Nephi, the first author in the Book of Mormon, began the record by introducing himself, then submitting his credentials in order to help validate the authenticity of his account. (Nephi 1: 2 – “Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.”)
When Nephi’s father Lehi and his family left Jerusalem for the “Promised Land”, they carried with them records of the Jews. They were the plates of brass, which Nephi got from Laban. These plates contained the Old Testament Bible record up to Jermiah and a lot more. Nephi and the following prophets followed the “learning of the Jews” in the Book of Mormon narrative. In other words, the Book of Mormon format follows Hebrew traditions.
A Fascinating Hebrew Conversion Story
Mr. Robert Kay is a Cohen and a descendant of the Tribe of Levi and of Judah. His father was a Rabbi, and Rob and his family studied the Jewish Tora to a fault. He was well trained in Hebrew tradition and the “learning of the Jews.” Rob has given me permission to tell his fascinating conversion story.
Rob discovered the Book of Mormon when he was fifteen years old in a used bookstore. He immediately recognized the Hebraisms evident in the book. He exclaimed, “This book has been written in ‘the manner of the Jews.'” He bought the book and asked the clerk about it. She said the book was attached to the Mormons.
In Texas, where he lived then, he only knew one girl who was of the Mormon faith. He asked her about it, and she asked him if he would like to have the missionaries explain. He read it several times and wanted to be baptized, but his father said, “No Way!” So, Rob waited until he was 18 and then got baptized. I am grateful to have him as a friend. I have learned a great deal from him about “the way of the Jews.”
Rob’s understanding of the Book of Mormon from a Jewish and Hebrew viewpoint is immeasurable. He has shared great wisdom and insights at many Book of Mormon Evidence conferences and on his website: Mormon Yeshiva,
My relationship with Mr. Kay
Robert Kay is a friend of our daughter, McKaylee, and her husband Scott Sims. He now lives in Salt Lake City. Scott works with Rob who is an insurance adjuster helping people with problems in disaster areas.
After becoming familiar with some of his essays I was intrigued with his insights and invited him to Fountain Green, UT, to give a fireside; it was fascinating. The theater was full, and everyone I talked to was intrigued with what he shared. Our daughter, Karie, drove all the way from Hobble Creek Canyon to hear him.
Voices From the Dust
A few years ago, Rob released a three-volume adaptation of the Book of Mormon, named “Voices From The Dust.” This set in no way replaces the original Book of Mormon but acts as a companion for deeper comprehension. Rob has formatted it from a Jewish and Hebrew understanding and perspective.
Robert used the 1840 edition of the Book of Mormon, which is the last one Joseph Smith edited before his martyrdom. Quoting from his EDITION NOTE: “This work is a Hebrew Roots adaptation of the 1840 Joseph Smith translation of the Book of Mormon diligently compared edited and revised to reflect the Hebrew foundation of the text.”
For me Rob’s formatting was most fascinating because I found it to align perfectly with the Lord’s definition of truth: “And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;” (D&C 93:24) And his sectioning profoundly aligns with the 1,800 Adamic phrases I have found in our scriptures.
I wrote an article on the science and translation of “And It Came to Pass.” which phrase is repeated often in the Book of Mormon. I found that my research lines up perfectly with the ancient Hebrew Kabbalah meanings of these phrases and their tying to the Adamic language:
Things as they are aligns with “And now it came to pass…”
Things as they were aligns with “And it came to pass…”
Things as they are to come aligns with “And it shall come to pass…”
I have found that these 1,800 phrases give total validation of our scriptures in their use and distribution.
John Pontius and Professor Felix Mijnhardt
I am grateful for John’s wife Terri letting me use John’s journal to learn about Prof. Mijnhardt. He is the gifted linguist who led me to study the above three phrases. It is the heart of my research in Chapter 3 of It’s About Time, and in the blog article linked above. As a scientist, I love proof. Both Nephi (1 Nephi 13:38-40) and Joseph in Egypt (2 Nephi 3:11) prophesied that there would come a day when the Bible would be disbelieved. Their prophecy shared that the coming forth of the Book of Mormon would validate the Bible. These 1,800 phrases help to do just that. They also validate all of our scriptures.
Rob Kay’s Hebrew Adaptation
I share three quotes from Rob Kay’s “Hebrew adaption;” the highlighting is mine.
