The signal for finger 1 is for him to repeat, and it came to pass whenever it appears in the book of mormon. Add to this derivatives of the phrase such as now it came to pass, for behold it came to pass, but behold it came to pass and and it shall come to pass, and it adds up to over 1500 times. Twain nicknamed smith s production the book of ether. A mormon acquaintance once pushed mark twain into an argument on the issue of polygamy. However, the phrase is very typical of ancient texts. In the present edition of the book of mormon it came to pass occurs 1297 times. Samuel langhorne clemens november 30, 1835 april 21, 1910, better known by his pen name mark twain, was an american author and humorist. How many times does the book of mormon use the phrase it. In return, ali gave wilke an autographed what is islam.
We may justifiably join mark twain in wondering why this phrase is used in the book of mormon ad nauseum a fancy phrase that means until we are literally sick. Compare the book of mormon 1830 edition, 2 nephi, chapter xii, p. Mark twain says what he thinks of joseph smith the following is the full text of chapter 16 of mark twain s roughing it 1872, his account of his experiences in salt lake city, the mormon capital, on his way west. However, as a valid criticism of the book of mormon it does not hold up. Mark twain, mormonism, and polygamy the puritan board. Mark twain meets the mormons the salamander society. Incidentally, for the interest of young families, finger signal 2 is and thus we see. And it came to pass that i prayed unto the lord that he would give unto the gentiles grace, that they might have charity. Roughing it chapter xvi the mormon bible proofs of. We may justifiably join mark twain in wondering why this phrase is used in the book of mormon ad nauseum a fancy phrase that. How elvis, mark twain, lincoln, khrushchev and others. Why is the phrase and it came to pass so prevalent in. But he does have a great piece on a grandiose 19th century churchbuilding project, a new beecher church. The book of mormon what is the mark of cain in the.
He didnt think much of its literary style, but he did find it useful as a cure for insomnia. The sad part about this is that my mother sits and reads the book of mormon when she needs to take her naps and believes she is getting closer to god this way. All men have heard of the mormon bible, but few except the elect have seen it, or, at least, taken the trouble to read it. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. When he put down his pen at the close of that manuscript, he was just three months away from his fortyeighth birthday. View entire discussion 16 comments more posts from the exmormon community. What mark twain really thought about mormons lds living. And it came to pass anyone who reads the book of mormon bom will notice that the phrase and it came to pass is used way too often. The phrase it came to pass is found in almost 1500 places in the book of mormon, and in over 500 places in the bible.
Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Mark twain once joked that if joseph smith had left out the many instances of and it came to pass from the book of mormon, the book would have been only a. Here i summarize the apologetic responses and the scholarly information related to this issue. If any of my mormon readers take offense, i would note that twain was a religious sceptic and said various uncomplimentary things about other denominations, including the catholic church to which i belong. Jul 12, 2017 as for the book of mormons religious significance, mark twain put it as viciously as anyone could. The phrase and it came to pass, appears 727 times in the king james version of the old testament. In this respect, the book reflects the contemporary attitudes of joseph smiths new england upbringing in early 19th century america. As we have in mitt romney our first serious mormon contender for the u. The book of mormon claims to be another testament of jesus christ, a companion to the holy bible. As it turns out, however, this muchmaligned phrase is actually evidence of the book of mormons authentic antiquity. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets.
With the publication of that book and hucks intended, though undoubtedly never realized, return to the frontier, mark twain passed over a threshold as decisively as a doubleminded man was able. No, it looks to me like mark twain had it exactly right. Didnt mark twain criticize the book of mormon for its frequent usage of it came to pass. The author labored to give his words and phrases the quaint, oldfashioned sound and structure of our king jamess translation of the scriptures. The author labored to give his words and phrases the quaint, oldfashioned sound and structure of.
How can mark twain say that it is tiresome and stupid. Whenever he found his speech growing too modernwhich was about every sentence or twohe ladled in a few such scriptural phrases as exceeding sore, and it came to pass, etc. Mark twain werent no great shakes in the home stretch. Kate field, a record by lilian whiting little, brown, and co. Roughing it is a very entertaining book that solidified samuel clements reputation has americas favorite author. There are, however, some very good reasons behind the usage of the phrase. If joseph smith composed this book, the act was a miracle keeping awake while he did it was, at any rate. The mormon bible is rather stupid and tiresome to read, but there is nothing vicious in its. Chloroform in print does the book of mormon get a bad rap.
