Studies of the Book of Mormon: Foreword by Sterling M. McMurrin

by B.H. Roberts

Book Overview

Available for the first time fifty years after the author's death, Studies of the Book of Mormon presents this respected church leader's investigation into Mormonism's founding scripture. Reflecting his talent for combining history and theology, B. H. Roberts considered the evident parallels between the Book of Mormon and Ethan Smith's View of the Hebrews, a book that predated the Mormon scripture by seven years. If the Book of Mormon is not...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560850272
• ISBN13: 9781560850274
• Release Date: August 1992
• Publisher: Signature Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A Required Read

This book should be a requirement for anyone studying the Book of Mormon. B.H. Roberts was the first Mormon apologist, President of the First Quorum of Seventies and Mormon Church Historian. B.H. Roberts was additionally recognized as the Mormon Church's most accomplished scriptorian of his day. Apostle Talmage gave Roberts five questions that had been asked by a member. B.H. Roberts researched the questions and went to the Twelve and First Presidency and said he could not give satisfactory answers to the questions. He asked for the Brethren to pray about the questions and get the answers from God. Each of the Brethren stood, bore their testimony of the Book of Mormon and the meeting was over. Roberts was then asked to come up with the best answers he could. These answers were given to the member who originally asked the questions. This started Roberts on the mission of proving or disproving the Book of Mormon. He reviewed the book for inconsistencies in technology, zoology and anthropology. He presents a study of the technology of steel, glass, the wheel, metal coins and other advances that were questionable. He also covered the problems with horses, elephants, oxen, cattle and other problems. He covered the linguistics and anthropological information available at the time in trying to reconcile an Israelite migration to North America. In all, his conclusions are consistent with the current scientific community. He proposed, and then rejected, what Mormons know today as the Limited Geography Theory. He then undertakes a review of Joseph Smith and the literature available to Joseph Smith and concludes that there are significant parallels to "View of the Hebrews" by Ethan Smith. He did not at the time have the information that Oliver Cowdrey's family were parishioners of Ethan Smith. He concluded that with the structure of "View of the Hebrews", the 1796 version of the King James Bible and Joseph Smith's imagination, he would have no trouble writing the book. The book is analytical in nature, reviewing all possible options. Mormon Apologists claim that this book was written so the Brethren would know the weaknesses of the Book of Mormon. If you read the book you can clearly see that this is not the case. Roberts was struggling and searching for ways to justify the inconsistencies found in the Book of Mormon. By the end of the study it is clear that he no longer has a testimony of the Book of Mormon. The book was not published for 60 years and finally released in 1985. The Mormon Church has had this information since 1930, but never released it. The problems discussed in this book are the same problems that Mormon apologists struggle with today. The answers that the apologists give are no more satisfactory today than they were at the time of B.H. Roberts. This book is a necessary read for any budding apologist. It is also a book that can be given to a believing Mormon, because it was written by a recognized General Au

The beginning of a search for the truth

Brigham H. Roberts was initially a devout Mormon. However, he was asked by an elder in his church to answer some questions about the veracity of the Book of Mormon that had been posed by a non-Mormon. To formulate a response, he made a study of the New World cultural and natural environment as it related to the Book of Mormon. That study was the beginning of a difficult examination of his own religious beliefs. Much of what he found about the New World and its natives did not square with the content of the Book of Mormon. He was also deeply troubled by many similarities he found between the Book of Mormon and Ethan Smith's View of the Hebrews which was published five years before the first publication of the the Mormon scripture. In his study, Roberts presents several parallels between the Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews, showing that the Book of Mormon had literary ties to the early nineteenth century.Though this book presents a lot of interesting information, it was written during the early twentieth century, and much has developed since then. For a more up-to-date look at the beginnings of Mormonism, I might suggest reading David Persuitte's "Joseph Smith and the Origins of The Book of Mormon." It goes into considerably more detail in showing the similarities between the Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews and provides much additional information about the beginnings of Mormonism.

