Some interesting details from Alma 51.
Verse 16: "first care" is an unusual nonbiblical BofM word that appears 1x in BofM and 4 times in JE.
In Alma, it was Moroni's "first care" to end contention.
For it was his first care to put an end to such contentions and dissensions among the people; for behold, this had been hitherto a cause of all their destruction. (Alma 51:16)
In Edwards, it was the "first care" of "politic men" to secure peace and prevent contention:
Their country may depend upon them. If they are wise and seeing and politic men, they will improve their policy to establish and advance the good of the land, and not to advance themselves and supplant others. The securing of the public peace will be their first care.A spirit of true piety would prevent the prevailing of a spirit of contention which divides a kingdom against itself and therefore tends to its overthrow.
"Dissentions" is another non-biblical term that Edwards uses 5x, such as here: "“Though they are under the greatest obligations to live in peace, above persons in almost any relation whatever; and although contests and dissensions between persons so related, are the most unhappy and terrible in their consequences, on many accounts, of any sort of contentions; yet how frequent have such contentions been?”
Alma 51 referrs to "king-men" and "nobility." "Nobility" is a nonbiblical term Edwards uses 5x, although not in this specific passage. But in this passage, Edwards writes about "men in public places" and "a call to rulers and those who are set in eminent stations carefully to purge themselves from all iniquity."
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Verse 33. "much fatigue" is a nonbiblical BofM word that appears 1x in BofM and 2x in JE.
behold, sleep had overpowered them because of their much fatigue, which was caused by the labors and heat of the day. (Alma 51:33)
That struck me as unusual so I did a search. "Fatigue" is a nonbiblical term that appears 6x in the Book of Mormon. The phrase "much fatigue" is unique to verse 33. I expanded the search and found a similar unique phrase in 1 Nephi. The past tense "much fatigued" is 1X BofM and 3x Edwards.
being much fatigued, because of their journeying
(1 Nephi 16:19)
(1 Nephi 16:19)
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Next I looked at Edwards. The following results are in An Account of the Life of the Reverend Mr. David Brainerd, which Edwards edited and published. This was a popular manual for Christian missionaries. Although I did not see it listed for sale in the Palmyra bookstore, excerpts were included in the 8 volume set of Edwards' work and I assume the Brainerd book was so widely distributed, Joseph (and/or Oliver) would have had access to it. It would have been of particular interest to them because Brainerd was a missionary to the Indians.
The similarities between Brainerd and the Book of Mormon are apparent in these examples:
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Monday, December 26. Rode down to Stockbridge. Was very much fatigued with my journey, wherein I underwent great hardship
Monday, May 28. Set out from the Indians above the Forks of Delaware, on a journey towards Newark in New Jersey, according to my orders. Rode through the wilderness; was much fatigued with the heat
Tuesday, September 9. Rode down the river near 30 miles. Was extreme weak, and much fatigued, and wet with a thunderstorm.
Edwards' editorial insert: "In which journey he suffered much fatigue and hardship. He visited some Indians in the way, and discoursed with them concerning Christianity."
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