|
Page 1 of 30 In my presentations, CD's, tapes, firesides or this web site, I do not
wish to imply historical or theological connections between the various
beliefs identified and the Latter-day-Saints, many people may think
there are such connections, but that is up to the individual to draw
such conclusions. As mentioned elsewhere I do research on the basis
that the basic tenet of the Latter-day Saint position is that THE
GOSPEL IS A RESTORATION. A restoration of ideas, doctrines, practices,
and related teachings not only from the time of the Primitive Church,
but also of all earlier dispensations. If the restoration is valid
there should be similarities between not only writings of the Dead Sea
Scrolls, but of other religious groups of other historical periods and
locales. It is obvious to those who study the Gospel restored by Joseph
Smith that it was clearly and deeply rooted in the Old Testament. Just
review the keys that were restored to Joseph, most were from Old
Testament Figures. While the Dead Sea Scrolls provide many such
similarities there are other groups that are also rich in parallels,
including the MANDEANS, ZORISTRIANS, MANICHEANS, SYRIC, ARMENIAN AND
COPTIC TEACHINGS, NATIVE AMERICAN, CENTRAL AMERICAN, ANCIENT CHINESE,
SOUTH AMERICAN, SLAVIC and many others as my more than 70 tapes and
CD's reflect. A good resource reference for understanding this approach
and limitation is: THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS-QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES FOR
LATTER-DAY SAINTS by Donald W. Parry and Stephen D. Ricks, as well as
many other excellent booklets and publications being provided by FARMS,
to which all Latter Day Saints ought to subscribe. Non LDS might find
their list of publications most interesting as well. I will include a partial list of such similarities and parallels
to Mormon doctrine and practices that I have found in my studies of the
various Dead Sea Scrolls, and in books by many authors dealing with the
subject of the Scrolls. I will be trying to not duplicate efforts made
by FARMS and Hugh Nibley in their many publications. Some of the
information and materials are included in papers that I prepared as
early as 1954 and published by BYU, and tapes that were prepared by
1974, before FARMS was formed and their preparation and publication of
all of the works of NIBLEY. My personal Library includes more than 800
titles on the Dead Sea Scrolls, accumulated as they were being
published, beginning in 1951. Most of them are now out of print.
I will refer to various scrolls and publications, and those books
and authors that I will refer to the most include: THE DEAD SEA
SCRIPTURES IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION by THEODOR H. GASTER (referred to
hereafter as GASTER). THE SECRETS OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS by HUGH J.
SCHONFIELD, (SCHONFIELD), the DEAD SEA MANUAL OF DISCIPLINE by WILLIAM
HUGH BROWNLEE (BROWNLEE), one of the first publications on the Dead Sea
Scrolls in 1951. THE SCROLLS AND CHRISTIAN ORIGINS, by MATHEW BLACK,
(BLACK), THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS, by A. DUPONT-SOMMER (SOMMER), THE DEAD
SEA SCROLLS AND PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY by JEAN DANIELOU (DANIELOU),
ESSAY ON THE SEMITIC BACKGROUND OF THE NEW TESTAMENT by JOSEPH A.
FITSMYER, (FITZMYER), DISCOVERY IN THE JUDAN DESERT, by GEZA VERMES,
(VERMES), DEAD SEA DISCOVERIES: MESSIANISM, VOL 2, NO. 2, JUNE 1995, by
JAMES C. VANDERKAM (VANDERKAM), THE BOOKS OF ENOCH, ARAMAIC FRAGMENTS
OF QUMRAN CAVE 4, Edited by J.I. MILIK, (MILIK), THE FAITH OF CUMRAN,
by ELMER RINGGREN (RINGGREN) and A GENESIS APOCRYPHON, by NAHMAN AVIGAD
& YIGAEL YADIN (YADIN), as well as others mentioned in the text.
SCROLLS are referred by cave number in which they were found, an
abbreviation for the scroll or some feature about it, and sometimes
some other identifying letter (1QS) . Fragments are identified by cave
and fragment number. (4Q376). This is not intended to be an exhaustive
study, but hopefully it will be sufficient to indicate the many avenues
that can be productively pursued.
I will number the ideas, practices, and doctrines, that seem to be
parallel or suggest some similarity to LDS doctrine and practices in
sequence for future reference and perhaps enlargement; sources can be
referred to for context.
- 1 - Prayer
- 2 - Restoration
- 3 - Church of Some Type
- 4 - Conclave
- 5 - Bishops and Presiding Bishops
- 6 - Godhead of Three
- 7 - Tithing
- 8 - Theology of History and a Plan
- 9 - Doctrine of Translation
- 10 - Restoration in Last Days
- 11 - Gifts of the Spirit and Crown of Glory and Garments of Glory
- 12 - Laying of of Hands for Healing
- 13 - Dwell with God on an Eternal Height in Eternal Light and Fill the Universe with Your Seed
- 14 - Genealogy
- 15 - Tradition of Buried Records
- 16 - Peculiear Manner of Burying the Scrolls
- 17 - New Name and Key Words
- 18 - Angels-Prophets-Ancient Writings-Prophecies
- 19 - Patriarchal Blessings
- 10 - Temple to be Built in Last Days
- 21 - World to be Destroyed by Fire
- 22 - New Jerusalem
- 23 - Melchizedek
- 24 - Messianic Vision
- 25 - Urim and Thummim
- 26 - Zenos a Lost Prophet
- 27 - The Devil, Satan
- 28 - Baptismal Rites
- 29 - Elect of God
- 30 - Proclaiming Salvation and an Assembly of Gods
- 31 - The Ten Copies of Isaiah in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Book of Mormon
- 32 - Two Witnesses
- 33 - Prophets
|
