Supporters of the book of mormon argue that the text is a translation into modern english, so the use of a french word is not amiss. The parable of the tame and the wild olive trees 2. The first edition book of mormon is composed in a narrative, paragraph format, uninterrupted by verses and chapters, which many readers will find easier to digest. When the prophet received the concept or idea of a farewell at the conclusion of the portion of the record known as the book of jacob, he used an expression he. For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife. I attempted to translate it to german, but it looked so horrible. Jacob explains that the lengthy passage is taken from a jewish text by zenos that was among the sacred writings available on the brass plates that lehi brought with him from jerusalem. A short summary of jacob 5, describing each of the sections ofthe allegory of the olive tree.
How did the french word adieu get into the book of. President joseph fielding smith 18761972 encouraged us to ponder the depth of jacob 5. Prophet, theologian, historian religious studies center. How did the french word adieu get into the book of mormon. Nibleys commentary on the book of mormon is based on transcriptions from classes taught by hugh nibley, and is published with the permission of the neal a. Though english is a germanic language, it adopted many french words, beginning. Tanner, jacob and his descendants as authors, in rediscovering the book of mormon, ed. 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. Jacob chapter 5 in the book of mormon is a fairly long and complex one. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. This parable in and of itself stamps the book of mormon with convincing truth. For those interested in experiencing the original book of mormon, this high quality reprint will make a. This relationship is of utmost importance because it is so commonly dealt with in other scriptures.
Sherem denied the need for christ, used flattery, and accused leaders of. To answer your question in the authors comment, its a song from a very popular broadway musical called book of mormon. The fifth chapter in the book of jacob or jacob 5 is the longest single chapter in the book of mormon at 77 verses. It is not sponsored or endorsed by either the maxwell institute or.
There was neither english nor french on the plates. Jacob through words of mormon, to learn with joy, edited by monte s. In the final analysis, the presence of the word adieu in the english translation of the book of mormon cannot be construed to indicate anything beyond the fact that jacob intended to communicate farewell forever, or until we meet god. Since the nephites did not speak french which didnt even exist until centuries later, how can this be justified. When the nephite republic was broken in fragments a. Supporters of the book of mormon argue that the text is a. Greek and latin words and other problems in the book of mormon part 1 this is the first of several articles dealing with the problems in the book of mormon. Sherem denied the need for christ, used flattery, and accused leaders of teaching false doctrine. Its history was short, but its people were preeminent in iniquity. For i, the lord god, delight in the chastity of women. This section concludes with jacobs farewell to his people until they meet at the.
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. Literary reflections on jacob and his descendants book of. Jacob whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. Anyone who proclaims to understand the scriptures and the dealings of the lord with his people must understand this allegory. He was a mighty man of god, and, apparently, next to nephi, the greatest and most devoted of all the sons of lehi. If you were to study the bible, you would see it is in agreement with the book of mormon on this matter. According to richardson, richardson and bentley, the closing word in the book of jacob adieu jacob 7. A dictionary of the book of mormonjacobugath wikisource. A dictionary of the book of mormonjacob wikisource, the. Reynolds and sjodahl, commentary on the book of mormon, vol. The book of jarom book of mormon study text mormons in. C jacob and his family eventually traveled to the americas via boat constructed by his brother, nephi. He spoke hebrew, and was acquainted with egyptian writing. According to the first book of nephi, jacobs father, lehi recieved a revelation that he was to leave with his family to avoid the imminent destruction of.
Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the lord. It is the word by which a reason is introduced of something before advanced websters 1828 dictionary. Read my words adieu according to angela crowell, jacob closes his book with a farewell sentence which ends with the word adieu. Some claim that because adieu is french, it shows that joseph smith composed the book of mormon, and not an ancient author. Jacobs goodbye, in his parting message to the world, ends with the word adieu. As you mention, the french language did not start to be developed until after 600 b. 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. People argue that the nephites could not possibly have known french or this word since it originated around the 14th century. Why is the word adieu attributed to the book of mormon writer jacob. Adieu in the book of mormon and i, jacob, saw that i must soon go down to my grave. He was valiant and sincere in teaching the people and labored diligently to bring them to jesus christ. This places the age of jacob between 4755 years of age at the time of this writing. Jan 05, 2012 we have something in the book of mormon that, if we did not have any other truth expressed in it, would be sufficient evidence of the divinity of this book.
Jacob is the author of the book of jacob in the book of mormon. Why is the french word adieu in the book of mormon. Adieu implies farewell until we meet with god, a fitting finale to jacobs testimony and writing. He is best known for his lengthy prayer while hunting in the wilderness, wherein he first asks for personal forgiveness, then for gods blessings upon the nephites, then his blessings upon the lamanites, then that a record of the nephites will be preserved and brought into the lamantes at some future day should. Jun 15, 2008 how do you figure this question is anti anything, it is a question and as such no inference is implied. God does not approve of polygamy, and it should only be instituted when it is specifically commanded by god. Joseph fielding smith had such praise for this passage that he said.
