BM-KJV and JE-Enos

Annotation of Enos – preliminary  

Enos is a good example because it shows that a high percentage of its language is also KJV language. Few of the KJV words/phrases are not also found in Edwards, including the so-called "blended" passages.

The blue Book of Mormon words/phrases in the annotation are nonbiblical and also not found in Edwards. In some cases noted below, the nonbiblical language is close to Edwards (e.g., plural instead of singular). There are several examples in the Book of Mormon of paraphrased or misquoted passages from the KJV that are identical to paraphrased or misquoted KJV passages in Edwards' works.

The red words/phrases are nonbiblical Book of Mormon wording that are also found in Edwards' works as available on the Yale database, which includes most but not all of the 1808 edition, as well as material not included in the 1808 edition.

Purple are nonbiblical Book of Mormon words/phrases similar to Edwards.

Naturally, Edwards is not the only person who ever used this nonbiblical Book of Mormon terminology. English is a common language or we couldn't understand one another. But the ready availability of Edwards' works in Palmyra during Joseph's youth indicates that Edwards was a possible source for Joseph's vocabulary that he used when translating the plates.

Bold = KJV 

Blue = nonbiblical BofM/D&C/PGP w/o JE 

Red = nonbiblical BofM/D&C/PGP and JE 

Purple = nonbiblical BofM/D&C/PGP similar to JE

Chapter 1

Enos prays mightily and gains a remission of his sins—The voice of the Lord comes into his mind, promising salvation for the Lamanites in a future day—The Nephites sought to reclaim the Lamanites—Enos rejoices in his Redeemer. About 420 B.C.

1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man—for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord[1]—and blessed be the name of my God[2] for it—

2 And I will tell you of the wrestle[3] which I had before God, before I received a remission[4] of[5] my sins.

3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts[6] in the forests; and the words which I had often heard[7] my father speak concerning eternal life[8], and the joy of the saints[9], sunk deep into my heart[10].

4 And my soul hungered[11]; and I kneeled down[12] before my Maker[13], and I cried unto him in mighty prayer[14] and supplication[15] for mine own soul; and all the day long[16] did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night[17] came[18] I did still raise my voice[19] high that it reached the heavens[20].

5 And there came a voice[21] unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie[22]; wherefore, my guilt was swept away[23].

7 And I said: Lord, how is it done[24]?

8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard[25] nor seen. And many years pass away[26] before he shall manifest himself[27] in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole[28].

9 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to[29] feel a desire[30] for[31] the welfare of[32] my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul[33] unto God for them.

10 And while I was thus struggling[34] in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind[35] again, saying: I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence[36] in keeping[37] my commandments. I have given unto them this land, and it is a holy land[38]; and I curse it not save it be for the cause of iniquity[39]; wherefore, I will visit thy brethren according as[40] I have said; and their transgressions will I bring[41] down[42] with sorrow[43] upon their own heads.

11 And after I, Enos, had heard these words, my faith began[44] to be unshaken[45] in the Lord; and I prayed unto him with many long[46] strugglings[47] for my brethren, the Lamanites.

12 And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence[48], the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith.

13 And now behold, this was the desire[49] which I desired of him—that if it should so be, that my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression[50], and by any means[51] be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be[52] by the power of his holy arm[53], that it might be brought forth at some future day[54] unto the Lamanites, that, perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation—

14 For at the present our strugglings were vain in restoring them to the true faith. And they swore in their wrath[55] that, if it were possible, they would destroy our records and us, and also all the traditions of our fathers.

15 Wherefore, I knowing that the Lord God was able to preserve our records, I cried unto him continually, for he had said unto me: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ[56], ye shall receive it.

16 And I had faith, and I did cry unto God that he would preserve the records; and he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time.

17 And I, Enos, knew it would be according to the covenant which he had made; wherefore my soul did rest[57].

18 And the Lord said unto me: Thy fathers have also required of[58] me this thing; and it shall be done unto them according to their faith[59]; for their faith was like unto thine.