Mark twain read the book of mormon and, knowing what smith would have read, not to mention knowing about frontier fakery, came to conclusions about both the sources of its prose and the sequence. Mark twain once joked that if joseph smith had left out the many instances of and it came to pass from the book of mormon, the book would have been only a pamphlet. Wherefore it is an abridgment of the record of the people of nephi, and also of the lamanites. Jul 25, 2006 as to coming across the book of mormon seeming fishy id like to point out a few things here. Mark twain ebooks epub and pdf downloads ebookmall. Roughing it, hartford, conn american publishing co. Dec 07, 2018 the book of mormon has always been in my library since childhood, although not a mormon, but well read in lds teachings and assertions i liked this version of the book as it is not to big to carry on buses and subways and easy to read. The book of mormon helped to convert or strengthen almost all active members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, so they love to give the book to others.
What was meant to be funny quickly became biting, but it seems twain didnt start out to be antagonistic towards the church. And it came to pass in helaman the annotated bible. Jun, 2010 the rest of chapter 16 of roughing it, by mark twain. Humorist mark twain once quipped that if that phrase were removed entirely from the book of mormon, the book would be a mere pamphlet. However, mark twain s writings about mormons were based on a single trip to the nevada territory, where mark twain crossed paths with the mormons when his entourage stopped in salt lake city for two days. Mark twain joked that if the phrase, and it came to pass, were removed from the book of mormon, it would be just a pamphlet. Oct, 2005 i have a book of twain s humor articles, the complete humorous sketches and tales of mark twain. And now it came to pass that when jesus had ascended into heaven, the multitude did disperse, and every man did take his wife and his children, and did return to. Mark twain s reactions to the mormons he met in salt lake city and the their newly founded religion, as found in roughing it. A new childrens book by mark twain the washington post. And it came to pass after a day of fighting that coriantumr, upon making a calculation of his losses found that there had been slain two millions of mighty men and also all of their wives and all of their children. Detailing the authors voyages throughout europe and the middle east, twain maintains a mostly lighthearted critique of the experience. For the first time in years im actually grateful i live in utah. Christ is our salvation, and the book of mormon declares that message unequivocally to the world.
If he had left that out, his bible would have been only a pamphlet. He once joked that if you took it came to pass out of the book of mormon it would be just a pamphlet. Currently im taking a break from my usual fare of nonfiction science type books to delve into mark twain. Jun 07, 2010 mark twain powned the book of mormon in chapter 16 of roughing it. Walker mark twain, pondering the question of concentration of the book of mormon, opined, if joseph smith had left that and it came to pass out, his bible would have been only a pamphlet. Samuel langhorne clemens november 30, 1835 april 21, 1910, known by his pen name mark twain, was an american writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer he was lauded as the greatest humorist the united states has produced, and william faulkner called him the father of american literature. The founder of mormonism, joseph smith declared that the book of mormon was the most correct of any. Rao on the purloining of prince oleomargarine, a new childrens book by the authorillustrator team of philip and erin stead, using notes from mark twain. I have to admit that i love the fact that the phrase appears so often. Mark twain famously quipped that if joseph smith would have left out the phrase it came to pass, the book of mormon would have only been a short pamphlet roughing it, hartford, ct.
And it came to pass that on the morrow, when the multitude was gathered together, behold, nephi and his brother whom he had raised from. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. After a long and tedious exposition justifying the practice, the mormon demanded that twain cite any passage of scripture expressly forbidding the practice of plural marriage. In the 1830s book of mormon, you have 268,709 words. The complicated backstory to a new childrens book by mark twain. However, this phrase also occurs 457 times in the kjv of the old testament. They are considered a companion of the bible, and to be used in conjunction with. Mark twains mormon girlfriend alan manning, professor of linguistics at byu, discusses his new article about the evidence he believes points to a mormon girlfriend in twains past. The neighbors began to persecute, and apostasy commenced. Twain directs his typical sarcasm at young, and not at all appreciative. The book seems to be merely a prosy detail of imaginary history, with the old testament for a model. The voice over comes from, a public domain recording.
Well, it is chloroform in print according to mark twain. Mesoamerica and the book of mormon is this the place. Actually, the hebrew word wayehi is translated in the king james version of the bible as it came to pass, but it is also translated as it happened, came, had come, became, arose, was, now, and so forth. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. So, according to the book of mormon, not only is dark skin a curse, but interracial relationships are too. Hugh nibley nothing delighted the critics more than the monotonous repetition of it came to pass at the beginning of thousands of sentences in the book of mormon.
Mormon history mark twain s perspectives on mormonism. Samuel langhorne clemens november 30, 1835 april 21, 1910, known by his pen name mark twain, was an american writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. Hebraisms in the book of mormon judaicaworld archives. Mark twain called the book of mormon chloroform in print. Mark twain on the book of mormon 1861 truth and grace. Thanks to mark twain i was inspired to count all the times the phrase and it came to pass appears in the book of mormon. Did you know mark twain once praised mormon men for their. Mark twains mormon girlfriend byu college of humanities. For one, we do not consider the book of mormon, doctorine and covenants, or the pearl of great price, books of the bible.
