Over 300 pdf books on mormons latter day saints on dvdrom. I read a copy which i received from the salt lake county library system. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Roberts told the brethren they had some serious problems, and the q15, just brushed him off and pressed on like nothing was wrong. Instead of regarding it as the strongest evidence we have of the church divinity, he regards it as the one which needs the more bolstering. Roberts returned from presiding over the eastern states mission, he was asked by an editor of a national magazine, why does. Elder roberts had sent the entire 435 pages to president heber j. Brigham henry bh roberts march, 1857 september 27, 1933 studies of the book of mormon, by b. Signature books, 1992, 377 pages, paperback, isbn 1560850272 incredible as it may seem to many latterday saints, brigham h. Buy a cheap copy of studies of the book of mormon by b.
The identification of yahwist material in the pentateuch, like most assertions of the documentary hypothesis has broad interpretation among a variety of domestic and international scholars. Studies of the book of mormon presents this respected church leaders investigation into mormonisms founding scripture. Robertss first report, in december 1921, was a 141page paper entitled book of mormon difficulties. These two studies, aka book of mormon difficulties, were written in the 1920s when roberts decided to dive deep into the criticisms of the book of mormon and see if he could address some of the big issues plaguing the book. Roberts studies of the book of mormon this book contains manuscripts of roberts who was a general authority, author, and church historian in which he expresses some serious doubts about the authenticity of the book of mormon and frankly admits that joseph smith had a vivid enough imagination and the source material available to produce the book of mormon. He also was a member of the first council of seventy 18881933. Roberts wrote the material contained in studies of the book of mormon to illustrate the positions that critics would take. Through his wonderful understanding of the gospel of. Mormon apologists claim that this book was written so the brethren would know the weaknesses of the book of mormon. Book of mormon editions 18301981 the encyclopedia of. Among readers who came to the book of mormon with hard, skeptical assumptions, b. Elder roberts had sent the entire 435 pages to president heber.
Reflecting his talent for combining history and theology, b. He published a popular sixvolume history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and also wrote studies of the book of mormonpublished posthumouslywhich discussed the validity of the book of mormon as an ancient record. Givens briefly mentions but does not discuss the first 4 of these issues which were anachronisms in the bom such as horses and steel. The mormon battalion, its history and achievements b. If from all that has gone before in part 1, the view be taken that the book of mormon is merely of human origin if it be assumed that he is the author of it, then it could be said there is much internal evidence in the book. But, persists the critic, we cannot recover the precise historical truth about a moses or a jesus. Roberts indepth studies of book of mormon origins led him to doubt the authenticity of the book. The truth, the way, the life, feels almost as though elder roberts is personally leading the reader through the unexplored areas of the mind, introducing concepts that have eternal effects when fully understood. Roberts was denied a seat as a member of united states congress because of his practice of polygamy. Roberts and the book of mormon book of mormon central. He published a popular sixvolume history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and also wrote studies of the book of mormonpublished posthumouslywhich discussed the validity of the book of mormon as an ancient.
He was playing devils advocate for the purpose of inspiring church leadership to work on a better defense as critics typically point out, roberts was a lds apologist. Critics of the book of mormon persistently claim that b. According to smith, the book is originally written in an otherwise unknown language called reformed egyptian on golden plates and it should be of similar importance as the bible. Brigham henry roberts march, 1857 september 27, 1933 was a historian, politician, and leader in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. B h roberts and the book of mormon truman g madsen introduction by its own account the book of mormon is for doubters it an nounces on its title page a clear purpose for all the hard labor of preserving records to the convincing of thejewahejewthejew and gentile that. Townsends thesis is concerned with the j source in the book of mormon. He wrote that these studies did not represent his beliefs, and he indicated that they might be misunderstood or misused. Roberts considered the evident parallels between the book of mormon and ethan smiths view of the hebrews, a book that predated the mormon scripture by seven years. This book should be a requirement for anyone studying the book of mormon. Studies of the book of mormon, unpublished until 1985, is his three part study of the historicity of the book of mormon. He was capacitated by temperament and equipped by study for penetrating analysis. Madsen among readers who came to the book of mormon with hard, skeptical assumptions, b. Brigham henry bh roberts march, 1857 september 27, 1933. This was written by a q70 member who found many glaring problems with the book of mormon, including how view of the hebrews may very likely be a foundational text for it.
Madsen is professor emeritus of history at the university of utah, salt lake city. If the book of mormon is not historical, but rather a reflection of the misconceptions current in joseph smiths day regarding indian origins, then its theological claims are suspect as well, roberts asserted. Smith said he has received these plates in 1827 from an angel named moroni, who identified himself to smith as a native. Brigham henry roberts was a mormon leader, historian, and politician who published a sixvolume history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and was denied a seat as a member of united states congress because of his practice of plural marriage. When this parliament denied his request, he went to the public press in an effort to win support for the cause of the church. Roberts honest research and study is uncommon to lds historians. The book of mormon is a sacred text that was published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr. Check out roberts book, studies of the book of mormon b. Roberts and presents a synopsis of his rigorous lifetime study of the book of mormon. Roberts and the book of mormon byu scholarsarchive. Roberts, studies of the book of mormon, 2nd edition salt lake city. Roberts spoke of his book of mormon studies and then gave christensen his considered judgment.
