Joseph smith view of the hebrews and book

Evidence shows that view of the hebrews was very successful, being first printed in 1823 and then a second edition in 1825 and was distributed all over the burned out district where joseph smith lived. Ok, so in 1823, this guy named ethan smith not related to joseph smith published view of the hebrews. As some critics who relate joseph smith s book of mormon to ethan smith s view of the hebrews have pointed out, oliver cowdery, joseph s cousin and his scribe during the writing of the mormon scripture, had lived in poultney for twentytwo years until 1825. Mar 07, 2016 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 smith s lifetime, but it came from the prophet himself. 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. Joseph smith didnt change the wording of hebrews 4. A full pdf of view of the hebrews can be found here, and it is the source of the page number references in this document.

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. 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. Also contains the parallels between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon by mormon historian b. View of the hebrews 1825 edition introduction mormons. Did ethan smith s view of the hebrews furnish structural material for joseph smith s book of mormon. 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. He argues that the book of mormon has an ancient core which has been significantly expanded by joseph smith. Numerous commentators on mormon history, from lds church general authority b.

More on joseph smiths plagiarism in the book of mormon. Ethan smiths view of the hebrews was first published in 1823 in poultney, vermont. Similarities between the book of mormon and view of the hebrews book. Lds did joseph smith and the 1830 bom plagairize the. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is. Referring to the borrowing of the ideas from view of the hebrews, persuitte writes, joseph did not plagiarizein the technical sense of that wordview of the hebrews. View of the hebrews1823 book of mormon1829 very very. Aug 17, 2011 apparently, joseph smith didnt understand that hebrews was quoting the same old testament text in all three verses. Ethan smith pastored a church in poultney, vt which was adjacent to the county where joseph smith lived in ny. 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. Apparently, joseph smith didnt understand that hebrews was quoting the same old testament text in all three verses. Lds did joseph smith and the 1830 bom plagairize the 1823. Lets assume for a moment that joseph smith plagiarized view of the hebrews in the book of mormon.

Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. View of the hebrews flooded the area in which joseph smith lived. The book view of the hebrews was published in 1823, 7 years before the book of mormon. 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. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is based. View of the hebrews 1823 ethan smith internet archive. 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. Did view of the hebrews influence themes in joseph smiths. Woodbridge riley argued joseph smith and oliver cowdery worked from ethan smith s view of the hebrews, a book tracing american indian descent to the lost tribes of israel. 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. Woodbridge riley argued joseph smith and oliver cowdery worked from ethan smiths view of the hebrews, a book tracing american indian descent to the lost tribes of israel. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that joseph smith ever knew anything about this book. 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 author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which the oliver cowdrey family attended. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life after. View of the hebrews 1825 edition introduction mormons in. Some 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 oliver. May 18, 2009 joseph smith began his role as a prophet with minimal traditional education. Where did joseph smith get his ideas for the book of mormon. 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. History, circa summer 1832, page 2 the joseph smith papers. 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. Is the book of mormon plagiarized from 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. Could joseph smith have used ethan smiths view of the hebrews as a guideline for creating the book of mormon. Did ethan smiths view of the hebrews furnish structural material for joseph smiths book of mormon. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon. The words joseph smith uses to describe his vision seem to be borrowed from the book of acts, namely apostle pauls vision of christ on the way to damascus. Jan 30, 2015 view of the hebrews 1825 ethan smith from. Reverend ethan smith was the author of view of the hebrews. View of the hebrews and the book of mormon book of mormon. To have done this, he would have needed a copy of view of the hebrews. Oliver cowdery was a thirdcousin of lucy mack smith, joseph smith s mother.

Early mormons occasionally cited the view of the hebrews to support the authenticity 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. Ethan smith lived in poultney, vermont, the same town as oliver cowdery, who later acted as joseph smith s scribe for the book of mormon. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. View of the hebrews describes an instrument among the mound finds comprising a breast plate with two white buckhorn buttons attached, in imitation of the precious stones of the urim. Sidebyside columns comparing what is written in ethan smith s view of the hebrews with joseph smith s the book of mormon. Joseph smith used an instrument in translating the book of mormon called urim and thummim which he described as two stones and a breastplate. 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. View of the hebrews was published in 1823 and a second edition was published in 1825. Very informative on the background of 19th century new york and new england from which mormonisms founders emerged. 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.

View of the hebrews proposes that the american indians are. 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. Yates, john and joseph moulton, history of the state of new york, 1824. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Some critics propose that joseph smith modeled the book of mormon after ideas and themes he stole from ethan smith s view of the hebrews. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. 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. When it came time to translate the book of mormon, he did the translation, but friends and his wife served as his scribe, because he lacked the skills needed to write the translations well. 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 did not rely extensively perhaps even exclusively on ethan smith s view of the hebrews in writing the book of mormon, then the two unrelated smiths are parties to the greatest literary coincidence in history. Did joseph smith plagiarize from view of the hebrews when. The strongest part of the book is the sidebyside comparisons he makes with the view of the hebrews, which persuitte theorizes was the impetus providing smith with the concepts that would get his active imagination to work on transforming the expectations of the treasure hunters into the foundations of.

