Was the Book of Mormon truly the result of divine revelation, or did Joseph Smith draw on earlier works to craft his narrative? This video explores the striking similarities between the Book of Mormon (published in 1830) and View of the Hebrews (published in 1825 by Ethan Smith). Both works include themes such as the lost ten tribes of Israel, Hebrew migration to the Americas, wars between ancient civilizations, and sacred records engraved on metal plates.
Joseph Smith’s apparent familiarity with View of the Hebrews raises important questions about the origins of the Book of Mormon. If it were truly inspired by God, why does it mirror a contemporary publication so closely?
The Bible warns against adding to God’s revelation or relying on human inventions instead of His Word. Deuteronomy 4:2 commands, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” Similarly, Galatians 1:8 reminds us, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
This video invites viewers to weigh the historical evidence alongside Scripture, asking whether the Book of Mormon is truly a divine restoration or a work influenced by human ideas. It challenges believers to trust the Bible as God’s preserved Word and consider the dangers of relying on extra-biblical texts that claim to “restore” what Scripture already provides.
