Show Notes
Did Nephi really have the five books of Moses on the brass plates? Critics say it’s impossible—that the Torah didn’t exist in its current form by 600 BC. But is that the full story?
In this episode of Informed Saints, Jasmin Rappleye, Neal Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot break down the documentary hypothesis, source criticism, and the dating of the Pentateuch—and explain why the so-called “consensus” isn’t as settled as Wikipedia makes it sound. Drawing on the research of scholars like Richard Elliott Friedman, Jacob Milgrom, Menahem Haran, and William Schniedewind, they show that a proto-Torah existing by Lehi’s time is far more plausible than critics admit.
We also explore:
What the J, E, D, and P sources actually are (and why no one agrees anymore) Why archaeology and historical linguistics challenge the late dating of the priestly source How the tabernacle traditions connect to Bronze Age Egypt Why Nephi’s “five books of Moses” may not have looked like our Bible today The case for Moses as an originator—not necessarily the “author”—of the Pentateuch How the brass plates may preserve lost Northern Kingdom traditions
===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye
Neal’s full paper is available in “Open Thou Mine Eyes: Defending the Old Testament and Latter-day Saint Doctrine” published by FAIR. https://fairlatterdaysaints.org/store/product/open-thou-mine-eyes-defending-the-old-testament-in-latter-day-saint-doctrine/
Further Resources: https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/king-benjamins-speech-context-ancient-israelite-festivals https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/why-did-the-nephites-stay-in-their-tents-during-king-benjamins-speech https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/abinadi-andpentecost https://scripturecentral.org/archive/media/chart/did-abinadi-prophesy-against-king-noah-pentecost https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/did-abinadi-prophesy-during-pentecost https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/the-sonsofthepassover https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/were-nephite-prophets-familiar-with-the-passover-tradition https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/did-alma-counsel-his-sons-during-the-passover https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-tabernacle-in-its-ancient-near-eastern-context http://www.sofiatopia.org/maat/shabaka_stone.htm https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/the-brass-plates-can-modern-scholar...
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