View of the Hebrews and Book of Mormon: Textual Comparison (ChatGPT Analysis)
This analysis was performed by ChatGPT on 2026-09-08 using this prompt, in its essence: after pointing to the 1825 View of the Hebrews and the 1829 Book of Mormon, “Please create a markdown formatted text comparison of similarities between the two texts. Each similarity must be substantiated by one or more direct quotations from both books (to establish).”
The comparison was then verified and refined/updated against the 1825 second edition of View of the Hebrews (BYU 1996 reprint) and the 1829 Book of Mormon Printer’s Manuscript (via bomdb) using the Nemotron 3 Ultra model. All quotations in the main text reflect the actual wording of those editions.
View of the Hebrews and the Book of Mormon: A Textual Comparison
The argument that View of the Hebrews (VH) and the Book of Mormon share significant similarities does not depend on finding a single sentence that Joseph Smith supposedly copied. The more interesting question is whether the two books share an unusual cluster of ideas: Israelites in ancient America, a civilized population destroyed by more savage brethren, massive wars and fortifications, buried records, Hebrew writings, religious traditions resembling ancient Israel, and the eventual restoration of Israel in America.
The following are the strongest parallels I have found. Quotations are from Ethan Smith’s 1825 second edition of View of the Hebrews and the 1829 Book of Mormon (Printer’s Manuscript) where applicable.
Importantly, none of these parallels by itself establishes literary dependence. Many individual ideas were circulating in the early nineteenth century. The evidentiary question is whether the combination is sufficiently distinctive to make a source relationship plausible.
1. Ancient Israelites in America
View of the Hebrews
The central thesis of Ethan Smith’s book is that the American Indians are descendants of the lost tribes of Israel.
View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes of Israel in America.
(Title page; 1825 edition.)
Ethan Smith explicitly states his conclusion in the Proudfit testimonial letter:
“we have in my opinion satisfactory evidence that the aborigines of our country are the remnant of the ten tribes of Israel.”
(From the Rev. Dr. Proudfit letter, p. 126 in 1825 edition.)
He repeatedly argues that the Indians’ traditions, religious practices, languages, customs, and archaeological remains are evidence of their Israelite ancestry.
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon likewise presents a history of Israelites who migrated to the Americas.
“And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house and the land of his inheritance and his gold and his silver and his precious things and took nothing with him save it were his family and provisions and tents, and he departed into the wilderness.”
“And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea, and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which was nearer the Red Sea. And he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother Sariah and my elder brethren, which were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.”
(1 Nephi 2:4–5; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
The Book of Mormon subsequently identifies these people as descendants of Israel and repeatedly frames their history as the history of a branch of the house of Israel in a promised land.
Assessment
Strong conceptual parallel, but not necessarily distinctive.
The idea that American Indians were Israelites was widespread in early American literature. It therefore cannot establish dependence by itself.
What makes the comparison more interesting is that this Israelite-American theory is combined with the other parallels below.
2. A civilized Israelite population versus a more savage population
This is one of the most important parallels.
View of the Hebrews
Ethan Smith describes ancient inhabitants of America as having originally possessed considerably greater civilization than the later Indians:
“The ten tribes, arriving in this continent with some knowledge of the arts of civilized life…”
He then describes a conflict between these civilized people and more savage inhabitants:
“The savage tribes prevailed; and in process of time their savage jealousies and rage annihilated their more civilized brethren…”
He further says:
“Tremendous wars were frequent between them and their savage brethren, till the former became extinct.”
(View of the Hebrews, pp. 130–131 in the 1825 text.)
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon contains essentially the same broad historical pattern: a civilized Israelite-derived society divided into competing peoples, followed by generations of warfare and the eventual destruction of the more civilized population.
Mormon describes the final conflict:
“And it came to pass that we did march forth to the land of Cumorah, and we did pitch our tents round about the hill Cumorah. And it was in a land of many waters, rivers, and fountains. And here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites.”
“And when three hundred and eighty and four years had passed away, we had gathered in all the remainder of our people unto the land Cumorah.”
“And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all our people in one to the land of Cumorah, behold, I Mormon began to be old. And knowing it to be the last struggle of my people and having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer that the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites—for the Lamanites would destroy them—therefore I made this record out of the plates of Nephi and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni.”
“And it came to pass that my people with their wives and their children did now behold the armies of the Lamanites a marching towards them. And with that awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked did they await to receive them.”
“And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it were twenty and four of us—among whom was my son Moroni—and we having survived the dead of our people did behold on the morrow, when the Lamanites had returned unto their camps, from the top of the hill Cumorah the ten thousand of my people which were hewn down, being led in the front by me.”
