The book of mormon has more in common with other books books that were published after the book of mormon and therefore couldnt have been a source of inspiration than it does with late war. Amazingly, 3,054 of the book of mormons 5,638 unique words are found in the leaves of grass. Original contributions from lindsay mentioned include his satirical treatment of walt whitmans leaves of grass as evidence of book of mormon plagiarism as. Jan 27, 2010 many commentators on mormon doctrine, from lds church general authority b.
In 1857, between the second and third editions of leaves of grass, whit. Raking leaves and reading scripture the church of jesus. This history of dismissal underscores how significant it is that professors of american literature across the country are now assigning the book of mormon to students alongside such staples as leaves of grass and the scarlet letter, and that reputable scholarly journals in the field have begun publishing essays on it after decades. May 30, 2017 this history of dismissal underscores how significant it is that professors of american literature across the country are now assigning the book of mormon to students alongside such staples as leaves of grass and the scarlet letter, and that reputable scholarly journals in the field have begun publishing essays on it after decades of either. Now, the grassy part of my yard isnt that big, but it was harder than i anticipated. Did joseph smith steal from the late war to write the book. These relate to artifacts, animal, plant, or technology that critics believe did not exist in the americas during the book of mormon time period before 2500 bc to. Bookcraft, 1952, an approach to the book of mormon, 2d ed. Leaves of grassbook xix wikisource, the free online library. By comparing similar word phrases and phrase orders, it is possible to demonstrate that the book of mormon was plagiarized from walt whitmans leaves of grass.
The answer, in making an actual comparison and you have all the links becomes. Was the book of mormon a plagiarism of a book called a. Whitman anonymously selfpublished in 1855, revising and republishing the collection many times thereafter. Feb 27, 2007 in 1855, walt whitman published at his own expense the first edition of leaves of grass, a visionary volume of twelve poems. May 09, 2005 the evidence for the leaves of grass as the smoking gun behind book of mormon plagiarism is far stronger than what critics have dug up for other sources. Ces letter in 2014, a group analyzed 110,000 books to find phrases matched with the book of mormon. Proof the book or mormon was plagiarized from walt whitmans leaves of grass did you know there is proof that the book of mormon was plagerized from leaves of grass written by walt whitman in 1855. Was the book of mormon plagiarized from walt whitmans leaves of grass. The book of mormon is the bestknown of the new bibles jockeying for. The book of mormon has a lot more in common with the biblestyle.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The tree is the primary symbol in three significant sections in the book of mormon, showing the development of nephite theology. He adds, god remains the author of the book of mormon viewed as the word. Leaves of grass is a poetry collection by the american poet walt whitman 18191892. To the inside front cover are affixed four clippings of descriptions of different versions of first edition copies of the book of mormon and of an 1854 edition of the doctrine and covenants, along with a clipping describing the origin of the text of the book of mormon and a bookplate of the shepard book company of salt lake city, utah. Just look at the parallels here dozens of parallel names multiple 5, 6 and even 7word exact matches. Bible, also, is something in the style of the book of mormon. There are strong reasons for suspecting ancient mesoamerica as the physical location of book of mormon events in the new world. Coe is also a prominent skeptic of the book of mormon. Josephs environment and the book of mormon book of. The only possible weakness in this theory is that the leaves of grass was published in 1855, 25 years after the book of mormon. Nov 07, 20 amazingly, 3,054 of the book of mormons 5,638 unique words are found in the leaves of grass. Hugh nibley has researched hebrew and near eastern aspects of the book of mormon in detail.
Was the book of mormon a plagiarism of a book called a view. What specific books are believed to have inspired or influenced joseph smith in his authoring of the book of mormon. This is the one to buy when you want everything walt whitman had published as leaves of grass. View of the hebrews is an exposition while the book of mormon is a narrative. Walt whitman as the source of the book of mormon mormanity. Leaves of grass as a womans book iowa research online. Leaves of grass has its genesis in an essay called the poet by ralph waldo emerson, published in 1844, which expressed the need for the united states to have its own new and unique poet to write about the new countrys virtues and vices. Coes book should correspond with at least some of the statements asserted as fact in the book of mormon, taking into account that the objective of the book of mormon is to testify of jesus christ. Next compare the writing style between ethan smiths work and the book of mormon. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. Did joseph smith steal from the late war to write the book of mormon. Leaves of grass, a collection of poetry written in a distinctly american style using free verse and a cadence based on the bible. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and other denominations of the latter day saint movement believe that it.
