The Apocrypha and the Book of Mormon

This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.

Criticism

Critics claim that the Apocrypha was used as a source for the Book of Mormon.

Source(s) of the criticism

• Grant H. Palmer, An Insider's View of Mormon Origins (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2002) 55. ( Index of claims )
• Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism (Moody Press, 1979), 114.( Index of claims )

Response

The following claims are made:

• That Joseph Smith created the story of Nephi and Laban by plagiarizing concepts and phrases from the story of Judith and Holofernes in the Apocrypha.
• That Joseph Smith copied the name "Nephi" from the Apocrypha.

The story of Judith

The two stories actually have more dissimilarities than parallels, and the similarities are very superficial.^[1]

The story of Nephi and Laban	The story of Judith and Holofernes	Sources
Nephi and his brothers are sent to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of Laban.	Holofernes is sent by King Nebuchadnezzar to conquer the rebellious Jews. The city of Bethulia is under siege by the Assyrians.
Nephi tells his father that he will return to Jerusalem to obtain the Brass plates of Laban.	Judith, a Jewish resident of the city of Bethulia, tells the people that she will deliver them.
Nephi enters Jerusalem under cover of darkness. He does not intend to kill Laban.	Judith enters the camp of the Assyrians with the intent to kill Holofernes.
Nephi finds Laban drunk and lying in the street. Nephi resists the idea of killing Laban even after he is told to do so.	Judith impresses Holofernes with her charms and gets him drunk. He passes out on his bed.
Nephi holds up Laban’s head by the hair and cuts if off with his own sword.	Judith holds up Holofernes’ head by the hair and cuts it off with his own sword.
Nephi leaves Laban lying in the street, but takes and puts on his armor and sword.	Judith takes Holofernes’ head with her back to the city to prove what she has done.
Nephi obtains the records from Laban’s house and leaves the city.	The Jews, upon learning of the death of Holofernes, leave the city and plunder the Assyrians camp.

The name "Nephi"

 ^{[needs work]}

Conclusion

 ^{[needs work]}

Endnotes

1. James B. Allen, "Asked and Answered: A Response to Grant Palmer (Review of: An Insider's View of Mormon Origins)," FARMS Review 16/1 (2004): 235–286. off-site

Further reading

FAIR web site

• FAIR Topical Guide: