Book of Mormon/Language/"Adieu"

Criticism

Jacob 7:27 ends with the phrase, "Brethren, adieu." Critics claim that because adieu is French, it shows that Joseph Smith composed the Book of Mormon, and not an ancient author.

Source(s) of the Criticism

• John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Mormonism (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1992), 322.
• Ed Decker, Decker's Complete Handbook on Mormonism (Eugene: Harvest House, 1995), 113.
• James White, Letters to a Mormon Elder (Southbridge, MA: Crowne, 1990), 145.

Response

The Book of Mormon is a translation. This means that it is no more likely that the word adieu appeared on the plates than the words yea, beginning, or sword.

Adieu is Joseph's translation of a concept expressed by Jacob. The word is French, and implies "farewell until we meet with God." This is a fitting finale to Jacob's testimony and writing.

Joseph Smith was likely unaware that adieu was a French word. Like many words that were originally French, adieu was adopted into English, and was in use by at least 1374.

Dictionaries

Index page from the 1835 book of hymns chosen by Emma Smith for use in the Church. Original from BYU library.*

Noah Webster's 1828 American dictionary demonstrates that it was perfectly good English:

ADIEU', Adu'.

Farewell; an expression of kind wishes at the parting of friends.

ADIEU', n. A farewell, or commendation to the care of God; as an everlasting adieu.

Use Prior to Joseph Smith

Nor was Joseph unique in using this word—it was well-known to others in his era.

The Wesley brothers, founders of Methodism, used adieu in some of their hymns:

Hymn 285

I'll bid this world of noise and show/ With all its glittering snares, adieu! *

Hymn 809

VAIN, delusive world, adieu...*^[1]

Use Among LDS Members

Closer to home, the Times and Seasons used the word 19 times; in hymn #52 (penned by a non-LDS author) collected by Emma Smith for the use of the Church, adieu is used twice in the first line:

Adieu, my dear brethren adieu,

Reluctant we give you the hand,

No more to assemble with you,

Till we on mount Zion shall stand.^[2]

Clearly, this was a word familiar to Joseph and his contemporaries.

Conclusion

"Adieu" is simply one English word among many in the Book of Mormon translation. It was in common use among members and non-members in Joseph's era. Critics try to confuse this issue simply because its French origins are more apparent to the general reader. All its presence indicates is that the concept which Jacob intended to communicate was "farewell forever, or until we meet God."

Endnotes

1. [note]  John Wesley, A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Book Room, 1889 [1780]), #285, #809.
2. [note] Emma Smith, A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints Hymn 52, (Kirtland, Ohio: F. G. Williams & co., 1835), 68.

Further reading

FAIR wiki articles

Book of Mormon/Language/"Adieu"

FAIR web site

• FAIR Topical Guide:

External links

• Links to external web pages

Printed material

• Daniel C. Peterson, “Is the Book of Mormon True? Notes on the Debate,” in Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins, edited by Noel B. Reynolds, (Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1997), Chapter 6.