Moroni as Maggid

[volgadon]

I'm working on a small study comparing Moroni's visitations of Joseph smith with the Jewish tradition of maggidim, angelic informants who woul appear to men and reveal secrets and teachings from above. There are a lot of similiraties, but also some significant differences. My aim is not to show a direct link between the two (I don't believe there is one), or to come up with bullseyes. I want to explore two similar phenomena, each shedding light on the other, and hopefully come up with something that could be of use to Mormons, critics, and anyone else who might be interested in such things.

I'm fairly on top of the various Jewish sources, but I need help with the LDS ones. Are there any sources and studies relating to Moroni's visits that I should be aware of? That is, beyond the DHC vol. 1, and Rough stone Rolling.

[Kevin Christensen]

Mark Ashurst McGee here:

http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=18&num=1&id=600

And Larry Morris here:

http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=17&num=1&id=567

Matthew Brown's book and FAIR talks on the sources are also valuable.

Kevin Christensen

Pittsburgh, PA

[volgadon]

Thank you! The sources quoted are going to be a great help.

[Tribunal]

I'm working on a small study comparing Moroni's visitations of Joseph smith with the Jewish tradition of maggidim, angelic informants who woul appear to men and reveal secrets and teachings from above. There are a lot of similiraties, but also some significant differences. My aim is not to show a direct link between the two (I don't believe there is one), or to come up with bullseyes. I want to explore two similar phenomena, each shedding light on the other, and hopefully come up with something that could be of use to Mormons, critics, and anyone else who might be interested in such things.

I'm fairly on top of the various Jewish sources, but I need help with the LDS ones. Are there any sources and studies relating to Moroni's visits that I should be aware of? That is, beyond the DHC vol. 1, and Rough stone Rolling.

Do you mean like the angel that visited Nephi and his brothers after fleeing from the house of Laban?

[volgadon]

Do mean like the angel that visited Nephi and his brothers after fleeing from the house of Laban?

No. That angel is not an informant, indeed shares nothing in common with either Moroni or maggidim, apart from being an angel.

[ERayR]

I'm working on a small study comparing Moroni's visitations of Joseph smith with the Jewish tradition of maggidim, angelic informants who woul appear to men and reveal secrets and teachings from above. There are a lot of similiraties, but also some significant differences. My aim is not to show a direct link between the two (I don't believe there is one), or to come up with bullseyes. I want to explore two similar phenomena, each shedding light on the other, and hopefully come up with something that could be of use to Mormons, critics, and anyone else who might be interested in such things.

I'm fairly on top of the various Jewish sources, but I need help with the LDS ones. Are there any sources and studies relating to Moroni's visits that I should be aware of? That is, beyond the DHC vol. 1, and Rough stone Rolling.

I am a little confused. My cursory search on Google describe maggidim as itinerant preachers, not angels. Where can I read a little more on the angelic version?

Thanks

[mfbukowski]

I am interested in the etymology of the word- sounds related to "Magi" which were the Persian "wise men" - scholars and astrologers. Is the word of Hebrew derivation?

Of course the modern English word "magic" derives from "Magi", based on a common belief that they were sorcerers.

[DispensatorMysteriorum]

I'm fairly on top of the various Jewish sources, but I need help with the LDS ones. Are there any sources and studies relating to Moroni's visits that I should be aware of? That is, beyond the DHC vol. 1, and Rough stone Rolling.

http://www.amazon.com/Moroni-Ancient-Prophet-Modern-Messenger/dp/088290227X

[volgadon]

I am a little confused. My cursory search on Google describe maggidim as itinerant preachers, not angels. Where can I read a little more on the angelic version?

Thanks

The information on wiki and the Jewish Encyclopedia (which wiki often cribs) does only cover the itinerant preachers (and simply populist preachers, sch as the true founder of Hasidism, the Maggid of Mezhirich), but if you search for 'maggid angel' there is some decent introductory stuff. http://ejmmm2007.blogspot.com/2007/09/maggid-jewish-spirit-guide-revealing.html

http://jhom.com/topics/voice/magid.htm

[volgadon]

I am interested in the etymology of the word- sounds related to "Magi" which were the Persian "wise men" - scholars and astrologers. Is the word of Hebrew derivation?

Of course the modern English word "magic" derives from "Magi", based on a common belief that they were sorcerers.

There is no connection that I am aware of. Maggid literally means a teller or expounder. Same root as the Passover Haggadah, which means the telling of the Passover story. The earthly maggid would expound scriptres and ethics fior the masses, whereas (generally speaking) the heavenly maggid would reveal the hidden meaning of things.

[volgadon]

http://www.amazon.com/Moroni-Ancient-Prophet-Modern-Messenger/dp/088290227X

Thank you.

[DispensatorMysteriorum]

Thank you.

This book lists something like 21 visits from Moroni to Joseph Smith. I think some of it is speculative, but it has some good info too, IIRC.

[ERayR]

The information on wiki and the Jewish Encyclopedia (which wiki often cribs) does only cover the itinerant preachers (and simply populist preachers, sch as the true founder of Hasidism, the Maggid of Mezhirich), but if you search for 'maggid angel' there is some decent introductory stuff. http://ejmmm2007.blogspot.com/2007/09/maggid-jewish-spirit-guide-revealing.html

http://jhom.com/topics/voice/magid.htm

Thank you