So many versions including, im sorry to say, the expensive leatherclad heirloom editions leave out the homoerotic calamus book and so many other instances of sexuality that they emerge less than half the full page count. Lds apologist jeff lindsay takes a humorous look at the critics methodology. Returning to journalism at age thirty, he began what became his lifes work. He selfpublished his book in 1855 and published multiple editions in his lifetime. Leaves of grassbook iii wikisource, the free online library. Internal book of mormon geography focuses on the relationships between lands and other geographic features, independent of where they might be physically located on todays maps. The first 1855 edition ebook written by walt whitman. Leaves of grass bantam classics by walt whitman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Now 150 years later, jazz pianist fred hersch has skillfully adapted whitmans work to music. Brodie, have discussed the possibility that view of the hebrews may have provided source material for the book of mormon, which mormons believe was supposedly translated from ancient golden plates by joseph smith, jr. However, there is in his book strong evidence that favors the book of mormon. Book of mormon, 1830, page 483 the joseph smith papers. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. It is the lengthiest quote of the saviors words given in the entire bible and covers chapters 57 of matthew.
Walt whitman, the first great american poet latterday. In 1855, walt whitmanarguably the greatest poet the united states ever producedfirst published his magnum opus, leaves of grass. The sermon on the mount one of the most beautiful sections of the gospels is the sermon delivered by jesus on a mountain beside the city of capernaum. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Rees this comparison of joseph smith and john milton focuses on their literary output and especially the preparation each had for dictating a long religious work, in miltons case paradise lost and in smiths the book of mormon. Proof the book or mormon was plagiarized from walt. His worldview, environment, and education no doubt influenced his interpretation of scripture, how it related to his surroundings, his understanding of past and future prophecies, and his interpretation of historical events. This resulted in vastly different editions over four decadesthe first, a small book of twelve poems and the last, a compilation. Josephs environment and the book of mormon book of mormon. Groups or individuals are branches or leaves on this tree.
These words arent all just randomly scattered, but often occur in lengthy phrases shared between the two texts. Mormon apologists will immediately nitpick at the slight problem of publication dates whitmans first edition of the leaves of grass in 1855. This is a followup to my article, joseph smith and the american renaissance, published in dialogue. From the day the book of mormon rolled off the press in 1830, those who gave it credence asserted that it obviously read like a hebrew text. But he gives the sacred record to moroni for safekeeping, knowing that the nephites are going to be destroyed.
Although the first edition was published in 1855, whitman spent most of his professional life writing and rewriting leaves of grass, 1 revising it multiple times until his death. Did the first book of napoleon influence the book of mormon. Though the first edition was published in 1855, whitman spent most of his professional life writing and rewriting leaves of grass,1 revising it multiple times until. Planning the third 1860 edition of leaves of grass, whitman wrote. Another fascinating book published in 1809, the first book of napoleon. Whitmans leaves of grass and the writing of a new american bible. Not because the leaves of grass is the best candidate for actual book of mormon plagiarism, but because it is an impossible candidate, showing what can be found by chance coupled with a touch of creativity. Nov 10, 2017 late war shares 70 phrases that are 49 words long with the book of mormon, but shares 382 with american revolution. Those who were not so convinced insisted that it obviously read like anything but a hebrew text.
How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Although the first edition was published in 1855, whitman spent most of his professional life writing and rewriting leaves of grass, revising it multiple times until his death. It is filled with terms and concepts that joseph smith relied on over and over again. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. When the nephites have gathered to cumorah, mormon deposits all the other records into the hill cumorah. Whitman, for some reason, waited a few decades to publish the text that he must have written before 1830 or actually before 1827, when the book of mormon story came on the scene. Collectively speaking, the lord does all he can to save his vineyard and will redeem the house of israel after grafting, or gathering, the branches of israel together in the last days. Jones barkworth show all show tabs mormon needlegrass. Joseph smith, the book of mormon, and the american.
Since we waited so long, raking meant not just getting leaves up, but some grass, too. Leaves of grass by walt whitman, used abebooks passion for books. During this time, mormon compiles the records into what is known today as the book of mormon. This arizona find is the first direct new world evidence for cultivated precolumbian barley in support of the book of mormon. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon.
