BM-KJV and JE-Alma 33

Annotation of Alma 33

Alma 33 is a good example because it shows that a high percentage of Book of Mormon language is also KJV language. Few of the KJV words/phrases are not also found in Edwards, including the so-called "blended" passages.

 

The blue Book of Mormon words/phrases in the annotation are nonbiblical and also not found in Edwards. In some cases noted below, the nonbiblical language is close to Edwards (e.g., plural instead of singular). There are several examples in the Book of Mormon of paraphrased or misquoted passages from the KJV that are identical to paraphrased or misquoted KJV passages in Edwards' works.

 

The red words/phrases are nonbiblical Book of Mormon wording that are also found in Edwards' works.

 

Purple are nonbiblical Book of Mormon words/phrases similar to Edwards.

 

Naturally, Edwards is not the only person who ever used this nonbiblical Book of Mormon terminology. English is a common language or we couldn't understand one another. But the ready availability of Edwards' works in Palmyra during Joseph's youth indicates that Edwards was a possible source for Joseph's vocabulary that he used when translating the plates.

 

Bold = KJV 

Blue = nonbiblical BofM/D&C w/o JE (If unique to this instance, no footnote is given)

Red = nonbiblical BofM/D&C and JE 

Purple = nonbiblical BofM/D&C similar to JE

 

Chapter 33

 

Zenos taught that men should pray and worship in all places, and that judgments are turned away because of the Son—Zenock taught that mercy is bestowed because of the Son—Moses had lifted up in the wilderness a type of the Son of God. About 74 B.C.

 

1 Now after Alma had spoken these words[1], they sent forth unto him desiring to know[2] whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or how they should plant the seed,[3] or the word of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts[4]; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.[5]

2 And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God,[6] ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures[7]; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand[8] them.

3 Do ye remember to have read[9] what Zenos, the prophet of old[10], has said concerning prayer or worship?

4 For he said: Thou art merciful[11], O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me.

5 Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me[12] when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me.

6 And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer.

7 And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me.

8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of[13] thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.

9 Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations[14].

10 Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by[15] mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in[16] thine anger with speedy destruction[17].

11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity[18]; and it is because of thy Son[19] that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy[20]; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son.

12 And now Alma said unto them: Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old[21]?

13 Behold, if ye do, ye must believe[22] what Zenos said; for, behold he said: Thou hast turned away[23] thy judgments because of thy Son.

14 Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?

15 For it is not written[24] that Zenos alone spake of these things, but Zenock also spake of these things—

16 For behold, he said: Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand[25] thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them[26] because of thy Son.

17 And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God, and because the people would not understand his words they stoned him to death.

18 But behold, this is not all; these are not the only ones who have spoken concerning the Son of God.

19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type[27] was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.

20 But few understood the meaning[28] of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts[29]. But there were many who were so hardened[30] that they would not look, therefore they perished[31]. Now the reason they[32] would not look is because they did not believe[33] that it would heal them.

21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts[34] in unbelief[35], and be slothful[36], that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe[37] in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem[38] his people, and that he shall suffer and die[39] to atone for[40] their sins[41]; and that he shall rise again from the dead[42], which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand[43] before him[44], to be judged[45] at the last and judgment day, according to their works[46].

23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it[47] by your faith[48]. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up[49] in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant[50] unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.

(Alma 33–33:23)



[1] OT (1) NT (1) BM (31) DC (1) JE (2)

[2] BM (4) JE (3)

[3] BM (2)

[4] BM (1) JE (2) “They are those who have had a principle or seed of the very same love implanted in their hearts in a work of regeneration” “This seed that is planted in their Hearts”

[5] BM (2) JE (1)

[6] BM (2)

[7] NT (1) BM (2) JE (20)

[8] NT (2) BM (3) DC (1) JE (15)

[9] BM (2) Jacob 5:1 Zenos

[10] BM (2)

[11] BM (3) PGP (1)

[12] OT (9) BM (1) JE (1)

[13] BM (2) JE (9)

[14] OT (1) BM (1)

[15] BM (1) DC (1) JE (28)

[16] BM (8) DC (1)

[17] BM (3) JE (1)

[18] BM (1) JE (1)

[19] BM (4)

[20] BM (3)

[21] NT (3) BM (8) JE (5)

[22] NT (1) BM (1) JE (34)

[23] OT (22) NT (2) BM (9) DC (5) PGP (1) Isa 59:14 “judgment is turned away” also in JE

[24] BM (1) DC (1)

[25] BM (1) JE (1)

[26] BM (1) DC (3) JE (56)

[27] BM (7) JE (many)

[28] BM (1) JE (1)

[29] NT (1) BM (18) JE (21)

[30] BM (1) JE (10) JE “some are so hardened , so dreadfully and desperately hardened”

[31] OT (1) BM (1) JE (5)

[32] BM (1) JE (10)

[33] BM (6) JE (6)

[34] OT (1) BM (3) JE (7)

[35] NT (3) BM (26) DC (3) JE (54)

[36] OT (12) NT (3) BM (4) DC (3) JE (46)

[37] BM (2)

[38] OT (1) BM (7) JE (1)

[39] BM (1) JE (3)

[40] BM (5) JE (45) JE: “atone for sin” “atone for our sins” “atone for the sins of others” “atone for your sins”

[41] “atone for their sins” BM (2)

[42] NT (1) BM (2)

[43] BM (2) JE: “all men must stand issue before Almighty God”

[44] “stand before him: OT (4) BM (5) JE (15)

[45] NT (1) BM (22) DC (1) JE (154)

[46] NT (3) BM (13) DC (5) JE (47)

[47] OT (1) BM (6) JE (3) JE: “however it may seem to receive the seed and to nourish it , so that it may spring up and appear flourishing a while”

[48] NT (1) BM (2) DC (1)

[49] NT (2) BM (2) DC (2) JE (43) Jude: a well of water springing up into everlasting life”

[50] BM (7) JE (3)