He spoke hebrew, and was acquainted with egyptian writing. Some critics of the book of mormon try to claim it as a fraud because one verse jacob 7. 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. The enos problem in the book of mormon adventures in. Some critics of the book of mormon try to claim it as a fraud because one verse contains the french word, adieu. And now behold, i sherem declare unto you that this is blasphemy, for no man knoweth of such things. We found a total of more than 93 greek andor latin words used over 7,200 times throughout the book of mormon. 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. The book of mormon vs the bible christian research institute. Why is the word adieu attributed to the book of mormon writer jacob. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon into english.
An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The egyptian language was a very corrupt language from idol. By making jacob s teachings more comprehensible, readers of the book of. We continue this week in the book of jacob 57 for our come, follow me study in the book of mormon. 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.
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. 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. Adieu in the book of mormon book of mormon translation edward j. So, whether it is adieu or constraineth or abomination, they are. 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. Though english is a germanic language, it adopted many french words, beginning. 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. Adieu is simply one english word among many in the book of mormon translation. Jacob chapter 5 is a favorite of mine the the allegory of the olive tree. Many antis will have us believe that the addition of the word adieu in the book of mormon. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a 19thcentury translation of a record of ancient inhabitants of the american continent, which was written in a script which the book refers to as reformed egyptian. Book of mormon journal jacob 57 olive tree allegory. Adieu in the book of mormon book of mormon translation. For example, the spanish called the fruit of the prickly pear cactus a fig.
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. Because it was a revelation from god to joseph smith. How did the french word adieu get into the book of. Book of mormon greek and latin word chart life after. Far more concerning than a single french word in the book of mormon are the many, many english words. Arent mormons supposed go get married on alien planets or. Why are the words adieu, bible, and baptize in the book of mormon.
As you mention, the french language did not start to be developed until after 600 b. And i told him the things which my brother nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. 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. Jacobs usage of the word adieu in the book of mormon and i, jacob, saw that i must soon go down to my grave. 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. And i, jacob, saw that i must soon go down to my grave. The 1828 edition of websters american dictionary of the english language defines adieu as a farewell, or. The book of mormon like the old testament, but unlike the new testament makes no use of grand relationships. The book of mormon mentions the gift of preaching alma 9. Book of mormon, 1908 published by herald house, hardback. The word adieu was in common usage at the time joseph smith translated 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. Jacob bids adieu originally painted by robert farley in oil.
Does anyone know why the french word adieu was added to the. Supporters of the book of mormon argue that the text is a. How saints and jacobs teachings can help contextualize. Why is the word adieu attributed to the book of mormon. Green presents jacob as a vulnerable and empathic religious leader deeply concerned about issues of social justice. If the book of mormon was translated from egyptian,how did. There are many arguments against the book of mormon. This parable in and of itself stamps the book of mormon with convincing truth. Deidre green is author of the volume on the book of jacob. Since the nephites did not speak french which didnt even exist until centuries later, how can this be justified.
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. Adieu in the book of mormon and i, jacob, saw that i must soon go down to my grave. The plates from which the book of mormon was translated were written in egyptian hieroglyphs, which is not even a phonetic language. If the book of mormon was translated from egyptian,how did a french word get in it. Adieu was probably the best equivalent of jacob s words of which joseph smith was aware. The word adieu was in common usage at the time joseph smith translated the book of mormon. The book of mormon occasionally uses the word christ in a way that is not interchangeable with messiah. 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. I have often heard critics of the book of mormon make a big stink over the word adieu in the book of mormon. President joseph fielding smith 18761972 encouraged us to ponder the depth of jacob 5. Jacob s father was lehi, a prophet in jerusalem around 600 bc.
Jacobs goodbye, in his parting message to the world, ends with the word adieu. If youve been reading the book of mormon along with me, youre now ready to start the book of jacob. Memoirs and testimonies of louise clark gregson, vol i. Some uniquely french words also appear in the king james bible such as tache exodus 26. 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.
These prophets include zenock, zenos, and neum see the book of mormon index. The book of mormon has helped millions of people feel closer to god. 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. The appearance of nonenglish words if there are any in the book. It is also found in most english dictionaries in joseph smith day and today.
Adieu implies farewell until we meet with god, a fitting finale to jacobs testimony and writing. Because god flashed it onto joseph smiths magic8ball rockinahat the same way that god flashed the kjv deuteroisaiah onto smiths magic rock. It is commonplace for students of the geography of book of mormon events to. Some of them make valid points and are difficult to resolve. Read my words adieu according to angela crowell, jacob closes his book with a farewell sentence which ends with the word adieu. It was in common use among latterday saints and others in josephs era. Jacobs usage of the word adieu in the book of mormon. These were men who clearly taught of a messiah who would come in the flesh to redeem his people. Why, for example, is the word book, which comes from old english and was not known in. The basis for an ageold book of mormon bash is the last verse of the book of jacob.
How did the french word adieu get into the book of mormon. There are so many great resources to study and use for your lessons. Well, were letting the book speak for itself and here it is showing joseph smith lying to the people once again. The parable of zenos, recorded by jacob in chapter five of his book, is one of the greatest parables ever recorded. The book of mormon has been translated into many languages. This episode continues our special series on the maxwell institutes brief theological introductions to the book of mormon. Brandt, associate director, salt lake institute of religion. So even if jacob and enos were grandfather and grandson, they would likely refer to each other simply as father and son. This is allegedly a problem, an anachronism, because the word adieu was unknown to the ancient hebrew authors of the book. Strictly speaking, no words in the book of mormon are jacob s words, or the words of any other prophet of that period. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians and scientists. Book of mormonanachronismslanguageadieufurther reading. Book of mormon, 1837, page 152 the joseph smith papers. 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.