19 And now it came to pass that I, Enos, went about among the people of Nephi, prophesying of things to come, and testifying of the things which I had heard and seen.

20 And I bear record[60] that the people of Nephi did seek diligently[61] to restore the Lamanites unto the true faith[62] in God. But our labors were vain[63]; their hatred was fixed[64], and they were led by their evil nature[65] that they became wild, and ferocious[66], and a blood-thirsty[67] people, full of[68] idolatry[69] and filthiness[70]; feeding upon beasts of prey; dwelling in tents[71], and wandering about[72] in the wilderness with a short skin girdle[73] about their loins and their heads shaven[74]; and their skill was in the bow, and in the cimeter, and the ax. And many of them did eat nothing save it was raw meat[75]; and they were continually seeking[76] to destroy us.

21 And it came to pass that the people of Nephi did till the land, and raise all manner of grain, and of fruit, and flocks[77] of herds, and flocks of all manner of cattle of every kind, and goats, and wild goats, and also many horses.

22 And there were exceedingly many prophets among us. And the people were a stiffnecked people, hard to understand[78].

23 And there was nothing save it was exceeding harshness[79], preaching and prophesying[80] of wars, and contentions[81], and destructions[82], and continually reminding[83] them of death, and the duration of[84] eternity, and the judgments and the[85] power of God[86], and all these things—stirring them up[87] continually to keep them in the fear of the Lord[88]. I say there was nothing short of[89] these things, and exceedingly great plainness[90] of speech, would keep them from going down[91] speedily to destruction. And after this manner[92] do I write concerning them.

24 And I saw wars between the Nephites and Lamanites in the course of[93] my days[94].

25 And it came to pass that I began to be old, and an hundred and seventy and nine years had passed away from the time that our father Lehi left Jerusalem.

26 And I saw that I must soon go down to my grave, having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth[95] which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it[96] above that of the world[97].

27 And I soon go[98] to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal[99] shall put on immortality[100], and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure[101], and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared[102] for you in the mansions of[103] my Father. Amen.

(Enos 1–1:27)

[1] NT (1) BM (1) JE (8)

[2] OT (2) NT (10 BM (4) PGP (1) JE (3)

[3] BM (1) JE (2) JE: “as the angel seemed to strive against Jacob in the wrestle” “he Conquered in the wrestle that he had with G”

[4] “remission” NT (10) BM (28) DC (19) PGP (3) JE (100)

[5] “a remission of” BM (18) DC (3)

[6] BM (1)

[7] BM (1) JE (20) JE: “it will have a tendency greatly to stumble unconverted persons; for they have often heard that conversion makes a great change; and they expect, and that justly, that there should be a remarkable difference in their behavior from what used to be.” “They have often heard that conversion is a work of mighty power, manifesting to the soul what no man nor angel can give such a conviction of; but it seems to them that the things that they see are so plain, and easy, and rational, that anybody can see them:”

[8] BM (1)

[9] BM (1) JE (5) JE: “The labors of faithful ministers are ordinarily the principal means of the joy of the saints in Christ Jesus, in their fellowship with their spiritual bridegroom in this world; 2 Corinthians 1:24, "We are helpers of your joy." They are the instruments that God makes use of for the "bringing up" the church” “the Joy of saints is a Joy in God” “6. Consid the despair in which you shall see the Joy of the saints” “the appointed time of the Joy of the saints shall see their Joy” “This is a very Great difference & main difference between the Joy of true saints & the Joy of Hypocrites” “Their Joy is from deceit the Joy of the saints is from truth”

[10] “sunk deep” BM (1) Brainerd: “in the evening my heart was sunk , and I seemed to have no God to go to” “There seemed to [be] so great likelihood of it that the hearts of the people sunk within them; they gave up the case. It is said, "The heart of Ahaz and his people was moved as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.’ “The last week I was sunk so low, that I fear it will be a long time, 'ere I shall be recovered. I fell exceedingly low in the weekly account. I find my heart so deceitful, that I am almost discouraged from making any more resolutions.” “without having his heart sunk by the thoughts of his Loss. his heart is whole “ “she was sick & had her heart sunk with her disappointmt of that opportunity of communion with him “

