So, whether it is adieu or constraineth or abomination, they are modern translations of ancient words. Christ in the book of mormon went so far as to say for verily, verily i say unto you. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Jul 30, 2008 these words all come from the english language, which did not come into existence until long after jacob s time. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. He noted in the farewell at the end of his record, i speak unto you.
Likewise, we dont know when enos was born, but he would have died no earlier than 420 bc, as he says here. After some years a man named sherem preaches that there should be no christ. Adieu the french word adieu appears once in the book of mormon, in jacob 7. Joseph smith likely chose to use the word adieu because it concisely conveyed a sense of finality. Brandt, associate director, salt lake institute of religion. Jun 15, 2008 but i thought the book of mormon was gods final revelation. And i told him the things which my brother nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands.
How did the french word adieu get into the book of. There are at least three problems with the adieu argument against the book of mormon. Davis shows that the book of mormon narrative contains many examples of its characters also using these oratorical techniques, the most visible formulation of which is found in jacob 1. The plates from which the book of mormon was translated were written in egyptian hieroglyphs, which is not even a phonetic language. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. This is why words not known in book of mormon times are found in the translated text. Explorations in critical methodology, and coeditor of jacob and the angel. Brethren, adieu was his farewell to his people, his brothers and sisters in christ. In october 1976, the ensign magazine carried a short but informative article by c. The book of mormon and other hidden books byu scholarsarchive. Mar 19, 2009 enos is the third author in the book of mormon after nephi 1 and jacob. Christianity in the prechristian book of mormon book of.
How did a french word a language not yet existing get into this ancient book. Davis does not argue that smith was the author, instead he assumes he was with or without gods help and then theorizes how smith did it. The lord will recover israel in the last daysthe world will be burned with firemen must follow christ to avoid the lake of fire and brimstone. Critics claim that because adieu is french, it shows that joseph smith composed the book of mormon, and not an ancient author. In 1966 i included a halfpage entry on jacob and a biographical note in my whos who in the book of mormon 25, 82. The original writers spoke neither english nor french. Susa young gates, hail and farewell, young womans journal 40. The paris papyrus contains a ritual for rendering a person immortal that is similar to some of the. French word adieu say goodbye in french au revoir stock photo. I was a newly minted missionary in the mtc the first time someone raised the question of jacob s valedictory statement in jacob 7. Obviously, joseph smith was living in the 1800s and included the french word when he was making up the book of mormon. No, and neither did they speak english, and yet we have an english translation. Josephs smiths mother used the word adieu in some of her writings, and so it was a word joseph knew and understood.
Adieu is simply one english word among many in the book of mormon translation. The same way that god flashed the kjv deuteroisaiah onto smiths magic rock. The choice of words came through the manner of the language of joseph smith, so that we might have understanding. And the record of this people being kept on the other plates of nephi, wherefore i conclude this record, declaring that i have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where. Some have questioned the use of the french word adieu in jacob 7. Book of mormonism a study of latterday saint theology.
Ludlow, a companion to your study of the book of mormon, p. He, like mormon, would have translated the text into familiar concepts and terminology. Jun 19, 2011 and i make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small. And in 1981, the index to the new edition of the book of mormon offered a list of 26 welldocumented statements about jacob. Adieu implies farewell until we meet with god, a fitting finale to jacobs testimony and writing. For a quarter of a century, jonathan larsons rent has inspired us to choose love over fear and to live without regret.
So, whether it is adieu or constraineth or abomination, they are. And i, jacob, saw that i must soon go down to my grave. Prophet, theologian, historian religious studies center. He is best known for his lengthy prayer while hunting in the wilderness, wherein he first asks for personal forgiveness, then for gods blessings upon the nephites, then his blessings upon the lamanites, then that a record of the nephites will be preserved and brought into the lamantes at some future day should.
However, the fact that jacob ends his book with the french word adieu, has actually become another evidence for the truthfulness of the book of mormon. The book of mormon nephites and lamanites were from the tribe of manasseh, alma 10. A journal of mormon thought, sunstone, and the journal of higher criticism. The french language didnt even exist until around 700 ad.
Jacob would have been born between 600 bc and 590 bc, apparently, from what nephi says. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Salvation only through christ book of mormon symposium series. The book of mormon mentions the gift of preaching alma 9. Why is the word adieu attributed to the book of mormon. Salvation only through christ book of mormon symposium series kindle edition by nyman, monte s. Twothousand stripling warriors, to battle we did go. Thomas, a literary critic looks at the book of mormon, in to the glory of god, ed. The most common book of mormon svg material is paper. Jun 19, 2014 but to do that, it was time to do the math, and prove the book of mormon could be true. Why are the words adieu, bible, and baptize in the book of.
Book of mormon, 1837, page 152 the joseph smith papers. This suggests the possible common use in the smith family of the word adieu. Jacob gives the small plates to his son, enos, and bids adieu. Some antilds critics of the book of mormon have raised the question as to how jacob could possibly have used such a word as adieu when this word clearly comes from the french language, which was not developed until hundreds of years after the time of jacob. And i make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small. I told the indians to bring back his clothing, which they did, except his sh.
