Murray, Utah

Sept. 22, 1973

Dear Seth:

I was quite certain that you would enjoy reading B. H. Roberts' "Parallels." There is no doubt about the authorship of this document. I first saw it while I was at BYU, when Roberts was still alive. Guy C. Wilson gave me the copy which I have had ever since, and it was my understanding that B.H. had given it to Guy C. The copy which we found among Antoine's things was made many years later, and the writing on the cover was designed to throw some doubt on the authorship.

You wonder that B. H. did not revise his earlier writing in the light of what he had read. The fact is that he did write another article on this subject, in which he is said to have made the statement that, had he seen Ethan Smith's book before he wrote his New Witness For God, which is a discussion of the Book of Mormon, he could not have written the book in its present form.

B.H. Roberts evidently intended to publish his second article, but he died and left it in the hands of his son, Brigham H, Jr. Brigham Jr., himself, intended to publish the article in bulletin form, but after a long argument with the "Brethren" he changed his mind and turned the document over to the Church. I have this information on the word of Burton Musser who was a colse friend of B. H., Jr. He had the document in his hands for some time, and he told my something of its contents. Burton is now so ill that he is not able to see anyone, or I would try to find out whether he actually saw the original or only a copy of it. Burton's wife is a good friend of mine. Yesterday I called her and asked if she knew whether or not Burton had this document. She says he has boxes of material stored away, with which she is not acquainted. I am going to follow this matter up, but have little hope of finding it.