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. It is unknown if joseph smith had access to view of the hebrews when he dictated the book of mormon. Ethan smith republished view of the hebrews, revised and enlarged, in 1835. This was a relatively common view during the early nineteenth century, as most europeans and americans had a view of history as biblical. The book was popular enough that a second edition was. In the manuscript he examines some of the claims of the book of mormon regarding the native inhabitants of the western hemisphere, compares the content of the book with an earlier book entitled view of the hebrews and comments on the likelihood that joseph smith could have been the author of the book of mormon without divine assistance. Ethan smith was a pastor in poultney, vermont when he wrote and published the book. Criticisms related to view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Ethan smith s view of the hebrews, published seven years before the book of mormon is thought to be source material for joseph smith s book of mormon. As some critics who relate joseph smiths book of mormon to ethan smiths view of the hebrews have pointed out, oliver cowdery, josephs cousin and his scribe during the writing of the mormon scripture, had lived in poultney for twentytwo years until 1825. 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. 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. See from priests american antiquities, times and seasons, 1 june 1842, 3. Joseph smith quoted view of the hebrews as supporting 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. Joseph smith s transformation of hebrews in alma 12 david p. If joseph smith were going to borrow material to help him write the book of mormon, there were certainly sources other than ethan smith s book to which he could have gone. View of the hebrews, or, the tribes of isreal in america 9781930679610. Both theories have spawned considerable discussion and research. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. This is where ethan smith enters the picture with his book view of the hebrews. Is the book of mormon plagiarized from book of the hebrews. There was zero mention of quetzalcoatl or a white bearded god in the first edition, for example.

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. Relies heavily on ethan smith s 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 smith s lifetime, but it came from the prophet himself. 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 cousin third cousins joseph smith. 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. 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. Photo reprint of the 1825 edition that is believed to have influenced joseph smith during his creation of the book of mormon. Some critics propose that joseph smith modeled the book of mormon after ideas and themes he stole from ethan smiths view of the hebrews. Mark twain once said after reading the book of mormon, it is chloroform in print.

Nov 05, 2011 view of the hebrews 1823 book of mormon1829 very very similar stories. There was, however, a reference to view of the hebrews within joseph smith s lifetime, but it came from the prophet himself. 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. Ethan smith s view of the hebrews was first published in 1823 in poultney, vermont.

Did joseph smith plagiarize the book view of the hebrews. Critics of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. Alleged relationships of view of the hebrews to the book of mormon have attracted interest periodically through the years. View of the hebrewscritics claim that a 19th century work by ethan smith, view of the hebrews, provided source material for joseph smiths construction of the book of mormon. The second purports that young oliver knew minister ethan smith, read his work view of the hebrews, and passed on knowledge of the book or a copy of the book itself to joseph, who borrowed freely from it in producing the book of mormon.

Everything that is common or even vaguely similar between the book of mormon and the view of the hebrews could have been borrowed more easily from the bible or from. Ethan smith also pastored the congregational church that cowderys family attended from 1821 to 1826 while he was writing view of the hebrews. Josiah priest argued that there was a lost race in the ancient americas, possibly of israelite descent. 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. And it came to pass, that, as i made my journey, and was come nigh unto damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from. If joseph smith composed this book, the act was a miracle. Numerous commentators on mormon doctrine, from lds church general authority b. Many of the parallels are unique to the secondedition of view of the hebrews, which oliver cowdery did not have access toand joseph smith certainly didnt. View of the hebrewsethan smithoriginal book of mormon. To plagiarize means to pass off someone elses words as ones own. If joseph smith was to use view of the hebrews in total as the apologists seem to think the critics are saying i. Ethan smith even traveled promoting his book, stopping in palmyra, joseph. The author ethan smith was the pastor of the religious congregation in which.

No direct evidence exists that would prove or disprove joseph smith had read view of the hebrews. It is claimed 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. Is view of the hebrews a source for the book of mormon. If joseph plagiarized from ethan smith, we would expect to find that unique aspects of view of the hebrews ideas, names, stories that are not also found in the bible or other sources would have been incorporated into the book of mormon, but no such fingerprints are found. Oliver cowdery, one of the bom witnesses, just so happened to be a member of ethan smith s church from18211825 or 1826 during which time ethan. 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 religious history framework.

Oliver cowdery, one of the bom witnesses, just so happened to be a member of ethan smiths church from18211825 or 1826 during which time ethan. A pastor who lived near cowdery, ethan smith, had written view of the hebrews, another work that has been posited as a source for the book of mormon. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Very interesting comparisons involving portions of the book of isaiah. Book of mormon and view of the hebrews parallels life. Believes mound builders had been destroyed by the indians, mentions the discovery of large stone crosses in central america and records the indian tradition of a lost book of god. There is no real evidence of joseph relying on that text. Ethan smith s 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 smith. Newview of the hebrewscd ebook pdfdid joseph smith. Newview of the hebrewscd ebook pdfdid joseph smith steal. View of the hebrews is not a book with stories like the book of mormon is. The book of hebrews and the joseph smith translation.