Smith, Ethan. View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes of Israel in America.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

Smith & Shute

Poultney (Vermont)

1825

Second edition.

Singerman 431;, 280; Sabin 82540.

Proto-Mormonism: Ethan Smith’s attempt to identify the Lost Tribes of Israel with the North American Indians. This claim would be mirrored by Joseph Smith five years later with the printing of the Book of Mormon. This is the second edition of View of the Hebrews, which is believed Smith used to write his Book of Mormon. Claims of plagiarism were leveled at Joseph Smith at the time, which he vehemently denied. View of the Hebrews is the most famous of all Mormon parallels. See B.H. Roberts, Mormon Parallels, 399.