[11] BM (1)

[12] BM (1) PGP (1)

[13] OT (3) BM (2) JE (1)

[14] BM (6) DC (2)

[15] “prayer and supplication” OT (2) NT (3) BM (2) PGP (1) JE (10)

[16] OT (12) NT (1) BM (12) DC (1) JE (7)

[17] BM (11) DC (1) JE (3) JE:  “this is the day that God has appointed for us to work in and when the night Comes then no man Can work [ Joh 9. 4 ] “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)

[18] “when the night came” BM (8)

[19] BM (1)

[20] BM (1)

[21] OT (1) NT (3) BM (4) DC (1) PGP (1) JE (1)

[22] BM (1) JE (1) JE : « Yea it is an absolute contradiction to suppose, that he should believe what God declared to him, for any other reason [than this], viz. that his own private judgment told him that God was omniscient, and could not lie , etc

[23] OT (1) BM (2) DC (2) JE (10)

[24] BM (1)

[25] BM (1) JE (1) Brainerd: “they being just then removing from this place (where they only lived for the present) to Susquehanna River where they belonged. While I was preaching they appeared sober and attentive, and were somewhat surprised, having never before heard of these things.”

[26] BM (1)

[27] BM (14) DC (1) JE (40) JE: “He stands ready then especially to hear prayers, to accept of religious services, to meet his people, to manifest himself to 'em on this day, to give his Holy Spirit and blessing to those that diligently and conscientiously sanctify it.”

[28] NT (5) BM (1)

[29] “began to feel” BM (1) JE (3)

[30] BM (1)

[31] “a desire for” BM (2) JE (3) Brainerd: “I told him I had a desire for my comfort and happiness to teach him the Christian religion.”

[32] OT (2) BM (1) JE (80)

[33] OT (1) BM (1) JE (9) Brainerd: “My whole soul cried, "Lord, to thee I dedicate myself: Oh, accept of me and let me be thine forever!”

[34] BM (1) JE (70)

[35] OT (2) BM (1) JE (10) JE: “And as I was walking there, and looked up on the sky and clouds; there came into my mind , so sweet a sense of the glorious majesty and grace of God, that I know not how to express.”

[36] BM (1)

[37] “diligence  in keeping” BM (3)

[38] OT (1) BM (1) DC (1) JE (10)

[39] BM (1)

[40] OT (23) NT (10) BM (21) DC (12) JE (100+)

[41] “bring down with sorrow” BM (1)

[42] “down with sorrow” BM (4) JE (1) JE: “cast down with sorrow”

[43] OT (4) BM (12) DC (1) JE (40)

[44] BM (1) JE (1) JE: “when Peter saw it, his faith began to fail; and he began to sink”

[45] BM (4) JE (10) JE: (1808 but not Yale) “heaven and earth should shake, you may stand firm and unshaken, being settled on a rock, which cannot be moved.”

[46] “many long” BM (1) JE (3)

[47] BM (3) JE (10) JE: “whereby he has appeared to me, far above all, the chief of ten thousands. And his blood and atonement has appeared sweet, and his righteousness sweet; which is always accompanied with an ardency of spirit, and inward strugglings and breathings and groanings, that cannot be uttered, to be emptied of myself, and swallowed up in Christ.”

