Evidence Seventy-One: An Obscure Evidence for Individual Authorship in the Book of Mormon.©

 101 Reasons Why I Believe Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.

Evidence Seventy-One:

“An Obscure Evidence for Individual Authorship in the Book of Mormon”©(1)

This is likely one of the shortest of the evidences which I write about, but I believe it is potent nonetheless. This morning while discussing with some friends a book written by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, we came across the following passage regarding the omnipotence of Jesus Christ:

This is most often seen as a characteristic and quality of godhood rather than a title.  Nevertheless, it is used as a name seven times in scripture, six of those by King Benjamin or those who heard his magnificent sermon as recorded in the Book of Mosiah.(2) This distinction is another testament to the individuality of authorship among those writing in the Book of Mormon.(3)

There are several things we could talk about in this passage, however, I emphasize the last sentence to briefly enlarge on it’s point. Since the writings of Hugh Nibley, if not before, LDS defenders of the Book of Mormon have made the point that when studied closely, one can detect various differences among the many authors of the books within the Book of Mormon. The point of that emphasis is usually to argue that if Joseph Smith were the author of the book, rather than a translator of an ancient text, all the alleged authors would sound the same. There would not likely be unique differences between Nephi, Jacob, or King Benjamin, because in reality they came from the same source–the mind and heart of Joseph Smith. The most scientific computer-facilitated approach to this issue initially came from Wayne Larsen and Alvin Rencher in their 1980 article “Who Wrote the Book of Mormon? An Analysis of Wordprints” and a subsequent study by John Hilton in 1990.(4)

To me, what is important about Elder Holland’s statement, is that of all the Book of Mormon authors, King Benjamin is the only one to refer to the "omniscience" of God in the entire text and this is a “testament to the individuality of authorship” among Book of Mormon authors. A little thing, some may say. Perhaps, but when added to the ongoing accumulation of evidence for the separate authorship of books, sermons, and narratives within the Book of Mormon, this is one more precious morsel which could easily be overlooked, but Elder Holland didn’t miss it or its implications.

Moreover, Elder Holland is making the point that this descriptive phrase is actually a name and title for the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not referring to the Father Elohim, though it would not be inappropriate to do so. In the third lecture of the Lectures on Faith, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, that there are three things we need to possess in order to exercise faith in God, “unto life and salvation.” The second of them is, “a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes.”(5)

In that respect note the specificity and power in the following statements by King Benjamin in reference to Jesus Christ, “the Lord (God) Omnipotent”:

Mosiah 3:5: For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

Mosiah 3:17-18   17) And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. 18)  For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

Mosiah 5:15:Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen. [Emphasis added.]

Each of these passages emphasizes in one way or another the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the first, he is a God of miracles; in the second, he has the power to save through his atoning blood; and in the third, he can seal us his to have “everlasting salvation and eternal life” through his wisdom, power, justice and mercy. These passages are unique expressions in the Book of Mormon, emphasizing Elder Holland’s point.  To me it is marvelous that this very profound and deep spiritual teaching comes by way of an obscure unlearned New York farm boy in 1830!

Thank God for the omnipotent Lord Jesus Christ and for Joseph Smith, the instrument in God’s omnipotent hand to bring us the Book of Mormon which teaches his correct character, perfections, and attributes in such simple yet potent ways! 

Let’s think together again, soon.

Notes:

1.  This is a companion piece to evidence number 50 “‘Zingers’ in the Book of Mormon, Part 7, ‘relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save,’” published 23 October 2016.

2.  See, Mosiah 3:5, 17, 18, 21; 5:2, and 15. The word “omniscience” appears only once in the KJV at Revelation 19:6, however the Greek word  pantokrator, occurs eight other times, once in Paul and the rest from John, but is always translated “almighty.”  See, 2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7,14; 19:15; 21:22.

3.  Jeffrey R. Holland, Witness for His Names, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019, 114, emphasis added. 

4.  Wayne A. Larsen and Alvin C. Rencher, “Who Wrote the Book of Mormon?  An Analysis of Wordprints,” BYU Studies 20 (Spring 1980):225-51, reprinted in Noel B. Reynolds, ed., Book of Mormon Authorship: New Light on Ancient Origins, Religious Studies Monograph 7, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1982, 157-88.  One significant study before the computer was Glade L. Burgon, “An Analysis of Style Variations in the Book of Mormon,” MA thesis, Brigham Young University, 1950.

Because wordprinting studies were in their infancy when Larsen and Rencher first wrote, some critics challenged the validity of the method and its results.  Perhaps the most extensive work  of this type was Ernest H. Taves, Trouble Enough: Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 1984, 225-60.  

Shortly after the publication of the Larsen and Rencher article, John Hilton III, joined with a small group of researchers in Berkeley, California who were working on wordprinting to check the results of Larsen and Rencher.  Seven years later they concluded the methodology had advanced far enough that scholars “could use such tests confidently and without personal bias...” See his article, “On Verifying Wordprint Studies: Book of Mormon Authorship,” BYU Studies 30, no. 3 (Summer 1990):89-108. Hilton also reviewed the Taves study referred to above and found it “fundamentally flawed.”  See John L. Hilton, “Review of Ernest Taves’ Book of Mormon Stylometry,” FARMS HIL-86, Provo, UT: FARMS, 1986.

These studies were followed in 1996 by Roger R. Keller’s, Book of Mormon Authors: Their Words and Messages, Religious Studies Center Specialized Monograph Series 9, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1996. And there are others. 

5.  Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985, 38.  See paragraphs 2-5, emphasis in original.