(Mormon 6:4–11; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Assessment
One of the strongest parallels.
The important point is not merely “there were wars.” Both works describe:
- a relatively civilized population;
- a less civilized/savage population;
- prolonged conflict between them;
- the eventual destruction/extinction of the civilized population.
That combination is substantially more specific than simply saying that both books discuss ancient warfare.
3. Ancient American ruins and fortifications are evidence of the destroyed civilization
View of the Hebrews
Ethan Smith repeatedly discusses the enormous ancient earthworks, forts, walls, mounds, and other archaeological remains found throughout North America.
He describes:
“ancient works, forts, mounds, enclosures”
and connects them with:
“great wars”
and an ancient people possessing:
“civilization, fortification, and the mechanic arts.”
He argues that these remains are evidence of the more civilized people who once inhabited America.
(View of the Hebrews, p. 131.)
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon likewise repeatedly describes an ancient American population constructing extensive defensive works.
For example:
“And now it came to pass in the eleventh month of the nineteenth year, on the tenth day of the month, the armies of the Lamanites were seen approaching towards the land of Ammonihah… But behold, how great was their disappointment! For behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance.”
(Alma 49:1–4; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
The Nephites construct ditches, heaps of earth, and walls of earth, and fortify entire cities.
“And he caused that they should build a breastwork of timbers upon the inner bank of the ditch; and they cast up dirt out of the ditch against the breastwork of timbers. And thus they did cause the Lamanites to labor until they had encircled the city of Bountiful round about with a strong wall of timbers and earth to an exceeding heighth.”
(Alma 53:4; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Assessment
Moderately strong.
Ancient earthworks and fortifications were a major subject of early American antiquarian literature, so this is not unique to either work. The similarity becomes more interesting because the fortifications occur within the same larger narrative of ancient civilized Americans engaged in prolonged warfare.
4. Prolonged wars culminate in the extermination of the civilized population
This is closely related to #2, but it deserves separate treatment because the end point is unusually similar.
View of the Hebrews
Ethan Smith writes:
“These partially civilized people became extinct. What account can be given of this, but that the savages extirpated them, after long and dismal wars!”
(View of the Hebrews, p. 131.)
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon’s narrative culminates in precisely such a destruction.
Mormon writes:
“And now I Mormon seeing that the Lamanites were about to overthrow the land, therefore I did go to the hill Shim and did take up all the records which Ammaron had hid up unto the Lord.”
(Mormon 4:23; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Later:
“And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all our people in one to the land of Cumorah…”
(Mormon 6:5; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
The final battle destroys the Nephite civilization (Mormon 6:7–11).
Assessment
Very strong structural parallel.
Again, neither book merely has “war.” Both present an ancient American civilization that is ultimately destroyed by a more savage enemy after generations of conflict.
5. Sacred records are buried in the ground and subsequently associated with America’s ancient inhabitants
View of the Hebrews
Ethan Smith recounts a report concerning an old Indian:
“An old Indian informed him that his fathers in this country had not long since had a book which they had for a long time preserved. But having lost the knowledge of reading it, they concluded it would be of no further use to them; and they buried it with an Indian chief.”
(View of the Hebrews, p. 173.)
Smith explicitly interprets this as evidence relating to the lost Israelite civilization.
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon repeatedly emphasizes sacred records being preserved and buried.
Mormon says:
“And I, Mormon, did make this record out of the plates of Nephi…”
and eventually:
“And now I Mormon seeing that the Lamanites were about to overthrow the land, therefore I did go to the hill Shim and did take up all the records which Ammaron had hid up unto the Lord.”
(Mormon 4:23; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
The records are ultimately deposited in the Hill Cumorah:
“I made this record out of the plates of Nephi and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord…”
(Mormon 6:6; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Moroni later writes:
“And I make an end of speaking concerning this people. I am the son of Mormon, and my father was a descendant of Nephi.”
(Mormon 8:13; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
And the narrative culminates with the record being preserved for future generations.
Assessment
Strong parallel.
The especially interesting feature is not simply “ancient people had books.” It is the combination:
American Indians + ancient Israelite civilization + sacred/ancient records + records being preserved/buried + later recovery/preservation for a future generation.
George D. Smith specifically identified the “Indian Hill” parchment story as a parallel to Mormon’s burial of records at Cumorah.
6. Hebrew parchments are found in an Indian context
This is a particularly unusual detail.
View of the Hebrews
Ethan Smith recounts reports of Hebrew writing found on parchments associated with American Indians.