[48] OT (1) BM (10) JE (25)

[49] BM (3)

[50] BM (10) DC (1)

[51] OT (2) NT (10) BM (9) JE (100)

[52] BM (37) DC (3)

[53] OT (2) BM (5) DC (1) JE (5)

[54] BM (2) JE (4) JE: “still I intreat you to remember and consider the rules which I have often laid down to you, during my ministry, with a solemn regard to the future day when you and I must meet together before our Judge”

[55] BM (1)

[56] BM (1)

[57] BM (1)

[58] OT (4) NT (3) BM (2) DC (3) JE (100+)

[59] BM (12) DC (3)

[60] NT (4) BM (27) DC (19) PGP (2) JE (4)

[61] NT (1) BM (1) DC (4)

[62] BM (4) JE (100)

[63] BM (1)

[64] OT (4) NT (1) BM (3) DC (3) PGP (2) JE (100s) JE : The less apt he is to be afraid of natural evil, having "his heart fixed , trusting in God," and so, "not afraid of evil tidings" [Psalms 112:7]

[65] BM (1) JE (20)

[66] BM (6)

[67] OT (1) BM (3) JE (7) JE: “'Tis the same sort of deliverance from cruel, bloodthirsty enemies that the psalmist speaks of, that the Israelites were delivered from”

[68] “full of idolatry” BM (1)

[69] OT (1) NT (4) BM (6) DC (1) PGP (2) JE (100s) JE : The air may be said to groan to give breath to these vile wretches who abuse it in filthiness and foolish talking, to the dishonor of God, and to the scandal of their neighbors; it groans to furnish men with breath that is abused in idolatry by the false worship of the true God, or the worship of creatures which is abominable in his sight

[70] OT (12) NT (4) BM (17) PGP (1) JE (100s)

[71] OT (1) BM (1) JE (4) JE : «  in commemoration of their dwelling in tents in the wilderness”

[72] NT (1) BM (1) JE (9)

[73] OT (330 NT (5) BM (8) JE (26) NT: « 6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;(Mark 1:6)

[74] BM (1)

[75] BM (2)

[76] BM (1) JE (3)

[77] OT (80) BM (77) DC (2) PGP (5) JE (100)

[78] BM (1) JE (2)

[79] BM (2) JE (5)

[80] BM (3)

[81] OT (4) NT (2) BM (54) DC (2) JE (100)

[82] OT (3) BM (8) DC (2) JE (30)

[83] BM (1) “remind(s) JE (3)

[84] BM (1) JE (70) JE: “To think of an eternity of this torment remaining, O! how will it fill and overbear and sink down the poor soul; how will the thought of a duration of this torment, that shall never never end, cause the heart to melt like wax; how will the thought as it were sink it into a bottomless abyss of darkness and gloominess.”

[85] “judgments and the power » BM (1)

[86] NT (14) BM (56) DC (12) JE (100+)

[87] BM (3) JE (5) JE: “Men may do good to others' souls by taking pains to instruct the ignorant and lead them into the knowledge of the great things of religion, and by counseling and warning others and stirring them up to their duty, and to a seasonable and thorough care of their soul's welfare;”

[88] OT (26) NT (1) BM (10) PGP (1) JE (55)

[89] BM (1) JE (35) JE: “But nothing short of an apparent probability, or a probable exhibition, can amount to a visibility to the eye of man's reason or judgment. The eye which God has given to man is the eye of reason; and the eye of a Christian is reason sanctified, regulated, and enlightened by a principle of Christian love.” “And we should make the perfection of heaven our mark. We should rest in nothing short of this, but be pressing towards this mark, and laboring continually to be coming nearer and nearer to it,:

[90] NT (1) BM (15) DC (1) JE (65) NT: « Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:” (2 Corinthians 3:12)

[91] OT (18) NT (1) BM (3) JE (60)

[92] OT (11) NT (5) BM (34) DC (2) JE (100)

[93] OT (1) NT (3) BM (7) JE (100s)

[94] OT (18) BM (14) JE (30)

[95] NT (1) BM (7) JE (4)

[96] BM (1) JE (4) JE: “He prized it and rejoiced in it above all other blessings of his reign”

[97] BM (1)

[98] BM (60 JE (5)

[99] BM (1)

[100] NT (2) BM (4) JE (8) NT: ‘this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53)

[101] OT (1) BM (1) JE (35) JE : « 'Tis impossible that anyone should see anything that appears to him excellent and not behold it with pleasure”

[102] NT (1) BM (2) DC (1) JE (3)

[103] BM (4) DC (3) JE (2)