith composed this book, the act was a miracle.

Another look at book of mormon and view 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. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism. Roberts parallel of the book of mormon to view of the hebrews hougey, hal on. 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. 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. Roberts, studies of the book of mormon, 2nd edition salt lake city. 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.

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. Roberts was one of the most respected and wellknown lds historians. Photo reprint of the 1825 edition that is believed to have influenced joseph smith during his creation of the book of mormon. Not a few things stuff you missed in sunday school. Roberts pre sented his 141page paper, book of mormon difficul. Many commentators on mormon doctrine, from lds church general authority b. 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.

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. Mark twain once said after reading the book of mormon, it is chloroform in print. Roberts asked for help with the similarities between the two books. View of the hebrews by ethan smith, photomechanical reprint of the 1825 edition. View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america 9781930679610. 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. The resulting manuscripts were titled book of mormon difficulties and a parallel. View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america. Add tags for a parallel, the basis of the book of mormon. Also contains the parallels between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon by mormon historian b. Studies of the book of mormon kindle edition by roberts, b. 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. Roberts parallel of the book of mormon to view of the hebrews. 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.