Possible Modern Source for the Book of Mormon

[_AlmaBound]

Here is Snowden's book:

http://books.google.com/books?id=vqhwAAAAMAAJ&dq=snowden++the+american+revolution&source=gbs_navlinks_s

I have to say that this one does not have anything like that ring of Book of Mormon familiarity that Hunt's work has.

ETA: In doing some searches, I see a bit more resonance, but not nearly as much.

For example, Hunt's text makes a big deal about "false prophets" who speak smooth things that flatter the people.

Snowden does have deceivers who speak smooth things, but the descriptions are not theologically packed, nor do they combine what seem to me to be several clear Book of Mormon themes:

False prophets

Speaking flattering words

Deceiving the people

Finally, there is very obtrusive divine machinery in Hunt that does not appear in Snowden. In Snowden we see Satan stealing into the heart of Benedict Arnold, but I have not found much else, yet. In Hunt we get, very quickly, a character named Caleb the Strong, who is is warned to stop deceiving the people by an angel, and then is approached by Satan.

The parallel to Korihor is glaringly obvious.

[Guest]

On second thought...never mind!

[_Kishkumen]

The parallel to Korihor is glaringly obvious.

52 And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.

53 But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.

54 Now when he had said this, he besought that Alma should pray unto God, that the curse might be taken from him.

55 But Alma said unto him: If this curse should be taken from thee thou wouldst again lead away the hearts of this people; therefore, it shall be unto thee even as the Lord will.

[_Kishkumen]

Prof. Kishkumen,

Do you know if the Dr. Samuel Mitchill who endorses the book is the same Dr. Mitchill who is associated with the "Caractors?"

I don't, AlmaBound.

[_AlmaBound]

The parallel to Korihor is glaringly obvious.

52 And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.

53 But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.

54 Now when he had said this, he besought that Alma should pray unto God, that the curse might be taken from him.

55 But Alma said unto him: If this curse should be taken from thee thou wouldst again lead away the hearts of this people; therefore, it shall be unto thee even as the Lord will.

I also see an interesting parallel in Ch 26:18

Now there were some amongst the tribes of the savages who had been instructed in the ways of God...

27 and they raised neither the tomahawk nor...

Anti Nephi Lehis?

[_Gadianton]

fyi, for those who wish to do quick text searches:

http://www.archive.org/stream/latewarbe ... t_djvu.txt

Everybody Wang Chung's mention of freemen meant that there had to be a king-men freemen controversy within "Columbia":

15 Now it happened about this time that
there were numbers of the inhabitants of the
country of Columbia whose hearts yearned
after the king of Britain.

16 These men were called Tories, which
signifieth, in the vernacular tongue, the blind
followers of royalty.

17 And with their false flattering words
they led astray some of the children of Co*
lumbian Liberty ; for their tongues were
smoother than oil.

18 Evil machinations entered into their
hearts, and the poison of their breath might
be likened unto the deadly Bohon Upas,

[_AlmaBound]

Ch 26:26 They remembered the good counsel given to them by their aged chief.

King Benjamin?

[_Nevo]

Although, I think one would be hard pressed to say that the terms, "freemen", "stripling", "fine workmanship", "curious workmanship", etc. don't border on plagiarism.

I don't know. When I type "curious workmanship" into a Google Books search there are more than 30 pages of hits just for the period between 1800 and 1825. I think it's safe to say that that expression was "in the air" when Joseph dictated the Book of Mormon.

[Guest]

An aside, but curious - Why does Hunt continually use the term Sanhedrim?

ETA: and the term shekel when referring to weights.

[_Shulem]

I also see an interesting parallel in Ch 26:18

Now there were some amongst the tribes of the savages who had been instructed in the ways of God...

27 and they raised neither the tomahawk nor...

Anti Nephi Lehis?

Yep, looks like another winner. We have the Book of Mormon right in our sights.

Have a sucker. Good job.



Paul O