From 3 Nephi 23: on page 209 of his volume 3:
27 And now it came to pass
28 that when Yeshoshua had said these words he said unto them again
29 after he had expounded all the scriptures unto them
30 which they had received
From 3 Nephi 19: on page 192 of volume 3:
12 And it came to pass
13 that when they had all knelt down upon the earth
14 he commanded his talmidim [disciples]
15 that they should pray
16 and behold they began to pray
17 and they did pray unto Yeshoshua calling him
18 their Adon and their Elohiym
From 3 Nephi 20: on page 198 of his volume 3:
6 ‘And it shall come to pass’ says the Father
7 ‘that the sword of my justice
8 shall hang over them at that day
9 and except they repent
10 it shall fall upon them’ says the Father
11 yes even upon all the nations of the Goyim’ [Gentiles]
12
13 And it shall come to pass
14 that I will establish my people
15 O house of Isra’el
16 and behold this people will I establish in this land [North America]
17 unto the fulfilling of the covenant
18 which I made with your father Yacov
19 and it shall be a New Yerushalayim
20 and the powers of heaven shall be
21 in the midst of this people
22 Yes even I will be in the midst of you
23 behold I am he of whom Moshe spoke saying
24 ‘A Prophet shall YHVH your Elohiym raise up unto you
25 of your brothers like unto me him shall you hear in all things
26 whatever he shall say unto you
27 and it shall come to pass that every soul
28 who will not hear that Prophet shall be cut off
29 from among the people’
Moroni shared this same pivotal message with Joseph Smith when he first visited him the night of 21September 1823. Moroni quoted from Acts 3:22-23 and said that prophet was Christ. (JS-H 40)
Rob’s sectioning often begins with one of these three Adamic phrases, which for me shows the inspiration behind his adaption. I have read all three volumes five times and am on my sixth reading. I have found them most inspiring, and I have gained a lot from the “learning of the Jews.” It is my sense that the more familiar you are with the Book of Mormon, the more profound will be your experience in reading Robert Kay’s inspired adaption from the Hebrew. The Adamic phrase, “And now it came to pass…” is unique to the Book of Mormon.
Hebrew Midrash in the Book of Mormon
I learned from our two Jewish convert friends, Robert Kay and David Doane, that the Book of Mormon also has some great examples of the “Manner of the Jews” using the Hebrew Midrash methodology.
Nephi quotes Isaiah 48 and 49, and then does an amazing Midrash on it in 1 Nephi 22. It is one of my favorite chapters describing our day and the End-times. Nephi’s brother Jacob quotes from Isa. 49:22-26, 50, 51, and 52:1-2, and then in Chapter 9 gives one of the best ever discourses on the infinite atonement. Then Nephi quotes from Isaiah chapters 2 through 14, and then does an inspired and incredibly insightful Midrash on those chapters as it relates to our day in 2 Nephi chapters 25-30.
Jacob then quotes from the Brass Plates Zenos’ allegory in Jacob 5 and gives us a brief Midrash on its great importance for our day. Abinadi quotes Isaiah 53, which describes the life of Christ, and then does a beautiful Midrash on it. Abinadi’s Midrash converts Alma. And now Alma and his converted son’s writings are helping to convert the world to Christ.
Then the resurrected Lord appearing here in North America, quotes from several different scriptures in the Old Testament. He then gives us a Midrash on those in Third Nephi chapters 20-27. He knows these will be shared across the globe in bringing about the covenants of the Father to know His Beloved Son. He also tells them of His ministry in the Holy Land.
“Language of the Egyptians”
Nephi, in the introduction of the Book of Mormon also mentions that his record was in the “language of the Egyptians.” The language of the Egyptians at the time of Nephi (600 B.C.) was Demotic Egyptian. A thousand years later when Mormon did his abridgement, the language was called “reformed Egyptian.” It was significantly different. This was the language that the gifted linguist, Professor Mijnhardt, recognized. He then, knowing the Book of Mormon was scripture, translated it into Afrikaans.
Interestingly, he was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints. He was a devout member of the Dutch Reformed Church. He tried to get both his university at Pretoria, South Africa, and his church to accept the Book of Mormon as scripture. But, as expected, they refused.
John Whitmer was one of the scribes, when the Prophet Joseph Smith translated the small plates for the Book of Mormon in Fayette, NY. John copied of some of these characters, and my good friend Brian Nettles, has been able to translate some of those characters. He recognized them as Demotic Egyptian.
Brian has created a website, BookofMormonHeartland.com, and is sharing podcasts. These podcasts reveal interesting information about “Voices from the dust,” They reveal the Book of Mormon story in North America, and Christ sharing the fullness of the gospel here in North America.
I Highly Recommend “Voices From The Dust”
Robert makes the three volumes “Voices From the Dust” (The Record Of The Nephiy – Sefer Ha-Zikkaron Am Nephiy) available at his cost on Amazon. It is also available as Kindle.
The Hebraisms he saw when he went to the temple were profound to him as well. How blessed we are to have Robert Kay’s contribution – another grand witness to the divinity of the Book of Mormon. This book can do more than any other in bringing the people of the world closer to God and to know that Jesus is the Christ:
19 that they may be persuaded
20 that Yehoshuah is the Mashiach
21 the Chosen Son of the living Elohiym
Page 342 of Volume 3, where Mormon closes with his testimony “unto the unbelieving of the Jews;” (Mormon 5:14). If you have a Jewish friend, tell him about Rob’s books: “Voices from the dust.” (See: Isaiah 29:4) We live in that day when the Jews and the Lamanites are to believe in Christ. They have a great mission to fulfill.
David W Allan