He writes (describing the parchments found by Joseph Merrick):
“These leaves were of a dark yellow, and contained some kind of writing.”
He then connects this with the report that an Indian people had preserved a book which they could no longer read:
“An old Indian informed him that his fathers in this country had not long since had a book which they had for a long time preserved. But having lost the knowledge of reading it… they buried it with an Indian chief.”
(View of the Hebrews, pp. 169, 173.)
Elsewhere the book discusses Hebrew parchments reportedly found:
“parchments ‘dug up … on Indian Hill (near Pittsfield, Massachusetts) … probably from an Indian grave’”
(View of the Hebrews, p. 167; also referenced in the 1996 BYU edition introduction, p. xv.)
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon likewise presents an ancient American record ultimately associated with an Israelite population, although the physical record is written on metal plates rather than parchment.
The title page (1830 edition) describes the record as:
“an abridgment of the Record of the People of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites”
and says that it is:
“Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord.”
Assessment
Strong and unusual parallel, with an important difference.
The difference is significant: View of the Hebrews deals with Hebrew parchment, whereas the Book of Mormon deals with gold plates written in a modified Egyptian script.
Nevertheless, the conceptual combination of an ancient American/Indian population, Israelite ancestry, and ancient Hebrew-related written records is notable.
7. Loss of literacy and civilization among the descendants
View of the Hebrews
Smith explains the disappearance of the ancient civilization in terms of cultural degeneration:
“The savage tribes prevailed; and in process of time their savage jealousies and rage annihilated their more civilized brethren…”
He also repeatedly emphasizes the resulting:
“loss of the knowledge of letters”
along with the loss of:
“navigation”
and knowledge of:
“iron.”
(View of the Hebrews, p. 130.)
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon repeatedly portrays knowledge, literacy, metallurgy, and civilization as things that can be lost through apostasy and warfare.
The people of Zarahemla (Mulekites) lost their language and records:
“And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had became exceeding numerous. Nevertheless they had had many wars and serious contentions and had fallen by the sword from time to time. And their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them. And they denied the being of their Creator. And Mosiah–nor the people of Mosiah–could not understand them.”
(Omni 1:17; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Moroni describes the Nephite language degradation:
“And now behold, we have written this record, according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us according to our manner of speech. And if our plates had been sufficiently large, we should have written in the Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also. And if we could have written in the Hebrew, behold, ye would have had none imperfection in our record. But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written and also that none other people knoweth our language.”
(Mormon 9:32–34; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Moroni also notes the loss of metallurgy/ore:
“And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not. And ore I have none, for I am alone.”
(Mormon 8:5; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
The general civilizational collapse is described in 4 Nephi:
“And it came to pass that when three hundred years had passed away, both the people of Nephi and the Lamanites had become exceeding wicked, one like unto another. And it came to pass that the robbers of Gaddianton did spread over all the face of the land. And there were none that were righteous, save it were the disciples of Jesus.”
(4 Nephi 1:45–46; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Assessment
Moderate-to-strong parallel.
The general theme of civilizational decline is widespread. But in combination with the civilized/savage distinction, prolonged warfare, and the eventual disappearance of the civilized population, the parallel becomes more significant. The specific clustering—loss of literacy/language, loss of metallurgy (ore), loss of records, and cultural degradation—matches Ethan Smith’s specific list (letters, navigation, iron) with notable precision.
8. Ancient Americans retain Israelite religious traditions
View of the Hebrews
Ethan Smith devotes substantial attention to supposed Hebrew practices among Native Americans, drawing heavily on the Jabez Hyde letter.
For example:
“The Indians have their feasts of first ripe fruits, or of green corn; and will eat none of their corn till a part is thus given to God.”
He also reports:
“In these Indian feasts they have their sacred songs and dances; singing Halleluyah, Yohewah…”
and asks:
“What other nation, besides the Hebrews and Indians ever in this manner attempted the worship of Jehovah?”
(View of the Hebrews, pp. 86–87; via Rev. Jabez B. Hyde letter.)
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon presents its ancient American peoples as explicitly Israelite and repeatedly describes them observing Mosaic/Israelite religious practices.
For example, Nephi writes:
“And we did observe to keep the judgments and the statutes and the commandments of the Lord, in all things according to the law of Moses.”
(2 Nephi 5:10; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
The Book of Mormon also repeatedly invokes sacrifices, prophets, circumcision, the law of Moses, Passover-like concepts, Israelite scripture, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Assessment
Moderately strong.
Both works attempt to explain Native American religious practices as survivals of ancient Israelite religion. That was part of the larger Israelite-Indian theory circulating at the time, so this is not independently decisive.
