The Book of Moses is an extract from Joseph Smith's inspired translation of the Bible and was originally recorded between June 1830 and March 1831 (source). It was published serially in church newspapers and later included in the 1851 edition (and later editions) of the Pearl of Great Price (source). The Book of Moses includes a great deal more about the Prophet Enoch than is found in today's bible (which gives us a mere 4 verses).
”And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:21-24
Writers in the New Testament allude to the Books of Enoch which were evidently very important to the ancient Jews and to the early church. Though they are not canononical, the 5 books of Enoch have now been translated into English. The first was translated in 1821 and could have conceivably been sourced by Joseph Smith in his writing of the Book of Moses but the other 4 volumes either hadn't been translated or hadn't even been discovered in 1851.
How might we account, other than by the supernatural means claimed by Joseph Smith, for the parallels and points of contact between these books separated by at least couple of millenia?
- Mahijah. The Book of Moses says that the wicked men who opposed Enoch and his preaching sent a man named Mahijah to confront Enoch and ask him questions. Here is the text:
39 And it came to pass when they heard him, no man laid hands on him; for fear came on all them that heard him; for he walked with God. 40 And there came a man unto him, whose name was Mahijah, and said unto him: Tell us plainly who thou art, and from whence thou comest?
Among the Dead Sea Scrolls, there is a fragment of a document speaking of Enoch which states:
” [Thereupon] all the giants [and the nephilim] took fright and they summoned Mahujah and he came to them: And the giants asked him and sent him to Enoch […] saying to him: Go then […] and under pain of death you must […] and listen to his voice; and tell him that he is to explain to you and to interpret the dreams.” Dead Sea Scrolls 4QEnGiants 1:20
- In the Book of Moses, Enoch is shown the wickedness of mankind, and he weeps in sorrow
44 And as Enoch saw this, he had bitterness of soul, and wept over his brethren
In 2 Enoch, Enoch sees the wickedness of mankind and weeps
And I (Enoch) sighed and burst into tears, and I said concerning their disreputable depravity, Oh how miserable . 2 Enoch 41:1
- The Book of Moses claims that Enoch foretold that God’s people would be established in “Jerusalem:”
For there shall be my tabernacle and it shall be called Zion, a new Jerusalem. Moses 7:62.
Among the Dead Sea Scrolls and in a document called the Testament of Levi, it claims that Enoch prophesied that the chosen people would be called Jerusalem:
For the house which the Lord shall choose shall be called Jerusalem, as the Book of Enoch the Righteous maintains. Testament of Levi 10:4
(There's nothing amazing about Joseph Smith prophesying about Jerusalem in 1835 but to be able to accurately put those words into Enoch's mouth would be an incredible stroke of luck)
- The Book of Moses states that Enoch possessed writings from Adam and the other patriarchs:
”And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirits of inspiration….” The chapter describes the gospel as revealed to Adam. Moses 6: 5, 51-68
"For I will give you an intercessor, Enoch; Michael, on account of your handwritings and the handwritings of your fathers–Adam and Seth. They will not be destroyed until the final age. For I have commanded my angels to guard them and to command the things of time to preserve the handwritings of your fathers so that they might not perish in the impending flood." 2 Enoch 33:11-12
- he Book of Moses claims that the animals roared and cried out during the ministry of Enoch:
”And …[Enoch] led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, … and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly. Moses 7:13
”Ohyah the enemy of Enoch) … by the strength of my power, [I had attacked] all flesh and I have made war with them . . . they live in holy abodes, and … they are more powerful than I. [Thereupon …] the roaring of the wild beasts came and the multitude of the wild animals began to cry out.” 4Q En Giants Frg 8
- these similarities involve very unique and even strange claims about Enoch. Others include:
- God shows Enoch all the people that would inhabit the earth
- God shows Enoch the pre-mortal existence of mankind
- God calls Enoch to preach, even though he is young and intimidated by older men. The Book of Moses calls Enoch “but a lad.” The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment refers to Enoch as a “mere youth.”
- Enoch is placed upon God’s throne by God Himself
- The writings of Enoch will be preserved and restored at a later time
- Enoch is clothed with glory
- Enoch is shown in vision the saints resurrected
None of the parallels I chose came From 1 Enoch. I chose only those that were from the other four volumes, the ones completely unavailable to Joseph Smith. It doesn't matter that the Books of Enoch aren't canononical or even that they may be from a time much later than Enoch. It is sufficient that they are authentically ancient and unavailable to Joseph.