During a trip out west, mark twain took along the book of mormon to while away the travel hours. Mark twain criticized the book of mormon for the frequent use of the phrase and it came to pass. Twains most successful book during his lifetime and one of the bestselling books of all time, the innocents abroad certainly has struck a cord with readers right across the globe. Mark twain quotes quotable quote all men have heard of the mormon bible, but few except the elect have seen it, or, at least, taken the trouble to read it. Mark twain famously joked that if the phrase were omitted, joseph would have published a pamphlet instead of a book.
An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. Even in the present edition of the book of mormon it came to pass occurs 1297 times. Thanks to mark twain i was inspired to count all the times the phrase and it. And on the fourth day, which we had been driven back, the tempest began to be exceeding sore. Finally he instituted his church in ohio and brigham young joined it. All quotations are from the book titled roughing it written by samuel l. Some readers wonder why these words occur so often in the book of mormon compared with the bible. Jun 01, 2010 the book seems to be merely a prosy detail of imaginary history, with the old testament for a model. Wherever he found his speech growing too modern which was about every sentence or two he ladled in a few such scriptural phrases as exceeding sore, and it came to pass, etc. By joseph smith keeping the it came to pass phrase in the book of mormon another testament of jesus christ, rather than do what translators of the bible typically did, and take the phrase out and replace it with other slightly less accurate to the original languages interpretation phrases.
In the summer of 1861, he accompanied his brother orion on the overland stage coach out west who had just been appointed the secretary of the nevada territory. And it was simple, unostentatious, and fitted like a glove. Some of his books begin with a roar and end with a squeak. In tune with the music of faith church of jesus christ. It was always too figurative for the author of this book. Nothing easier, twain replied, no man can serve two masters. This is the first of the 1297 times that ive counted, anyway that something comes to pass in the book of mormon. I would be surprised if this quote actually came from him, but who knows. I conversed with a rabbi about the book of mormon some time back, and he specifically. And it came to pass that i prayed unto the lord and after i had prayed the. The author labored to give his words and phrases the quaint, oldfashioned sound and structure of our. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your first box.
He was lauded as the greatest humorist the united states has produced, and william faulkner called him the father of american literature. The book of mormon is often poked fun of by critics for its excessive use of the phrase and it came to pass. The book of mormon is the keystone of our religion primarily because it is the most extended and definitive witness we have of the lord jesus christof our alpha and omega, the key stone, the chief cornerstone of the eternal gospel. Why is the phrase and it came to pass so prevalent in the book of mormon. There are 6765 words consisting of an it came to pass variant, or about 2. All men have heard of the mormon bible, but few except the elect have seen it. Has there been a pithier or more devastating antiblurb in literary history than mark twain s, of the book of mormon. To read more from taylor, visit his blog mark twain famously quipped that if joseph smith would have left out the phrase it came to pass, the book of mormon would have only been a short pamphlet roughing it, hartford, ct. If you remove the phrase and it came to pass the book would be a mere pamphlet, another mark twain quote about the book of mormon. Mark twain and the mormons by mark twain nook book ebook. The book of mormon is the number two best seller in the world behind the bible. Many remarks of his about the book of mormon were false and it seems as though he was pretty niave about the book and what the mormon church is all about. And, with that expectation, he turned for comfort to ether 12. As to coming across the book of mormon seeming fishy id like to point out a few things here.
Why it came to pass is one of the most significant. Mark twain powned the book of mormon in chapter 16 of roughing it. Joseph smith, the finder of the book of mormon and founder of the religion, was driven from state to state with his mysterious copperplates and the miraculous stones he read their inscriptions with. The rest of chapter 16 of roughing it, by mark twain. The book is a curiosity to me, it is such a pretentious affair, and yet so slow, so sleepy.
His novels include the adventures of tom sawyer 1876 and its sequel, the. And it came to pass that on the morrow, when the multitude was gathered together, behold, nephi and his brother whom he had raised from the dead, whose name was timothy, and also his son, whose name was jonas, and also mathoni, and mathonihah, his brother, and. The book of mormon is thus the story of hebrews that came to american over 2,000 years ago, and whos descendants we know as american indians. Why is the phrase and it came to pass so prevalent in the book of. Its one of the things you notice as soon as you start reading the book. And now it came to pass that when jesus had ascended into heaven, the multitude did disperse, and every man did take his wife and his children, and did return to his own home. Im scarcely halfway through, but i wanted to share one of my favorite chapters wherein mark twain describes his experiences with the mormons. The armorial crest of my own state consisted of two dissolute bears holding up the head of a dead and gone cask between them and making the pertinent remark, united, we standhic. And it came to pass that on the morrow, when the multitude was gathered together, behold, nephi and his brother whom he had raised from the dead, whose name was timothy, and also his son, whose name was jonas, and also. Sep 14, 2011 the bible when it is translated could have a lot more it came to pass phraseology.