9. A Native American sacred object resembling the Urim and Thummim
View of the Hebrews
Smith discusses a Native American religious object associated with a priestly figure and compares it explicitly with the biblical Urim and Thummim.
He describes an:
“American Archimagus”
wearing a breastplate:
“In resemblance of the Urim and Thummim, the American Archimagus wears a breast plate made of a white conch-shell with two holes bored in the middle of it, through which he puts the ends of an otter skin strap, and fastens a buck horn white button to the outside of each, as if in imitation of the precious stones of the Urim.”
(View of the Hebrews, pp. 112–113.)
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon contains sacred interpreters associated with prophecy and revelation.
For example, Ammon describes the interpreters to King Limhi:
“And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he had not ought and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.”
(Mosiah 8:13; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
They are described more specifically by Mormon:
“And now he translated them by the means of those two stones which was fastened into the two rims of a bow.”
(Mosiah 28:13; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
They enable the possessor to interpret unknown records.
Assessment
Moderately strong, but with an important chronological caveat.
The conceptual similarity is striking: an ancient American religious authority possessing a special sacred instrument associated with revelation/interpretation, explicitly compared in View of the Hebrews to the biblical Urim and Thummim.
However, the Book of Mormon itself does not call the Nephite interpreters “Urim and Thummim” in its original text. That terminology appears in later Latter-day Saint usage. So the parallel should not be overstated.
10. Metalworking and ancient American metallurgy
View of the Hebrews
Ethan Smith discusses evidence for ancient American knowledge of metallurgy and the use of metals, including iron.
He treats the existence of ancient metalworking as evidence for a formerly more civilized population.
Book of Mormon
Metallurgy is unusually prominent in the Book of Mormon.
Nephi says:
“And it came to pass that I did make tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock.”
(1 Nephi 17:16; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
He subsequently makes:
“a bow, which was made of fine steel”
(1 Nephi 16:18; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
and describes working with:
“ore”
and other metals.
Assessment
Moderate.
Ancient American metallurgy was part of the broader antiquarian debate, so this is not unique. Still, it fits the broader civilizational picture shared by the two books.
11. America is presented as a special/promised land for an Israelite people
View of the Hebrews
Smith interprets biblical prophecies about Israel’s restoration as referring specifically to America.
He writes:
“Where can these ‘isles afar off,’ (these ‘coasts of the earth,’ here addressed by God in relation to the restoration of his outcast yet beloved Ephraim,) where can they be so naturally found as in America?”
He then says:
“This prediction accords probably with no other country and its inhabitants so well, as with the wilds and natives of America.”
(View of the Hebrews, pp. 179–180.)
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon explicitly describes the Americas as a promised land.
For example:
“And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper and shall be led to a land of promise, yea, even a land which I have prepared for you, a land which is choice above all other lands.”
(1 Nephi 2:20; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Lehi tells his family:
“Wherefore I Lehi have obtained a promise that inasmuch as they which the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land. And they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves.”
(2 Nephi 1:9; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Assessment
Strong conceptual parallel.
Again, the Israelite connection is doing much of the work. Both books interpret the American continent through the biblical story of Israel and divine promise.
12. Restoration of Israel is connected specifically with America
View of the Hebrews
Smith interprets biblical prophecies concerning the gathering of Israel as referring to the American Indians.
He writes that the outcast Israelites will ultimately be gathered:
“from the coasts of the earth”
and argues that these “coasts” and “isles afar off” naturally correspond to America.
He also describes the missionary effort to restore the Native Americans to Christianity and civilization.
(View of the Hebrews, pp. 179–180.)
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon repeatedly describes the gathering and restoration of Israel, with the descendants of Lehi playing a specific role.
For example:
“And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites…”
and:
“And it shall come to pass that my people which are of the house of Israel shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions. And my word also shall be gathered in one, and I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people which are of the house of Israel that I am God and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.”
(2 Nephi 29:13–14; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
The Book of Mormon presents itself as a record that will help accomplish this latter-day gathering.
Assessment
Strong conceptual parallel.
Both works see America as a critical location in the latter-day restoration of Israel.
13. Isaiah’s prophecies about the restoration of Israel are applied to America
View of the Hebrews
One entire chapter is explicitly titled:
“AN ADDRESS OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH, RELATIVE TO THE RESTORATION OF HIS PEOPLE.”
Smith argues that Isaiah’s prophecies concerning Israel’s latter-day restoration have particular relevance to America.
