There is little about him in the bible mormons, members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints often mistakenly called the mormon church, have more about enoch, found in the book. Joseph smith probably would not have had access to these books in his day. The enochian concept of tracing sin not to adam but to satan intrigues. In revelations to joseph smith much additional information is given about enoch, his knowledge of the sanctifying atonement of christ, the visions he saw of the future of the world, the messages he proclaimed, the wickedness he opposed, the miracles he worked, the priesthood ordinances he performed, and the promises he received from the.
Snow, as reported in charles lowell walkers diary report about a conversation he had with her in 1881 that the earth was ninety times smaller now than it was when created. For more studies on the magnificence of joseph smith and the great roles he plays in the salvation of man which we may be less familiar with, see my notes onread more. The book of enoch was translated into english only 9 years prior and smith was not an academic. Without neibuars help, i dont think smith could have written it. The book of enoch is considered to have been written by enoch, the seventh from adam. The parallels between the writings of joseph smith and ellen white on enoch are simply too amazing to ignore. Enoch is one of the most fascinating people in the old testament, and there is a mythology which has understandably grown up around him. This video discusses the stunning similarities found between the 110 enoch verses found in the book of moses and the enoch material discovered and published after joseph smith s death.
The seven archangels identity theory, including joseph smith. And enoch walked with god after he begat methuselah 300 years, and begat sons and daughters, and all the days of enoch were 365 years. Certain visions once given to moses were also revealed to joseph smith the prophet, in june, 1830. Charles mopsik concludes that the exaltation of enoch is not meant to be seen as a singular event. In the book of moses, part of the latterday saint scriptural canon known as the pearl of great price, are what the prophet joseph smith entitled extracts from the prophecy of enoch. By analogy, the bible seems to have been a frequent catalyst for joseph smith s revelations about gods dealings with his ancient covenant people.
He smith particularly borrowed heavily from a masonic myth called the legend of enoch. Selections from the book of moses in the pearl of great price is the joseph smith translation jst of genesis 1. However, in the case of both joseph smith s revelations and the pseudepigrapha enoch s eyes were opened by god george w. The book of moses is an extract from joseph smith s inspired translation of the bible and was originally recorded between june 1830 and march 1831. Inspired version of the bible restoration branches. Thats precisely the point, the book of moses contains motifs and ideas that are found in the book of enoch which is an ancient book. Joseph smith s own works involving ancient persons like enoch and abraham never make such strange deviations. Many scholars believe that the final chapters in the book of parables are a later addition. There exist some intriguing parallels between the pseudepigraphic 1 enoch and the book of mormon, at least one of which to my knowledge has not yet been emphasized. The first translation of this forgotten book appeared in 1821 and was produced by richard laurence, the.
There is little about him in the bible mormons, members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints often mistakenly called the mormon church, have more about enoch, found in the book of moses in the pearl of great price. Its called land of joseph syrup, available in utah grocery stores in his book from 1980, april sixth, john lefgren said that on tuesday, april 6, 1830, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints was. The book of moses includes a great deal more about the prophet enoch than is found in todays bible which. So, it must be that part of it was taken away when enoch s city was taken. Smith old testament genesis exodus leviticus numbers deuteronomy joshua judges ruth i samuel ii samuel i kings ii kings i chronicles ii chronicles ezra nehemiah esther job psalms proverbs ecclesiastes isaiah jeremiah lamentations ezekiel daniel hosea.
Now, this isnt to say that the book of mormon restored the original scriptures that. The book of enoch and the book of moses strong reasons. Could joseph smith have drawn on ancient manuscripts when. History of the book of moses religious studies center. Enoch, the book of enoch, is explained in this video by trey smith. At first these two characters seem to be separate entities. Could joseph smith have borrowed from 1 enoch as a starting point for the answer to this question, we observe that since joseph smith was well aware that the biblical book of jude explicitly quotes 1 enoch, 14 the most obvious thing he could have done to bolster his case for the authenticity of the book of moses if he were a conscious deceiver would have been to include the relevant verses.
He has developed a property in vermont near the joseph smith birthplace memorial and has a business producing maple syrup. Thus, it is another evidence that the book of moses is authentic and joseph smith was indeed a prophet. To produce one thousand pounds of maple sugar, as lucy smith recorded, the smith family in 1820 tapped more than 500 trees, collected 60,000 pounds of sap, and boiled off water by burning 10,000 pounds of wood. Although an english translation of the ethiopian book of 1 enoch appeared in 1821, the ancient manuscripts that are most relevant to the lds story of enoch were not available during joseph smith s lifetime. Jackson, the book of moses and the joseph smith translation manuscripts provo, ut. And his people wrought righteousness, and obtained heaven, and sought for the city of enoch which god had before taken, separating it from the earth, having reserved it unto the latter days, or the end of the world. These things were all written in the book of enoch, and are to be testified of in due time. The masonic legend of enoch can be found in albert mackeys 18071881 encyclopedia of freemasonry. However, additions to joseph smith s version but not in any of the ancient enochs perplex. White did not receive her teaching on enoch from the bible or from angels but from the mormons. The biblical book of jude quotes from the book of enoch in verses 1415, enoch, the seventh from adam, prophesied about these men. Joseph smith said according to his plural wife eliza r. Book of enoch read online or download the book of enoch.
