By Jerald and Sandra Tanner

In the December 1979 issue of the Messenger we pointed out that the famous Mormon historian and General Authority B. H. Roberts wrote some material concerning the Book of Mormon which is very embarrassing to the Church. For instance, in a manuscript entitled, “A Book of Mormon Study,” Part 1, Chapter 14, B. H. Roberts frankly admitted that Joseph Smith had a vivid enough imagination and the source material necessary to have produced the Book of Mormon without the aid of gold plates.

Truman G. Madsen, of the Church’s Brigham Young University, maintains that B. H. Roberts was only playing the “Devil’s Advocate” in his unpublished material. We cannot agree with Professor Madsen concerning this matter and have come to the conclusion that the best way to settle the issue is to publish Roberts’ manuscripts so that our readers can make up their own minds concerning this important question. The Mormon Church’s Deseret News, April 14, 1980, said that “Roberts’ defense of the Book of Mormon is contained in two manuscripts titled ‘Book of Mormon Difficulties’ and ‘Book of Mormon Studies.’ ” To say that these manuscripts contain a “defense” of the Book of Mormon is certainly a serious error.

B. H. Roberts believed that his fellow Church leaders should come to grips with the problems of the Book of Mormon. He was very disturbed with Apostle Richard R. Lyman’s attitude of sweeping them under the rug. He mentioned this matter in a letter to President Heber J. Grant and the Council of Twelve Apostles, and four years later wrote directly to Apostle Lyman:

You perhaps will recall our conversation of a few days ago in relation to the inquiry we had before the Council of the Twelve Apostles on some problems associated with the Book of Mormon, . . . and how I reminded you that on the former occasion here alluded to I announced that what I had presented did not constitute all our B. of M. problems, that there were others. You then asked, “Well, will these help solve our present problems or will it increase our difficulties?” to which I replied, “It would very greatly increase our problems.” At which you said (and I thought rather lightly) “Well, I don’t see why we should bother with them then.” To this I answered that I should go on with my studies nevertheless. And the other day I told you, if you remember, that I had continued my investigations and had drawn up a somewhat lengthy report for the First Presidence [sic] and the Council of the Twelve. . . . I thought I would submit in sort of tabloid form a few pages of matter pointing out a possible theory of the Origin of the Book of Mormon that is quite unique . . . which in the hands of a skillful opponent could be made, in my judgment, very embarrassing.

I submit it in the form of a Parallel between some main outline facts pertaining to the Book of Mormon and matter that was published in Ethan Smith’s “View of the Hebrews” which preceded the Book of Mormon, . . . It was published in Vermont and in the adjoining county in which the Smith Family lived in the Prophet Joseph’s boyhood days, so that it could be urged that the family doubtless had this book . . . the Parallel that I send to you is not one fourth part of what can be presented in this form, and the unpresented part is quite as stricking as this that I submit. (Letter from B. H. Roberts to Richard R. Lyman, dated October 24, 1927, carbon copy of the original)

We hope to have Roberts’ Manuscripts Revealed printed in a month or two.

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