The Humble Seeker: How Joseph’s Search for God Produced the Book of Mormon

Book by Jonathan Neville

Coming Soon!

Softcover 6x9  595 pages full color

This book is for readers who are interested in the language of the Book of Mormon, whether you are a believer or not. The source of that language expands our understanding of the meaning and message of the language—and the character of its translator.
My bias, which you need not share to appreciate this book: I believe Joseph Smith, Jr., actually translated the Nephite records, “after the manner of [his] language.” (D&C 1:24.) I discussed how he translated in two previous books, A Man that Can Translate and By Means of the Urim and Thummim (with James Lucas).
This book asks a different question: in whose language did he translate? And where did it come from?
Much of the language in the text is biblical, including both direct quotations from the King James Version (KJV) and KJV passages blended or recombined. But much of the text is not biblical. This book offers an explanation for the nonbiblical language.
One verse explains my understanding of the translation:

Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man. (D&C 84:85)

While recorded long after the translation of the Book of Mormon, this verse articulates my understanding of what Joseph was doing from an early age; i.e., as a religious seeker, he treasured up[1] words. When the hour came—when he translated the plates—he used those words.
The annotations that follow are a map of the source of the words he used, both biblical and nonbiblical.
My previous book on this topic, Infinite Goodness: Joseph Smith, Jonathan Edwards, and the Book of Mormon introduces the thematic and linguistic connections that are delineated in this book. “Edwardsian” refers to Jonathan Edwards’ lexicon, not to every doctrine later attributed to him.

Key points

- The Lord prepared Joseph from a young age as a religious seeker who would become the translator and prophet.
- Joseph cited two sources for his knowledge of the gospel: the Bible and “my intimate acquaintance with those of different denomination.”
- These sources gave Joseph the ability to recognize and articulate gospel principles and teachings when he translated the engravings on the ancient plates and when he received revelations. In my view, this evidence corroborates what Joseph (and Oliver Cowdery) said about the translation.
- Both sources are evident in the text in every chapter I have annotated. The intertextuality documented in these annotations opens the text to enhanced study and understanding. The annotated passages are in color to show readers relative sources at a glance.

This book annotates about 20% of the Book of Mormon. I chose these chapters partly at random and partly based on lists of the most cited chapters. I will continue annotating as time allows, but others urged me to publish what I have done so far. I was surprised to discover that my little hobby had produced over 8,600 annotations and 600 pages.

This book is part of my ongoing pursuit of clarity, charity and understanding. It follows the FAITH model of analysis which separates Facts from the Assumptions, Inferences, and Theories that combine to produce the various Hypotheses floating around.


[1] Note that the phrase “treasure up” appears in the latter-day scriptures and Jonathan Edwards, but not in the Bible (KJV).

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