The Book of Mormon is a family/political/military record andcovers two main immigrations from the middle east - the Jaredites in 2200BC and the Lehites in 600BC until about 600 BC.......during that time all manner of ethnic groups probably came to the North American continent from Asia, the isles of the Seas, and Europe, maybe even Africa.
This whole thing of Hebrews in the North American Continent is not a novel idea.
It was not even a novel (original) idea before and at the time when the Book Of Mormon was released.
There were other such books written on the subject in the early 19th century--before the Book of Mormon was released.
Rev. Solomon Spaulding created (perhaps two) a manuscript entitled, "Manuscript Found" and a revise entitled, "Manuscript Story" --which is a tale of Jews migrating to the new world. Before he died, Spaulding swore that another pastor who hung about his publisher's premises, stole his manscript... this guys name was Rev. Sidney Rigdon (more on this later).
Here's a link to Spaulding work which surfaced a few decades ago...
http://www.angelfire.com/az2/arizonadry/truth/spalding.html
There was another popular book published entitled, "A View Of The Hebrews" by Ethan Smith.
This too had the premise that ancient Hebrews came to the new world, and this book was widely published and circulated in the area where Joe Smith resided, and also Ethan Smith was the pastor of Oliver Cowdrey's family church, and Oliver Cowdrey (scribe for the BOM) was Joe Smith's cousin.
Both of these works served as the inspiration for the Book Of Mormon. Apologists for the LDS always like to point out that a "young man with no education could not possibly write such an extensive, detailed pieces of literature such as the Book Of Mormon" --and they are absolutely correct in this statement that Joesph Smith could not possibly concoct such a piece of literature. I agree completely, Joseph Smith did not write the Boom Of Mormon.
Another man of that time wrote the Book Of Mormon... his name was Rev. Sidney Rigdon. This was the same man who was accused by Solomon Spaulding of purloining his manuscript. If you look at both the Spaulding and Smith books, you will see that they bear little in resemblance to the BOM, in that they are historical accounts, not written as scripture in the King James Bible. One of them interestingly has a section where the key character claims to find the book (metal plates BTW) "hidden in a hill, inside a stone box."
Here is a new interesting book written about the subject of the origins of the BOM.
One of the authors is a descendent of Oliver Cowdery BTW....
http://www.amazon.com/Who-Really-Wrote-Book-Mormon/dp/0758605277
I find it no cooincidence that one of the very first converts to the new LDS Church was non other than Sydney Rigdon himself. I also find it interesting that Sydney Rigdon before the BOM was released preached in his church that a "new gospel will soon be discovered." New revelations also show that Rigdon also frequented the Smith household long before the BOM was released and was on good terms with the family. And finally, after Rigdon's conversion to this "new church" he rose to the number 2 slot right under Smith immediately--and stayed there until the Navoo period and Smith's death.
I firmly believe that Rigdon (a dour, un-charismatic person) wrote the Book Of Mormon and then used Joesph Smith's known reputation at the time as a "semi-seerer/folk magic person" to release the Book Of Mormon in order to start a new religion. Smith was the likeable con-artist at the time, and Rigdon was the brains behind the operation. Many times in this early church it seemed to members that is was actually Rigdon who ran things--and the prophets words were spoken by Rigdon to members. It was a financial scam from the beginning with their revelation called "the law of consecration" to gain hold of new converts property and finances. Read up on how the "Bank Of Kirkland" failed--and who were the top two administrators of this entity. Missouri and Navoo were the next stops on the train.
Rigdon was planning to use Smith as these modern day tent-revival preachers use "Child preachers" and "healers" and other such gimicks. But as their membership grew, it was Smith's more likeable personality which won the day in the struggle for power.
Just pointn' out some stuff here.
ST
Thanks.
