One thing that caught the eye of critics was that Ethan's book was published in Poultney, Vermont, near Oliver Cowdery's birthplace, which is usually given as Poultney but sometimes as nearby Wells; both are near the border of New York. Thus, it is deduced that Cowdery could have taken the book to Joseph Smith. No evidence of any kind exists that Cowdery did so, or that Joseph ever saw Views of the Hebrews. Yet that possibility did exist.

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In his Studies of the Book of Mormon, B. H. Roberts found two basic parallels between the books in question: (1) An overthrow of Jerusalem, the same event which caused Lehi to leave that land; and (2) reliance upon Isaiah's prophecies. Some speculated whether Roberts relegated the Book of Mormon to originate with View of the Hebrews, or in other words, lost his testimony of the Book of Mormon and was planning to leave the Church. Roberts submitted his list of similarities to LDS General Authorities, but they apparently saw no cause for reply. Receiving little feedback, Roberts stored the list away with his other belongings. Clearly, he never meant to have the list published. After Roberts's death, however, his papers were located by family members and published, with introductory remarks by Sterling McMurrin and Brigham Madsen.

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A reading of both books reveals that while there are similarities in the concept of Israelites coming to America guided by Christ, as prophesied by Isaiah. But there is simply no likelihood that the Book of Mormon was based on VH. The Book of Mormon is much more complicated. VH is a list of conjectures, not connected by any narrative thread. Ethan ponders and writes down his speculations as they arise. The Book of Mormon unfolds a connecting narrative and, as such, must be internally consistent and logical not only in plot but also in characterization, theme, and point of view. It appears, as purported, to be the work of many writers, albeit edited by one man, Mormon.