LDS Historian's Discovery of Book of Mormon background

B. H. Roberts was one of the 26 general authorities of the Mormon Church from 1890 to 1933. He was appointed Church Historian and in his day was considered the most accurate and unbiased authority for early Mormon history and was regarded as a great defender of the faith. He was a thorough researcher and prolific writer. Among his many books was the seven volume "Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." I consider his "Studies of the Book of Mormon" the most reliable and interesting backgound information on the Book of Mormon.Roberts wrote the material on his studies just a few years before his death but never published it. About 1985 his family finally released the manuscript for publication. He made an excellent study of the environment and source material available to Joseph Smith in the 1820's.Divided into three parts the first part of "Studies of the Book of Mormon" Roberts deals with his quandry in attempting to answer five questions which were asked by a Doctor who had read the Book of Mormon given to him by a friend. These questions were of archeological and linquistic nature and when his study could not provide adequate answers he wrote 141 pages to the general authorities of the Mormon Church presenting the problem. A two day meeting was held in the Salt Lake Temple to get their input and to ask for help from the Lord but no resolution was forthcoming. Shortly thereafter Roberts was called to preside over the Eastern States Mission.In the second section of "Studies of the Book of Mormon" Roberts gives a report of his research while traveling around the Eastern States visiting libraries looking for what was being published in the newspapers and books in the days of Joseph Smith. He found a book "View of the Hebrews" by a minister, Ethan Smith, published 8 years previous to the Book of Mormon. There are many parallels between the two books. One example is six chapters of Isaiah quoted in the Book of Mormon was previously used by Ethan as proof of his point that the American Indians were part of the lost 10 tribes of Israel. Ethan preached this idea in some of his sermons stating that we should treat the Indians as equals not as animals as was done by many in those days. Roberts found in the Manchester, NY newspaper of August 1823 where Joseph Smith's family lived that Ethan Smith was advertising his coming lecture and presentation of his book.Furthurmore, Roberts found that Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith's cousin and later scribe, lived in the same town where Ethan was minister and that Cowdery's Mother and Sister were members of his congregation. Cowdery also was a traveling book saleman in the summer time for the bookstore/publisher of "View of the Hebrews."The last section of Roberts' "Studies" is a side by side column comparison of passages from the Book of Mormon and "View of the Hebrews."Roberts' books have always been regarded as great source material but few Mormons are even aware of his last

B. H. Roberts....Seeker of the Truth

This book is a collection of a series of writings by B.H. Roberts who died in 1933, but attained rank as an LDS General Authority before he died. B.H. Roberts was the very antithesis of a dogmatic, inflexible, religious fanatic. B.H. wrote a great deal throughout his life on the Church. It must be remembered that he wrote "The Truth, the Way, the Light" and a "Comprehensive History of the Church". Anyone who reads the book should make certain they review the introduction written by the late Sterling McMurrin. McMurrin points out that B.H. wrote many books defending the LDS faith and this collection of writings has to be viewed in the context. However, after reading "Studies of the Book of Mormon" one really has to ask what Roberts believed about the Church when he died. The answer may not be simple, but in my view its unimportant.In one series of writings, Robert tries to scientifically answer questions such as whether horses could have been in the Americas at the time the Nephites and Jaredites (look in your Book of Mormon) were supposed to have lived here. He tries to answer whether steel swords and metallurgy could have part of the culture in these continents at these times. The answers are inconclusive, but strongly suggest "difficulties" with the Book of Mormon.However, the most fascinating part of the book is when Roberts attempts to draw parallels between a book written a few years before the Book of Mormon was translated (View of the Hebrews) and the Book of Mormon. The parallels are interesting, and at times, startling. He also explores--and answers affirmatively--the question whether Joseph Smith might have had the imagination to have written the Book of MormonIn the end, though, one can't really answer what B.H. Roberts believed towards the end of his life. However, I concluded that would have made him most happy was the knowledge that people tried to investigate and answer for themselves, the questions that he raised. In that respect, he qualifies as a true scholar who possessed immense honesty. He's someone who both Latter Day Saints and non-Latter Day Saints should admire.

A serious book for any student of the Book of Mormon

B.H. Roberts, Mormon General Authority and Mormon Church Historian. Was concerned about questions being asked about the Book of Mormon. He believed the future generation would be educated and would not except the Book of Mormon with blind faith. He went to looking for questions in the Book of Mormon that at present could not be answered. He shows in the first half the many problems there are in proving the Book of Mormon to be historically correct. In the second half, he takes on the question, could Joseph Smith have used some other work to create the Book of Mormon? Roberts disscovers, that indeed he could have. The name of the work was "A View of the Hebrews" by Ethan Smith. Roberts goes through chapter by chapter of Ethan Smiths book to show the similarites between the two books. Then in the last part Roberts takes The Book of Mormon and A View of the Hebrews in two columns, side by side. He shows how the Book of Mormon could have been created using "A View of the Hebrews."