It was really great to end this year on a strong note with b. However, he was not satisfied with that work and later delved more deeply into other critical questions about book of mormon origins, which led him to a major analysis of view of the hebrews. Roberts returned from presiding over the eastern states mission, he was asked by an editor of a national magazine, why does mormonism appeal to you. Books on the book of mormon 19892011 by an authorized editor of byu scholarsarchive. A study in the first part, book of mormon difficulties. Brigham henry roberts was a historian, politician, and leader in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Bh roberts on book of mormon historicity was he an early adopter of the inspired but not historical approach to the book of mormon. Publication date 1985 topics book of mormon criticism, interpretation, etc. I told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on the earth. Grant and the quorum of the twelve on march 15, 1923. At the end he admits the bom is a product of jss imagination. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Madsen, with an introduction by sterling m mcmurrin, was first published in 1985 by the. Its super dense like a text book, but theres a lot of incredible shelfshattering quotes in there.
Studies of the book of mormon brigham henry roberts. Roberts fought a valiant though vain fight to have the church represented at the worlds parliament of religions held in chicago in 1893. Im not aware of any digital copies, but it was a major factor for me. Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism. Roberts was the first mormon apologist, president of the first quorum of seventies and mormon church historian. Roberts considered the evident parallels between the book of mormon and ethan smiths a view to the hebrews, a book that predated the mormon scripture by seven years. Ever since bh roberts writings about challenges facing the book of mormon were finally published in 1985, people have argued about whether or not he had lost faith. Unless otherwise indicated, bible quotations are taken from the king james version. These are some of the things which have made bro roberts shift his base on the book of mormon. If you read the book you can clearly see that this is not the case. Is there an ebook or pdf of bh roberts studies of the. Roberts was struggling and searching for ways to justify the inconsistencies found in the book of mormon. This is the first published text of the book of mormon to show the precise history of many textual variants. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1988, 297314 less than a year after b.
A mormon general authoritys doubts about the authenticity. Roberts considered the evident parallels between the book of mormon and ethan smith s view of. Sep 01, 1985 it was really great to end this year on a strong note with b. Bh roberts on book of mormon historicity the mormon memo. Is there an ebook or pdf of bh roberts studies of the book. Roberts s first report, in december 1921, was a 141page paper entitled book of mormon difficulties. Studies of the book of mormon is a collection of essays written at the beginning of the 20th century though not published until 1985 by b. Roberts, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints most prolific writer and arguably its most effective defender, abandoned his belief in the book of mormon and the prophet joseph smith during the last. A critical text of the book of mormon was published in 19841987 by the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. Studies of the book of mormon, edited by brigham d. Roberts 18571933, a general authority of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, which examine the validity of the book of mormon as a translation of an ancient american source. Roberts offers excellent insights to the foundational elements of the gospel, bringing logic and reason to the stage of faith. Roberts studies of the book of mormon introduction by brigham d.
It is altogether probable that these two bookspriests wonders of nature and providence, 1824. Important critical study, also deals with parallels to the 1825 book, view of the hebrews. Robertss studies of the book of mormon has been added to. Roberts was additionally recognized as the mormon churchs most accomplished scriptorian of his day. Although roberts continued to testify to the truth of the book of mormon, a foundational work of mormonism, he also wrote three studies, unpublished until 1985, that wrestled with book of mormon problems. A dictionary of the book of mormon by george reynolds 1891 the divinity of the book of mormon proven by archaeology by louise palfrey 1908 new witnesses for god part 1 the evidences of the truth of the book of mormon continued by bh roberts new witnesses for god part 2 the evidences of the truth of the book of mormon continued by bh roberts 1909. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of. The book of mormon is truly the most correct of any other book on earth and. B h roberts and the book of mormon truman g madsen introduction by its own account the book of mormon is for doubters it an nounces on its title page a clear purpose for all the hard labor of preserving records to the convincing of thejewahejewthejew and gentile that jesus is the christ the eternal god that statement presupposes that there would be serious and searing doubt in the world and. The incident that really motivated roberts to become involved again in historical study and especially to reexamine the origins of the book of mormon was a letter from a young man in salina, utah, william e. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of honest mormons have discovered that this claim simply is not true. Roberts was one of the most respected and wellknown lds historians.
A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. 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. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1988, 297314. Ethan smith played no part in the formation of the book of mormon. Roberts clearly explained why he wrote his book of mormon studies. A potent representation of how the book of mormon follows popular but ultimately falsified early 19th century beliefs about the native americans and a possible direct source of influence for some specific book of mormon content in 1922 lds leader bh roberts stated the following. Roberts 18571933, an lds general authority widely considered mormonisms greatest apologist and historian, 1 expressed the grave doubt that the book of mormon is a translation of ancient. Roberts on the view of the hebrews parallels with the book of mormon emphasis mine.
Available for the first time fifty years after the authors death. Angel book of mormon golden plates joseph smith manchester mormon moroni native american. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1982. Is there an ebook or pdf of bh roberts studies of the book of mormon. Roberts, a member of the lds council of seventy and noted historian, writing between 1922 and 1927, details various problem areas for the historicity of the book of mormon. Roberts was unable to do so and eventually his writings on the subject were published in a book called studies of the book of mormon. Ethan smiths view of the hebrews, published seven years before the book of mormon is thought to be source material for joseph smiths book of mormon. Printed in canada first edition, isbn 9780981146720. Grant to help answer questions from a man who had written to the church. Moreover, at many junctures of his life he had profound personal reasons and emotional and spiritual stresses which might have led a man of lesser integrity to. Available for the first time fifty years after the authors death, studies of the book of mormon presents this respected church leaders investigation into. Robertss studies of the book of mormon the dialogue journal. Book of mormon studies regarded as the foremost mormon theologian of his day, roberts was given a letter with questions about the book of mormon from a skeptic to answer.
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