Interesting article showing strong parallels between the. John milton, joseph smith, and the book of mormon byu studies. The similarities are so superficial, in fact, that somebody with too much time on their hands and a point to prove actually went through and found over 100 similar parallels between the book of mormon and walt whitmans leaves of grass, including five, six, and sevenwordlong phrases the books have in common. As noted repeatedly in various sections of this book, josephlike all prophets was, in part, a product of his milieu. From book of mormon population estimates, it is evident that the civilizations described are comparable in size to the civilizations of ancient egypt, ancient greece, ancient rome, and the maya. Leaves of grass, which whitman expanded and revised almost. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Misquoted ces letter snips short phrases out of context and out of.
So i actually agree more with the conclusion of the linked blog that the relationship between these two literary works is relatively strong, suggesting that the book had quite a memorable impact on joseph smith. The sniff of green leaves and dry leaves, and of the shore and darkcolord searocks, and of hay in the barn, the sound of the belchd words of my voice loosd to the eddies of the wind, a few light kisses, a few embraces, a reaching around of arms. Such civilizations left numerous artifacts in the form of hewn stone ruins, tombs, temples, pyramids, roads, arches, walls, frescos, statues, vases, and coins. According to the book of mormon, the final war that destroyed the jaredites resulted in the deaths of at least two million people.
Joseph smith, the book of mormon, and the american renaissance. What specific books are believed to have inspired or. There was a study that found even more parallels between the book of mormon and the walt whitmans leaves of grass. Actually, all that became obvious was the failure of both believers and unbelievers to cite much specific evidence. My husband had the job of blowing the leaves from the patio and mulch areas into the grass, and i had the job of raking the leaves from the grass. So many versions including, im sorry to say, the expensive leatherclad heirloom editions leave out the homoerotic calamus book and so many other instances of. Showing the influence of a uniquely american form of mysticism known as transcendentalism, which eschewed the general society and culture of the time, the writing is distinguished by an explosively innovative free verse style and previously unmentionable subject. A cloth made by stripping bark from the fig tree, soaking it, and pounding it also has some of the characteristics of linen. Critics of the book of mormon have argued that there are words and phrases in the book that are anachronistic with archaeological findings.
Section 34 of song of myself in leaves of grass, referring to the defense of the fort at alamo, is a virtual blueprint for the battle scenes in the book of alma in the book of mormon. The leaves of grass, published in 1855, cannot possibly have influenced joseph smith, and it is highly unlikely that joseph influenced. The yucca plant and the leaves of the ixtle agave plant both yield fibers that make fine, linenlike cloth. John milton, joseph smith, and the book of mormon byu. John milton, joseph smith, and the book of mormon author robert a. Jeff lindsay found many striking parallels between the book leaves of grass and the book of mormon. Mormon apologists will immediately nitpick at the slight problem of publication dates whitmans first edition of the leaves of grass in 1855 appears to postdate the 1830 book of mormon by about 25 years, but such arguments are mere smokescreens that can be readily blown away. A unique copy of leaves of grass, 1882 iowa research online.
This awardwinning page is a workinprogress by jeff lindsay representing one of the most controversial discoveries ever about the origins of the book of mormon, the finding of overwhelming evidence for plagiarism from walt whitmans leaves of grass. My purpose in writing that article was to consider joseph smith in relation to his more illustrious contemporary american authors ralph waldo emerson, henry d. Chiasmus in the book of mormon religious studies center. This appears to be the best candidate so far for a. When lehi was physically separated from the house of. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read leaves of grass. Book of mormon, 1830, page 77 the joseph smith papers.
Did joseph smith steal from the late war to write the book of. Did you know there is proof that the book of mormon was plagerized from leaves of grass written by walt whitman in 1855. O brown halo in the sky near the moon, drooping upon the sea. Doty centers his book around whitmans iconic poetry collection, leaves of grass. Second national tour of the book of mormon closes after seven years. Zenoss allegory in jacob 5, lehis dream in 1 nephi 8, and almas discourses on righteousness in alma 5 and 32. Walt whitman as the source for lehis dream and more. Did joseph smith plagiarize the late war in order to write the book of mormon. Plants profile for achnatherum aridum mormon needlegrass. Jun, 2014 the sniff of green leaves and dry leaves, and of the shore and darkcolord searocks, and of hay in the barn, the sound of the belchd words of my voice loosd to the eddies of the wind, a few light kisses, a few embraces, a reaching around of arms, the play of shine and shade on the trees as the supple boughs wag. Three trees in the book of mormon book of mormon central. With a midsized ensemble featuring cellist erik friedlander, saxophonist tony malaby.
1436 1373 1171 1113 441 1555 802 1132 950 253 217 470 377 641 725 1218 217 985 1097 258 1417 775 814 715 535 270 330 72 757 1059 182 1220 116 245