The Primary Source for the Book of Mormon

A wonderful book published by Signature Books is "Studies of the Book of Mormon" by BH Roberts. He was a general authority who came to question the authenticity of the Book of Mormon while being a general authority. He references his notes to a book published by an Ethan Smith who wrote "View of the Hebrews" in 1823. Ethan Smith was a minister who wrote this book claiming among many things that the Indians were Hebrews. By the way, Oliver's family were members of Ethan Smith's congregation in Vermont. There is literally no way Joseph Smith could not have known about this book. View of the Hebrews went into a second edition in 1825. Also, many Mormons do not know that Oliver Cowdery was a cousin to Joseph Smith and that the fathers of both Joseph and Oliver were childhood friends.

Here is a summary of some of the items in the book "View of the Hebrews".

• Title: "View of the Hebrews" or "The Tribes of Israel in America" written by Ethan Smith, minister.
• 111 pages are devoted to evidence showing the Indians were of Hebrew origin.
• from p. 223 "An old Indian informed him that his fathers in this country had not long since had a book which they had for a long time preserved. But having lost the knowledge of reading it, they concluded it would be of no further use to them; and they buried it with an Indian chief."
• from p. 217 "Suppose a leading character in Israel - where ever they are - should found to have in his possession some Biblical fragments of ancient Hebrew writing. This man dies and it is buried with him in such a manner as to be preserved. Some people afterwards removing the earth, discover this fragment, and ascertain that it is an article of ancient Israel. Would such an incident be esteemed of weight?"
• Urim and Thummim & Breast Plate. Ethan Smith suggested that the American Indians used these exact items.
• Ethan Smith suggested that the Mexican Indians used Egyptian Hieroglyphics.
• "...that the more civilized part continued for many centuries, that tremendous wars were frequent between them and their savage brethren until the former became extinct."
• The whole of chapter 1 is devoted to the destruction of Jerusalem.
• Ethan Smith talks about the restoration of Judah and Israel.
• Ethan Smith quotes whole chapters from Isaiah. (WOW - why doesn't Hugh Nibley do a parallel here like in his other books?)
• America is to be a savior to Israel.
• America is to be a great Gentile nation.
• Some 20 pages are devoted to describing civilization traits as seen in Temples, pyramids and ruined cities.
• The Mexican Messiah. He is said to be a white and bearded man. The reign of Quetzalcotle was a golden age of the people...

"But now to return from this momentary divergence to the main theme of this writing -- namely, did Ethan Smith's View of the Hebrews furnish structural material for Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon? 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. Not a few things merely, one or two, or half dozen, but many; and it is this fact of many things of similarity and the cumulative force of them that makes them so serious a menace to Joseph Smith's story of the Book of Mormon's origin. . . The material in Ethan Smith's book is of a character and quantity to make a ground plan for the Book of Mormon." (Studies, p. 240)

The Mormon church misleads potential converts and current members by making them believe that Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon without any reference materials available to him. This book is but one of several which contained all he needed to write the Book of Mormon. Remember, Joseph Smith was 24 years old when the Book of Mormon was published.

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