He writes:
“The writer might fill a chapter in illustrating the wrongs which the Indians have suffered from people in our land; in noting their reduced and deplorable situation; in pleading the cause of humanity in their behalf; and in appealing to the magnanimous feelings of the people of our nation… the remnant of the natives of our continent.”
(View of the Hebrews, p. 176.)
Book of Mormon
Isaiah occupies an extraordinary amount of space in the Book of Mormon.
Nephi quotes extensive passages from Isaiah concerning the scattering and gathering of Israel and then explicitly applies them to his descendants and the latter-day world.
For example:
“And now I Nephi write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people.”
(2 Nephi 11:2; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Nephi’s own prophecy:
“But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy according to my plainness, in the which I know that no man can err. Nevertheless in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled, men shall know of a surety at the times when they shall come to pass.”
(2 Nephi 25:7; 1829 Printer’s Manuscript.)
Assessment
Moderate-to-strong contextual parallel.
Isaiah was obviously available to Joseph Smith directly through the Bible, so the mere presence of Isaiah proves nothing. The interesting similarity is the particular interpretive framework: Isaiah + Israel’s scattering and restoration + America + the descendants of Israel living among the American peoples.
14. The two books have a remarkably similar overall narrative architecture
This is arguably more important than any individual parallel.
View of the Hebrews
The broad picture presented by Ethan Smith is:
- The ancient Israelites migrated to America.
- They initially possessed civilized arts.
- They divided into civilized and savage populations.
- They fought prolonged wars.
- The civilized population was eventually destroyed.
- Their civilization, writing, and technology were lost.
- Remnants of their history survive among Native Americans.
- Ancient ruins and fortifications testify to their former civilization.
- Ancient records/parchments were preserved or buried.
- Their descendants will eventually be restored.
- America plays an important role in that restoration.
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon presents a remarkably similar broad structure:
- Israelites migrate to America.
- They establish a civilized society.
- The population divides into competing peoples.
- The peoples engage in generations of warfare.
- The Nephite civilization is ultimately destroyed.
- The surviving population becomes culturally degraded.
- Their records preserve the history of the destroyed civilization.
- Massive fortifications and ancient cities feature prominently.
- Sacred records are hidden/buried.
- The record is preserved for a future generation.
- The descendants of Israel in America participate in the latter-day restoration.
Assessment
This is where the cumulative argument is strongest.
It would be a mistake to argue:
“The Book of Mormon has wars, therefore Joseph Smith copied View of the Hebrews.”
That is weak.
A much stronger argument is:
“View of the Hebrews and the Book of Mormon independently present a remarkably similar story about Israelite peoples in America, including a civilized population, savage brethren, prolonged wars, the destruction of the civilized population, ancient ruins, lost literacy, buried records, Israelite religious traditions, and a latter-day restoration of Israel in America.”
That is the substantive comparison worth evaluating.
Overall assessment
I would rank the parallels approximately as follows:
Very strong / most interesting
- Civilized and savage Israelite-derived populations in ancient America
- Prolonged warfare between them
- The eventual destruction/extinction of the civilized population
- Ancient American ruins and fortifications interpreted as evidence of that civilization
- Ancient records associated with American Indians being preserved/buried
- Hebrew-related writings/parchments associated with ancient Indians
Strong but less distinctive
- American Indians identified as descendants of Israel
- America interpreted as the promised land of an Israelite people
- Restoration of Israel associated with America
- Loss of literacy/civilization among the surviving population
- Israelite religious traditions allegedly preserved among Native Americans
Moderate
- Metalworking/metallurgy
- Prophets and religious leaders
- Isaiah’s restoration prophecies applied to America
- Urim-and-Thummim-like sacred objects
The important qualification is that none of this demonstrates that Joseph Smith necessarily read View of the Hebrews. The 1996 BYU edition itself notes that there is no direct evidence establishing that Joseph Smith had View of the Hebrews before the Book of Mormon was published.
At the same time, dismissing the comparison by saying that there are merely “a few vague similarities” understates the evidence. George D. Smith characterized the similarities as “pervasive” and specifically highlighted the Indian Hill parchment story alongside Mormon’s burial of records at Cumorah.
The most defensible conclusion is therefore something like:
The evidence does not establish literary dependence, but the two books share a substantial cluster of unusually specific narrative and conceptual features. Whether that cluster is best explained by common nineteenth-century ideas, direct or indirect exposure to View of the Hebrews, or coincidence is a historical question rather than something that can be settled by any one parallel.
That is considerably stronger than either extreme: “Joseph Smith obviously plagiarized Ethan Smith” or “there are no meaningful similarities at all.”