This is the third part of a series on problems with the book of mormon, the book that joseph smith said was the most correct book on earth, said it contained the fullness of the everlasting gospel and claimed that a person would get closer to god by abiding by its precepts than by those of any other book, including the bible. Book of mormon journal jacob 57 olive tree allegory. Book of mormon textual issues fairmormon link external links how is it that the book of mormon prophet jacob ends his account with the french word adieu. Book of mormon, 1908 published by herald house, hardback. The appearance of adieu or as opponents of the church call it, the smoking gun occurs just once in the book of mormon, at the end of the book of jacob, in which jacob writes to the reader i bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Adieu in the book of mormon and i, jacob, saw that i must soon go down to my grave. Adieu implies farewell until we meet with god, a fitting finale to jacobs testimony and writing. The book of mormon mentions the gift of preaching alma 9.
Far more concerning than a single french word in the book of mormon are the many, many english words. First, the terms barley and wheat, as used in the book of mormon, may refer to certain other new world crop plants that were given old world designations. A question has arisen in the minds of some readers of the book of mormon as to why this common french word adopted by english speakers was used. Since the nephites did not speak french which didnt even exist until centuries later, how can this be justified. This episode continues our special series on the maxwell institutes brief theological introductions to the book of mormon. The enos problem in the book of mormon adventures in. Green presents jacob as a vulnerable and empathic religious leader deeply concerned about issues of social justice. Arent mormons supposed go get married on alien planets or. Some of them make valid points and are difficult to resolve. The book of mormon has helped millions of people feel closer to god. Brandt, associate director, salt lake institute of religion. Because it was a revelation from god to joseph smith.
How saints and jacobs teachings can help contextualize. As one student of jacob has counted, of the seventeen times such phrases as grieveth me and burdeneth my soul are used in the entire book of mormon, eleven of those utterances are by jacob. Read my words adieu according to angela crowell, jacob closes his book with a farewell sentence which ends with the word adieu. President joseph fielding smith 18761972 encouraged us to ponder the depth of jacob 5. 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. Jacob chapter 5 is a favorite of mine the the allegory of the olive tree. We found a total of more than 93 greek andor latin words used over 7,200 times throughout the book of mormon. And i, jacob, saw that i must soon go down to my grave. The appearance of nonenglish words if there are any in the book. And now behold, i sherem declare unto you that this is blasphemy, for no man knoweth of such things. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians and scientists. 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. These were men who clearly taught of a messiah who would come in the flesh to redeem his people. Jacob s father was lehi, a prophet in jerusalem around 600 bc.
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. Jacob was the brother of nephi, the second book of mormon prophet. This parable in and of itself stamps the book of mormon with convincing truth. Book of mormonanachronismslanguageadieufurther reading. By making jacob s teachings more comprehensible, readers of the book of. Supporters of the book of mormon argue that the text is a. The plates from which the book of mormon was translated were written in egyptian hieroglyphs, which is not even a phonetic language. Though english is a germanic language, it adopted many french words, beginning.
How did the french word adieu get into the book of. How did the french word adieu get into the book of mormon. Well, were letting the book speak for itself and here it is showing joseph smith lying to the people once again. The basis for an ageold book of mormon bash is the last verse of the book of jacob. This is allegedly a problem, an anachronism, because the word adieu was unknown to the ancient hebrew authors of the book. He spoke hebrew, and was acquainted with egyptian writing.
Adieu in the book of mormon book of mormon translation edward j. Adieu is simply one english word among many in the book of mormon translation. Many antis will have us believe that the addition of the word adieu in the book of mormon. The word is actually found in the websters 1828 dictionary which was the first american dictionary by the way, and shows that this is how the word was understood in america right at the time joseph translated the book of mormon 1829. It was in common use among latterday saints and others in josephs era. The egyptian language was a very corrupt language from idol. Some critics of the book of mormon try to claim it as a fraud because one verse jacob 7. And i told him the things which my brother nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. Book of mormon greek and latin word chart life after. Why is the word adieu attributed to the book of mormon writer jacob. The word adieu was in common usage at the time joseph smith translated the.
Does anyone know why the french word adieu was added to the. Im new here, so this has probably been way hashed over, but ive been studying latin, some greek, and a little linguistics this semester in school, and came across something interesting. The book of mormon has been translated into many languages. Why are the words adieu, bible, and baptize in the book of mormon. If we compare the historical, prophetical, and doctrinal parts of the book of mormon with the great truths of science and nature, we find no contradictionsno absurditiesnothing unreasonable. Whether he read the dictionary or not is unknown, but i propose that it goes to show that the word was common enough for inclusion in the first american dictionary. These prophets include zenock, zenos, and neum see the book of mormon index. If youve been reading the book of mormon along with me, youre now ready to start the book of jacob. Jacobs usage of the word adieu in the book of mormon and i, jacob, saw that i must soon go down to my grave. If the book of mormon was translated from egyptian,how did. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon into english. If the book of mormon was translated from egyptian,how did a french word get in it.
Jacobs goodbye, in his parting message to the world, ends with the word adieu. It is also found in most english dictionaries in joseph smith day and today. Book of mormon, jacob, 7 religionwiki fandom powered. Though english is a germanic language, it adopted many french words, beginning in 1066, when the frenchspeaking normans invaded england and became the ruling class. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Book of mormon, 1837, page 152 the joseph smith papers. Adieu was probably the best equivalent of jacob s words of which joseph smith was aware. Some critics of the book of mormon try to claim it as a fraud because one verse contains the french word, adieu.
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. It is commonplace for students of the geography of book of mormon events to. One of jacobs strongest discourses is centered on the curse of trusting in material riches, the problem of harboring pride, and the damning effects of immorality. There are many arguments against the book of mormon. For example, the spanish called the fruit of the prickly pear cactus a fig. Why is the word adieu attributed to the book of mormon. As a few book of mormon central knowhys have explored see below, jacob s teachings about polygamy are made more comprehensible when they are read in light of ancient israelite and mesoamerican social practices and in light of the larger point of jacob s speech. The parable of zenos, recorded by jacob in chapter five of his book, is one of the greatest parables ever recorded. We continue this week in the book of jacob 57 for our come, follow me study in the book of mormon. Deidre green is author of the volume on the book of jacob.
As you mention, the french language did not start to be developed until after 600 b. So even if jacob and enos were grandfather and grandson, they would likely refer to each other simply as father and son. The 1828 edition of websters american dictionary of the english language defines adieu as a farewell, or. The book of mormon occasionally uses the word christ in a way that is not interchangeable with messiah.
Because god flashed it onto joseph smiths magic8ball rockinahat the same way that god flashed the kjv deuteroisaiah onto smiths magic rock. Memoirs and testimonies of louise clark gregson, vol i. Strictly speaking, no words in the book of mormon are jacob s words, or the words of any other prophet of that period. Jacobs usage of the word adieu in 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. There are so many great resources to study and use for your lessons. The book of mormon like the old testament, but unlike the new testament makes no use of grand relationships. 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. Some uniquely french words also appear in the king james bible such as tache exodus 26. Jacob bids adieu originally painted by robert farley in oil. The word adieu was in common usage at the time joseph smith translated the book of mormon. The book of mormon vs the bible christian research institute. Adieu in the book of mormon book of mormon translation.
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