Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Studies of the Book of Mormon/A Parallel

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Response to "A Parallel"

A Book of Mormon Study

A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books, a work by author: B.H. Roberts, edited by Brigham D. Madsen

Response to hypotheses made in "A Parallel"

The author(s) of A Parallel present(s) the following hypothesis:

Book of Mormon 1830: Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont: And Palmyra, Ontario County, New York. View of the Hebrews 1823-5: Poultney, Rutland Co, Vermont (adjoining Windsor County)

The author(s) of A Parallel present(s) the following hypothesis:

Book of Mormon 1830: "ascribing Origin of American Indians to certain Tribes of the Hebrews." View of the Hebrews: "or "The Tribes of Israel in America."

The author(s) of A Parallel present(s) the following hypothesis:

Book of Mormon revealed to Joseph Smith on September 22, 1823. View of the Hebrews published (1st edition) 1823.

The author(s) of A Parallel present(s) the following hypothesis:

Book of Mormon: According to Roberts, some Mormons "ignorantly" claim that "the Book of Mormon was the first to represent the American Indians as descendants of the Hebrews." In View of the Hebrews, Ethan Smith states his belief that the American Indians were of Hebrew origin.

The author(s) of A Parallel present(s) the following hypothesis:

The Book of Mormon was hidden and then revealed. View of the Hebrews tells of "an old Indian" who stated that there was 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."

The author(s) of A Parallel present(s) the following hypothesis:

The Book of Mormon speaks of inspired prophets. View of the Hebrews notes that Indian tradition says that "their fathers were possessed of an extraordinary divine spirit, by which they foretold things future and controlled the common course of nature.

The author(s) of A Parallel present(s) the following hypothesis:

The Urim and Thummim and breastplate are mentioned in connection with the recovery of the Book of Mormon (Pearl of Great Price 53). View of the Hebrews mentions the Urim and Thummim.

FairMormon Response

Fact checking results: The author has stated erroneous information or misinterpreted their sources

The Nephite interpreters were never referred to as the "Urim and Thummim" during the time that the Book of Mormon was translated: They were referred to as the "spectacles" or "interpreters." The Nephite interpreters were not referred to as the "Urim and Thummim" until 1833 - three years after the Book of Mormon was published.

Joseph Smith/Seer stones/Statements