Unsettling Scripture: Iroquois and the Book of Mormon

by Thomas W. Murphy

A groundbreaking exploration of the unexpected intersections between Haudenosaunee oral tradition and Latter-day Saint scripture

In Unsettling Scripture: Iroquois and the Book of Mormon, anthropologist Thomas W Murphy delves into the visions of Seneca prophet Handsome Lake, the epic narratives of the Iroquois Confederacy, and the origin story of the Book of Mormon, revealing surprising parallels between Indigenous and Mormon traditions.

Through ethnohistorical research and decolonizing methodologies, Murphy reexamines how both communities understand their origins, faith, and prophecy. From Handsome Lake’s revelations to Joseph Smith’s seer stone, from ancient sibling rivalries to the Great Peace, this book unsettles traditional narratives while opening new conversations on scripture, identity, and cultural exchange. Drawing from living Indigenous voices, Unsettling Scripture challenges readers to rethink sacred texts and the histories they tell.

380 pages, Hardcover

Published June 19, 2026

Reviews

[Kyle Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an incredible comparative work. I found so much of value in these pages. It contextualizes the Book of Mormon and firmly grounds it in the cultural milieu of Haudenosaunee and colonial settler traditions. If you're curious about where Joseph Smith got his ideas, this book goes a long way to explaining huge swaths of the Book of Mormon narrative as well as much of the thematic core; mostly it is a settler's reimagination of the traditions and oral history of Indigenous people filtered through a Christian lens. A must-read for anyone who is interested in the origin of the Book of Mormon.