However, the fact that jacob ends his book with the french word adieu, has actually become another evidence for the truthfulness of. He also taught the parable of the olive tree, which talked of the scattering and gathering of israel jacob 5. Jacob whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of. 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. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship and nibley llc. In french, adieu means adieu to god, an expression even used in the book of mormon jacob 7. Jacobs usage of the word adieu in the book of mormon. The french word adieu appears once in the book of mormon, in jacob 7.
Now, lets look at the second chapter of jacob again. Read in that spirit, they fill the soul with a sweet and heavenly joy which only the spirit of god can produce. Both stories make the lords mercy so movingly memorable. 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. Jacob 34 powerpoint a 28slide powerpoint presentation for the bofm lesson 45. We have something in the book of mormon that, if we did not have any other truth expressed in it, would be sufficient evidence of the divinity of this book. Dec 05, 2009 268 videos play all the book of mormon audio full michael dinkelman jacob teaches about pride jacob 2. Critics of the book of mormon typically use shallow criticisms attempting to disprove the books authenticity. Enos is the third author in the book of mormon after nephi 1 and jacob. Why are the words adieu, bible, and baptize in the book of mormon. According to richardson, richardson and bentley, the closing word in the book of jacob adieujacob 7. This allegory tells the story of the lords dealings with the house of israel.
Jacob taught many things to the ancient nephites, including prophecies of jesus christ and the doctrine of the atonement 2 nephi 910. I think this is one of the greatest passages in the book of mormon. The appearance of nonenglish words if there are any in the book. How do you figure this question is anti anything, it is a question and as such no inference is implied. Using the symbolism of the art world, one might even consider it the mona lisa masterpiece of the book of mormon. Jacob through words of mormon, to learn with joy 1990, edited by monte s. The parable of zenos, recorded by jacob in chapter five of his book, is one of the greatest parables ever recorded.
While i dont believe in the book of mormon, i do believe in grammar. And i, jacob, saw that i must soon go down to my grave. But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of god. Why did ammon borrow so much from tradition in alma 26. Only for those folks who are programmed to believe such would actually say that. It is important to understand that the next four books, jacob, enos, jarom, and onmi, are all written upon the small plates that nephi made thirty years after leaving jerusalem 2 ne 5. The book of mormon mentions jacob as the younger brother of nephi, and the elder of two sons born to lehi the younger son being joseph after lehis departure from jerusalem.
However, the fact that jacob ends his book with the french word adieu, has actually. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon into english. The enos problem in the book of mormon adventures in. Why is the word adieu attributed to the book of mormon. In his youth, jacob was educated and learned hard work by helping to run the whitmer farm.
Make sure you check back often to see other issues that we see as problematic for the mormon church. The book of mormon explains that only when god commands it can a man have more than one wife at a time. 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. 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 book of mormon translation. It is not sponsored or endorsed by either the maxwell institute or brigham young university, and. The subject of the chapter is a story that the nephite prophet jacob relates, originally taught by zenos an old testament prophet mentioned only in the book of mormon.
The 1828 edition of websters american dictionary of the english language defines adieu as a farewell, or commendation to the care of god. Jacob chapter 5 in the book of mormon offers a detailed description of practices regarding the cultivation of olive trees. The elder of the two sons born to lehi and sariah say between b. Jacob through words of mormon, to learn with joy in the book of mormon symposium series, edited by monte s. It does not explicitly name lehis wife sariah as the mother of jacob or joseph, but no other wife of lehi is ever mentioned. The basis for an ageold book of mormon bash is the last verse of the book of jacob. A 27slide powerpoint presentation for the bofm lesson 48. Among them were very many officeholders, lawyers and petty judges, who.
Feb 10, 2008 14 but i, jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but i shall call them lamanites that seek to destroy the people of nephi, and those who are friendly to nephi i shall call. The plates from which the book of mormon was translated were written in egyptian hieroglyphs, which is not even a phonetic language. 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. It is commonplace for students of the geography of book of mormon events to suppose that the. You all know the bible is made of testaments old and new you been told its just those two parts or only one if youre a jew but what if i. Sticking to my current apr, jacob should just take 1 or 2 years.
Mar 19, 2009 enos is the third author in the book of mormon after nephi 1 and jacob. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1990. According to the book of mormon narrative, jacob was born in the wilderness during his father lehis journey from jerusalem to the promised land the americas sometime between 592 b. Some claim that because adieu is french, it shows that joseph smith composed. Thats great news, since i started 2nd nephi back in march of 2012. The word adieu was in common use in english in joseph smiths era. The biblical and book of mormon pn jacob is from the hebrew ya. Olive trees and the book of mormon jeff lindsays site. Literary reflections on jacob and his descendants book. I have often heard critics of the book of mormon make a big stink over the word adieu in the book of mormon. Jun 19, 2011 and i make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small.