Even if the people forgot, surely god would know better. According to richardson, richardson and bentley, the closing word in the book of jacob adieu jacob 7. Essays on mormon scripture and new approaches to the book of mormon. The book of mormon search the history of over 549 billion web. Feb 21, 2012 some critics of the book of mormon try to claim it as a fraud because one verse contains the french word, adieu. A friend of mine noted that there is no equivalent english word to adieu that conveys jacob s intent. Adieu is josephs translation of a concept expressed by jacob.
Lexical semantic shifts in the book of mormon 1998. Strictly speaking, no words in the book of mormon are jacob s words, or the words of any other prophet of that period. And i make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing. Never fought, yet did not fear, from doubt we did refrain. Such critics evidently overlook the fact that the book of mormon is translation. The enos problem in the book of mormon adventures in. Supporters of the book of mormon argue that the text is a translation into 19th century english, so the use of a french word is not amiss.
What was a french word doing in the book of mormon, one of my fellow missionaries asked. Why, because it was the best word to fit, of course. The book of mormon does not contain any sections copied directly from the kjv. He spoke hebrew, and was acquainted with egyptian writing. The french word adieu closes the book of jacob jacob 7. When the prophet received the concept or idea of a farewell at the conclusion of the portion of the record known as the book of jacob, he used an expression he felt would convey the message to our understanding. Book of mormonism a study of latterday saint theology and. He then explained about the coming forth of the book of mormon, and. Why are the words adieu, bible, and baptize in the book of mormon. The project gutenberg etext of jacob hamblin, by james a. There seems to be a problem where jacob says he gives the plates to my his son enos, who shortly before dying says it has been 179 years since the leaving of jerusalem. For example, some detractors have criticized the book of mormon for using the french word adieu jacob 7. Why, for example, is the word book, which comes from old english and was not known in old testament times, found in the old testament.
Other words to which jacob gives special emphasis are tender and tenderness of twelve uses in the book of mormon, seven are by jacob. Strange words and names in the book of mormon fair. The word book is found seventyeight times in the book of mormon, and the noun record is used ninetyeight times. The french word adieu appears once in the book of mormon, in jacob 7. When the prophet received the concept or idea of a farewell at the conclusion of the portion of the record known as the book of jacob, he used an expression he. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading mosiah. The book of zelph another testament of the book of mormon by. The book of mormon supposedly dates jacob between 544 and 421 bc.
Those reading the book of mormon in the 1830s would have perfectly understood its meaning. Jacob, nearing his death bed, passes the records on to his son enos, and bids a final farewell. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. According to daniel ludlow, some antilds critics of the book of mormon have raised the question as to how jacob could possibly have used such a word as adieu when this word clearly comes from the french language, which was not developed until hundreds of years after the time of jacob. I will focus upon jacobs discourse, recorded in 2 nephi 9, as the basic text, supplemented with information from other chapters that contain the revelations of god. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about book of mormon svg. Adieu was probably the best equivalent of jacob s words of which joseph smith was aware. Nov 14, 2009 for example the last chapter of jacob uses the word adieu and critics argue, jacob could not have said adieu because french wasnt a language at the time. Which parts of the book of mormon have been copied. Book of mormon was revealed to him by the resurrected moroni, the last in a line.
Doubt not, wed be delivered, our mothers told us so. Because god flashed it onto joseph smiths magic8ball rockinahat the same way that god flashed the kjv deuteroisaiah onto smiths magic rock. There are multitudes of problems withe the book of mormon, not the least of which is the fact that much of the later official doctrine of the church contradicts muc. Which parts of the book of mormon have been copied directly. As you mention, the french language did not start to be developed until after 600 b.
French word adieu jacobs usage of the word adieu in the book of mormon oneclimbs. In some instances, these words are used to describe what we know as the bible. How did the french word adieu get into the book of mormon. Such critics evidently overlook the fact that the book of mormon is translation literature, and joseph smith felt free in his translation. Why is the word adieu attributed to the book of mormon writer jacob. Jacobs usage of the word adieu in the book of mormon. The book of mormon the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Part of the discourse and text linguistics commons, and the mormon studies commons byu scholarsarchive citation bangerter, renee, since joseph smiths time. And now behold, i sherem declare unto you that this is blasphemy, for no man knoweth of such things. Because it was a revelation from god to joseph smith.
In 1834, joseph smith raised a militia and marched to missouri to redeem zion. I could say, not only does the translated book of mormon have a french word. The book of zelph another testament of the book of mormon. I have often heard critics of the book of mormon make a big stink over the word adieu in the book of mormon. Sherem denies christ, contends with jacob, demands a sign, and is smitten of godall of the prophets have spoken of christ and his atonementthe nephites lived out their days as wanderers, born in tribulation, and hated by the lamanites. Nov 21, 2018 the book of mormon is claimed to be the most correct book on earth and the keystone of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. One of jacob s strongest discourses is centered on the curse of trusting in material riches, the problem of harboring pride, and the damning effects of immorality. The book of mormon says that the jaredites did also carry with them deseret, which, by interpretation, is a honey bee. Some claim that because adieu is french, it shows that joseph smith composed the book of mormon, and not an ancient author. The book of mormon is a translation of an ancient text into a modern language, and the word that best fit the ending jacob used some parting expression commending his readers to god was translated as adieu to god, an expression that is used and widely understood in the english speaking world. It was in common use among latterday saints and others in josephs era. New testament words and quotations in the book of mormon.
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