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Lds Theology & The Book Of Enoch

It was hard to decide where to post this topic. It deals with subject matter that, strictly speaking, lies outside of LDS doctrine. On the other hand, I could not see a more appropriate board in the beliefs and traditions section for a discussion which deals with the Book of Enoch in a near-exclusively LDS context.

I saw a superficial treatment of the book's significance in other threads, most notably in "Angels mating with humans." That topic in itself is an interesting one, but since most of the source material for the story comes from Jewish tradition and the Enochian texts, I chose to defer posting my thoughts in that section"¦ favouring to, hopefully, engage in a more exhaustive dialogue on the Enoch saga from an LDS standpoint.

Firstly though, I"d be most interested to guage the overall familiarity of the community here with the Enoch story. How many here have previously read Hugh Nibley's treatment of the subject in the Ensign? Who is familiar with the content of the different versions extant? And most importantly, what are your initial, informed opinions on the book? (I"m not particularly interested in the intellectual knee-jerks of those who haven't paid much attention to the matter.)

Regards,
Alarik

Enoch Book and Theology Lds

I have read some of Hugh Nibley's works on the Book of Enoch. I also know that the New Testament book of Jude, as well as other parts of the New Testament, quote from this book, or are heavily influenced by it.

I see it as part of the apocrypha that is discussed in D&C 91.

I haven't read much of the book, so don't have a very informed opinion yet.

Lds Theology & The Book Of Enoch Studies Doctrine Mormon

The term "Apocrypha" describes the deuterocanonical texts rejected by the standard Protestant canon but found in most Catholic bibles. Doctrine and Covenants 91 is the Lord's response to Joseph's enquiries regarding those books specifically.

The Book of Enoch is not an apocryphal text. It belongs to the category dubbed "pseudepigrapha" and was never accepted as part of the traditional scriptural canon.
Most scholars believe that the Book of Enoch was written in the first or second century B.C.E. and encapsulates the more esoteric of Jewish mystic traditions.

Unlike other "lost" books, Enoch remained remarkably unchanged throughout the dark ages of the Apostasy for the simple reason that it was believed to be destroyed. Rather than subtly alter and transform the text, the Catholic Church tried to suppress it altogether, denouncing it as heretical and burning all copies. In the last two centuries, however, several copies of the manuscript have been found. The first of these is the Ethiopian Book of Enoch translated by Dr Richard Lawrence, an Irish bishop who attracted unfair criticism for his undertaking.
As Nibley detailed in his Ensign presentation, the work was not widely known until shortly after Joseph Smith's death. Parley P. Pratt encountered a copy of Lawrence's translation in England in 1840 and reviewed it enthusiastically, claiming that it carried "indisputable evidence of being an ancient production" and that it "seems plainly to predict the coming forth of the Book of Mormon."

Comparisons between both the Ethiopian and Slavonic Enoch texts and the Book of Mormon / Pearl of Great Price reveal striking similarities, and in some places, direct quotations.
In recent decades, however, the excitement seems to have died down and as usual, the Church has never taken any official position on the subject.

Doctrine & Covenants 107: 57 - Is this the real deal, or a clever imposter?

Enoch Book and Theology Lds

What I meant, when I referred to D&C 91, is that we don't know how authentic the book is. At the same time, if approached with the right attitude and experience in learning things with the help of the Holy Ghost, it is very likely to produce much greater understanding.

Now, if I, personally, were to receive revelation that the book is truly scripture, then I would use it as such. However, I would not claim it to be scripture for everyone else to accept. It is quite possible that not everyone would be ready to recieve the truths contained in the book.

Now, I am speaking in general. Perhaps there are many documents like this, that contain great truths, but that few are prepared to receive. It would be nice if the Book of Enoch is one of those documents, and it would be even nicer if we were to learn that this is the actual book spoken of in D&C 107. However, the Church has remained silent on this, as with a multitude of other subjects. So, I must assume that it is up to each of us to learn for ourselves, and keep that information to ourselves.

Enoch Book and Theology Lds

I've read the Ethiopian text of the Book of Enoch and also the Book of Jasher, and both were quite interesting I enjoyed reading them and wouldn't mind owning them.