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''Studies of the Book of Mormon'' is a collection of essays written at the beginning of the 20th century (though not published until 1985) by B. H. Roberts (1857–1933), a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), which examine the validity of the Book of Mormon as a translation of an ancient American source.〔Paul M. Edwards, "Review of ''Studies of the Book of Mormon''," ''Christian Century'' 103 (August 6, 1986), 684. ''Studies of the Book of Mormon'' consists of three essays, brief correspondence related to the writing of the essays, a biographical sketch by Sterling McMurrin, and an introduction by Brigham Madsen.The manuscripts are titled “Book of Mormon Difficulties: A Study,” “A Book of Mormon Study,” and “A Parallel.”〕 Roberts "served in the innermost circles of Mormonism" and for decades "used his great oratorical and writing skills, as well as his scholarly and research abilities, to defend the Book of Mormon and give it intellectual respectability."〔Paul M. Edwards, "Review of Studies of the Book of Mormon, ''Christian Century'' 103 (August 6, 1986), 684.〕 According to Brigham Young University professor Marvin S. Hill, controversy over the book "has focused not upon the historical issues which Roberts raised but rather on whether or not he lost his testimony of the book and the church."〔Marvin S. Hill, "Review," ''Church History'' 55 (December 1986), 547.〕 Critics of Mormonism claim that Roberts lost his belief in the Book of Mormon after completing the study, even though he continued to publicly affirm the divine origin of the book. According to religion writer Richard N. Ostling, Mormon apologists were faced with one "of the most delicate situations" after publication of the book and "went into high gear" to make responses to it because "Roberts could not be dismissed as an outsider or an anti-Mormon."〔Richard N. Ostling and Joan K. Ostling, ''Mormon America: The Power and the Promise'' (HarperSanFrancisco, 1999), 275–76.〕 ==Roberts's purpose and conclusion== In the early 1920s, Roberts was asked by the First Presidency of the LDS Church to develop an apologetic to explain difficulties in the Book of Mormon, such as the lack of Hebrew or Egyptian vestiges in the languages of the Native American peoples and such historical anachronisms in the Book of Mormon as mentions of horses, oxen, wheat, and steel swords in ancient America.〔Ostling, 275.〕 Roberts also compared the Book of Mormon with Ethan Smith's ''View of the Hebrews'' (1823), published five years before the Book of Mormon. Smith, a Vermont clergyman, drew on, what were at the time, commonplace ideas about the relationship of the Hebrews and the American Indians. Not only did Smith's work go through many early editions, but Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith's scribe and one of the Three Witnesses to the golden plates, grew up in the Vermont town where Ethan Smith pastored the church and where Cowdery's mother and half-sisters were members. According to religion writer Richard Ostling, "it is probably safe to assume that Joseph Smith was familiar" with Ethan Smith's book.〔 Roberts summarized his comparison of the parallels between ''View of the Hebrews'' and the ''Book of Mormon'' as follows: Roberts was "torn by an internal struggle between his faith and a desire to be honest with himself."〔Robert Lindsey, ''A Gathering of Saints: A True Story of Money, Murder and Deceit'' (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988), 187–88.〕 Roberts believed that Mormonism must "stand or fall" on the truth of Joseph Smith's claim that the Book of Mormon was the history of an ancient people inscribed on golden plates and revealed to him by an angel. Yet in his studies, Roberts cited examples "of what he considered discrepancies, implausibilities and contradictions in the Book of Mormon. According to Marvin S. Hill, Roberts "maintained that the Book of Mormon's claims that the Indians were derived solely from three migrations of Hebrews to the new world over a span of three thousand years was entirely untenable."〔 And Roberts concluded that the "evidence I sorrowfully submit" pointed to Joseph Smith as the Book of Mormon's creator.〔 Although Roberts's manuscripts were intended for perusal by the general authorities of the LDS Church, the authorities proved uninterested in examining them.〔 Roberts wrote in a letter to Elizabeth Skolfield (14 March 1932): “I am forwarding you with this mail an introductory chapter to a work of mine which is in typewritten form under the title ‘Book of Mormon Study.’ It makes 435 pages of typewritten matter. It is from research work I did before going to take charge of the Eastern States Mission (May 1922 ). I had written it for presentation to the Twelve and the Presidency, not for publication, but I suspended the submission of it until I returned home, but I have not yet succeeded in making the presentation of it, although a letter of submission was made previous to leaving the E. S. M. (1927 ). I have made one feeble effort to get it before them since returning home, but they are not in a studious mood.”〕 Roberts argued that his study was “of very great importance since it represents what may be used by some opponent in criticism of the Book of Mormon.” He also warned that the problems described would haunt the church "both now and also in the future" and, unless answered, they would undermine "the faith of the Youth of the Church." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Studies of the Book of Mormon」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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