The proportion of joseph smith s book of enoch that could have been derived straightforwardly from the five relevant verses in the bible is very small. To those familiar with mormon history, the parallels are. In fact, in a revelation to the prophet joseph smith, the lord prophesied concerning that book. Joseph smith, history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, ed. Book of abraham translation church of jesus christ.
With extensive commentary on the three books of enoch, the fallen angels, the calendar of enoch, and daniels prophecy paperback october 1, 2011. Not believing in the book of mormon, the prophet joseph smith s divine calling as prophet of god, the one who leaves the comfort of the doctrines revealed is told by others that they have no capacity to become like your heavenly parents, because you are not like your heavenly parents. The order or enoch was founded in jackson county missouri in 1884. The best known one is the ethiopian enoch 1st book of enoch, though there are others, such as the secrets of enoch. That endorsement by the savior far outweighs rejection by others. Matthew blacks alleged protestation to hugh nibley that joseph smith s source for enoch would some day be found intrigues.
Religious studies center, brigham young university, 2005, 152. As smith learned more about masonic beliefs, he began to weave them into his buried treasure tale. A commentary on the book of 1 enoch, chapters 6 minneapolis, mn. While the utah mormon church went to salt lake and continued to take the money from the people, the reorganized church was a little careful along money matters and for years young joseph smith had little to say regarding the order of enoch, indeed the lord seemed to be a little doubtful of young joseph and the money question, as would seem from. The book of enoch is believed by many to be what enoch himself says it is. In the pogp, the book of moses does include a history of enoch that is not available anywhere else. Others think they are not and that the son of man is enoch s heavenly. Ancient affinities within the lds book of enoch part one. I can imagine joseph smith having access to that knowledge. Based on the book of enoch, the doctrine and covenants, and other latterday revelation, we identify joseph smith as the 7th archangel remiel. Joseph smith and his alleged prophets of moroni et al fail this test. Joseph smith and 1 enoch miscellaneous mormon dialogue. The book of enoch and the masonic legend of enoch are two different things. These scriptures, says the eminent lds scholar hugh nibley, supply us with the most valuable control yet on the bona fides of the prophet.
Joseph smiths contradictions about enoch life after. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The pseudepigraphal enoch literature has much in common with joseph smith s book of moses in talking of enoch s gaining access to the divine throne of god. See, the lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him. The book of jasher and the latterday saints religious. It is considered an apocryphal book as well as a part of the pseudepigrapha literally means falsely ascribed is a collection of works supposedly written by a biblical character, although it is not a part of the canonical apocrypha. It is considered an apocryphal book as well as a part of the pseudepigrapha literally means falsely ascribed is a collection of works supposedly written by a biblical character, although it.
Enoch the prophet, the enoch figure, the book of enoch as theodicy, and a strange. As joseph smith went through the bible as the lord commanded him to do, he clarified many things that were confusing and returned things that had been lost. Joseph s study of the book of genesis, for example, prompted revelations about the lives and teachings of adam, eve, moses, and enoch, found today in the book. He appeared to william smith the surviving brother of joseph smith and to others who were promised in blessings they would live to see the face of the savior upon the earth. The burden of proof lies with those who insist that the document was produced by joseph smith. Nibley examines and defends that claim by examining joseph smith s translations in the context of recently discovered apocryphal sources. Joseph smith translation of the bible, states in genesis 14.
This second volume in nibleys collected works includes four chapters. This purports to be the translation of a real book originally written by moses. Joseph plagiarizes from the masonic legend of enoch to use in the book of mormon masonry also played a significant role in the book of mormon story. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 1907, 1. The presenter does it gently and fairly, as he also subjects the biblical authors of daniel, isaiah, and even jesus to the same test. However if smith and crowley both intentionally lied and the book of moses was written after neiber converted in 1837, then it is likely he could have helped them write it. What is the book of enoch and should it be in the bible. The qumran book of giants, discovered in 1948, contains striking resemblances to moses 67, ranging from general themes in the story line to specific occurrences of rare expressions in. The qumran book of giants, discovered in 1948, contains striking resemblances to moses 67, ranging from general themes in the. Whites teachings about enoch originated with joseph smith. It was published serially in church newspapers and later included in the 1851 edition and later editions of the pearl of great price.
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