The following is an analysis of some of the unique elements found in The Torah of Moses from the Plates of Brass. This article will provide a brief review specifically highlighting aspects and content that are not found within the standard biblical canon. This translation, attributed to David Ferriman of The Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship, claims to be derived from the Plates of Brass, a record preserved by the Commandments of God to be brought forth in the Last Days. This would be the Torah the Neohites had, and the basis of the religion taught in the Book of Mormon.
Key Distinctions and Unique Content
The primary distinction is the stated source. This work claims to be a translation of the Plates of Brass, described symbolically as a part of the coat of many colors given to Joseph and literally to be the stick of Joseph, the Torah given to his tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh). This source is presented as distinct from the scrolls that constitute the biblical books of Moses.
The translation process described is unique. David Ferriman reportedly entered a meditative state using Kabbalistic techniques and was taken in vision to a cave where he saw the plates with Egyptian writings, which then appeared as Hebrew and English words, requiring divine power to translate. This visionary and interpretative approach differs significantly from traditional biblical translation methodologies.
Additional Books and Sections
The text includes books and sections not present in the Bible, such as the individual books with alternative names and potential expansions compared to Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, referred to as 1 Sefer Moses (The Book of Beginnings), 2 Moses (The Book of Joseph), 3 Sefer Moses (The Book of Moses) focusing on the exodus and covenant, 4 Moses (The Book of Testimony) and The Book of Ha’Torah (5 Sefer Moses).
Some of these books are broken down even further, such as 4 Moses with The Teachings of Moses and Zipporah, The Torah of the Tabernacle, The Chereb of Moses, The Wisdom of Zipporah and The Law of Moses. The Wisdom of Zipporah (The Teachings of Zipporah), offering perspectives attributed to Moses’ wife. This not only introduces the idea of a prophetess of Israel, but would also indicate that Moses did not write everything in these books himself.
Emphasis on the Lost Tribes of Israel and the Stick of Joseph
The dedication explicitly addresses “all the Lost Tribes of Israel,” calling them to return home. The text frequently connects the Plates of Brass and its content to the descendants of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) and their role in the last days. In 2 Moses (The Book of Joseph), chapters 21-33, we find revelations given through Jacob to each of the tribes. These revelations appear to give council to his children and their descendants from that day until the return of Jesus Christ.
Kabbalistic Influences and Terminology
The text integrates concepts and terms from Kabbalah, from entering a meditative state using Kabbalistic techniques to translate the plates to references to the Sefirot (though not explicitly named in the text). There are also many interpretations aligning with Kabbalistic thought (ex. male/female representations of desires, interpretations of colors). Concepts like “Teshuvah” (repentance/return), “Mitzvah” (commandment/obligation), “Ruach HaKodesh” (Holy Spirit), “Shekinah” (Divine Presence/Divine Feminine), and various Hebrew names for God are also found throughout these books.
Unique Interpretations and Expansions of Biblical Narratives
While the excerpts cover familiar ground (Creation, Noah’s Flood, Abraham, Moses, etc.), they often provide additional details, alternative interpretations, and expansions not found in the Bible. Examples include specific reasons for events or deeper symbolic meanings attributed to them (ex. the “wilderness” as a spiritual intermediary). These books frequently cross-references not only biblical passages but also other religious texts and concepts, including:
- The Book of Mormon.
- Doctrines of the Saints.
- Book of Remembrance.
- Melchizedek (also from the Plates of Brass)
The “Book of the Law/Plates of Brass Comparison” section at the back of the book directly addresses differences between this translation and the translation by James Strang. It highlights variations in the number of plates, translation methods, and content focus. This meta-commentary on the relationship between different scriptural traditions is unique to this work.
Conclusion
The Torah of Moses from the Plates of Brass presents itself as a distinct scriptural work, deriving from a source believed to be separate from the biblical manuscripts. It includes additional books, revelations, and interpretations, often influenced by Kabbalistic thought and cross-referencing other religious texts significant to The Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship. Its focus on the Lost Tribes of Israel and the lineage of Joseph, along with its unique translation narrative, further differentiates it from the standard biblical Torah. For those familiar with the Bible, this text offers a significantly expanded and in some ways, re-contextualized understanding of early scriptural history and law.
