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PrevPrevious Episode“Evidence of Composition is Evidence of Translation” (Part 9 of 11)
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Jonathan Edwards’ Influence on Book of Mormon (Part 10 of 11)

Table of Contents: Jonathan Edwards’ Influence on Book of Mormon (Part 10 of 11)

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Jonathan Edwards was an early preacher in Joseph Smith’s Day, kind of like a Billy Graham of the time.  Jonathan Neville has discovered passages in the Book of Mormon that are found in the Book of Mormon.  Is this evidence of plagiarism, or is there a faithful explanation?

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Jonathan:  So, in my interpretation of all this, and I went through the non-biblical language, I made a list of all the non-biblical words and phrases. I have something like 1400 non-biblical Book of Mormon phrases, and almost all of them, upwards of 90%, you can find right in the writings of Jonathan Edwards. Some of them are phrases like, “A continual scene of wickedness…”

GT:  Who was Jonathan Edwards, really quickly?

Jonathan:  Jonathan Edwards was the preeminent theologian in America. He lived from, I think, 1705 to 1753, something like that. He was…

GT:  He was the Billy Graham of his day.

Jonathan: Yeah, he was part of the first awakening for sure.

…

Jonathan:  There’s a place in the Bible that talks about natural man, another one talks about enemy of God, but nowhere does it say the natural man is an enemy to God. But Edwards did an entire sermon on specifically that: how natural men are God’s enemies. If you read Edward’s sermon, then King Benjamin’s address makes perfect sense. But, because we didn’t look at Jonathan Edwards–this phrase from Mosiah, “natural man is an enemy to God” is in the top 10, all-time, quoted Book of Mormon phrases in General Conference. There have been books and articles written trying to speculate about what it means. I can almost say it’s nonsense. It’s all profound, inspirational, but it’s not accurate, because they don’t know what Joseph Smith was alluding to when he wrote that, when he translated whatever Mosiah or King Benjamin said. When he translated it, he put it into Jonathan Edwards terminology.

Check out our conversation….

jonathan edwards - Jonathan Edwards’ Influence on Book of Mormon (Part 10 of 11) - Mormon History Podcast
Neville says Jonathan Edwards sermons are found in Book of Mormon.

Don’t miss our previous conversations with Jonathan!

639:  Allow Multiple Views, Even non-Historical

638:  Jonathan Edwards Influence on Book of Mormon

637:  “Evidence of Composition is Evidence of Translation”

636: Explaining Mormon DNA-Archeology

635: The Final Battle

634: Pros & Cons of Vague Geography

633: Why Limited Geography is Wrong?

632: Lehi’s Atlantic Crossing?

631: M2C Citation Cartel

630: Was Joseph Really Editor?

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More Podcasts with these Guests:

  • Edwards Phrases in Book of Mormon (Jonathan Neville 2 of 2)
  • Jonathan Edwards Influence on Book of Mormon
  • Allow Multiple Views, Even Non-Historical (Part 11 of 11)
  • "Evidence of Composition is Evidence of Translation" (Part 9 of 11)
  • Explaining Mormon DNA-Archeology (Part 8 of 11)

Get more information on the people and things discussed in this episode:

  • Guest: Jonathan Neville
  • Theology: Book of Mormon, Mormon Scripture
  • Science Topics Covered: Geography, Heartland, Heartland Theory, Mormon Science, Science & Religion
  • Historical Mentions Jonathan Edwards, Mormon History
  • Tags: Church History, GT Podcast, iTunes, Jonathan Edwards

Tell me when the next episode drops!

PrevPrevious Episode“Evidence of Composition is Evidence of Translation” (Part 9 of 11)
Next ExpisodeAllow Multiple Views, Even Non-Historical (Part 11 of 11)Next

One Response

  1. Seeker says:
    April 6, 2022 at 8:59 pm

    “I have something like 1400 non-biblical Book of Mormon phrases, and almost all of them, upwards of 90%, you can find right in the writings of Jonathan Edwards”.

    Is there some place where Jonathan Neville has made this available, including which of Edward’s lectures he found them in? This is a big-time allegation and I’m very curious to investigate. Thanks for the work you do, Rick B.

Comments are closed.

  • Date: April 6, 2022
  • Guest: Jonathan Neville
  • Theology: Book of Mormon, Mormon Scripture
  • Science Topics Covered: Geography, Heartland, Heartland Theory, Mormon Science, Science & Religion
  • Historical Mentions Jonathan Edwards, Mormon History
  • Tags: Church History, GT Podcast, iTunes, Jonathan Edwards
  • Posted By: RickB

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Rick Bennett is the friendly, independent historian at the heart of Gospel Tangents LDS Podcast: The Best Source for Mormon History, Science, and Theology. When he isn't interviewing Mormon scholars, prophets, and others, he is teaching math and statistics at Utah Valley University. He also freelances as a research biostatistician in the fields of Dermatology and Traumatic Brian Injuries, as well as in the network television/cable T.V. industries as a sports statistician. Rick holds a Master of Statistics Degree from the University of Utah.

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