Apocryphal texts and Genesis
Ever Read Genesis and Wondered, “Wait, What?”
From the giants to the Flood to Enoch, Jonah R. Barnes sets newly discovered ancient texts beside the Genesis revelations of Joseph Smith and asks what they have to say.
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The story behind the book
Why Jonah wrote this
Long after Joseph Smith's Bible-loving neighbors had murdered him, few of his critics ever paid any mind to these gems of Genesis.
But also overlooked was the steady creep of new archaeological discoveries that trickled into museums and libraries in subsequent centuries.
"The Bible is the most important book in the world, and the most important book of the Bible is Genesis."
Comes with your book
Hours of bonus video
Hours of video with the author discussing the chapters and what didn't make it into the book.
A free audiobook
The audiobook comes with your copy at no extra cost, so you can listen to the book as well as read it.
How to get them
The audiobook and bonus content can be accessed upon receiving the physical copy of the book. You can scan the QR codes at the end of any chapter to gain access.
What you'll take with you
When you read this book, you'll...
Sort out the giants
Who the heck are the giants mentioned in Genesis 6?
Look hard at the Flood
Why did God flush the entire human race with the Great Flood? What specifically were they doing that was so wicked?
Face the Canaanite question
How could God command the slaughter of the Canaanites?
Look into Enoch and Abraham
What's the straight story on the mysterious prophet Enoch? Is the Book of Abraham authentically ancient or is it a fraud?
Revisit Isaac and Jacob
What really happened to Isaac on Mount Moriah? And why is Jacob the Captain America of the Bible?
Enjoy Jonah's writing style
Jonah has an intelligent humor that comes across in his writing and will entertain the reader along the way.
Who this book is for
This book is for
- Latter-day Saints who want to read the Genesis revelations of Joseph Smith alongside ancient texts
- Readers who have wondered about the giants, the Flood or Enoch
- People who want to dive deeper into ancient texts
- Those who have always been curious about the apocrypha
- Readers who love digging into Genesis
What people are saying about The Lost Gems of Genesis
Brilliant! Just as enthralling as listening to Einar Ericksen talking about Dead Sea, Nag Hammadi and other discoveries back in the 1970's.
Dennis Stinson
10/10/2026
Excellent presentation of very detailed and in depth information. Fabulous. Definitely a testimony builder. Thanks
C. McBeth
10/05/2026
The book is a great read and Jonah does a great job of making the material easily digestible for the reader.
Easton Allen
08/05/2026
Faith-filled and fun to read. There is an easiness to Jonah's writing style that makes it accessible to everyone, while still being doctrinally thick in a good way. This is another win for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my book, as it helps show Jesus has always been involved and we have the key to unlocking that truth.
Jeff Borders
05/26/2026
The Lost Gems of Genesis
How Apocryphal Texts Prove Joseph Smith Fixed the Bible
by Jonah R. Barnes · Foreword by Dr. Michael Day
Full book description
The Bible is the most important book in the world, and the most important book of the Bible is Genesis. So when an uneducated farm-hand in backwoods Pennsylvania purported to receive revelations from God rewriting the Genesis story, he was touching a nerve. Long after Joseph Smith Jr.’s Bible-loving neighbors had murdered him, few of his critics ever paid any mind to these alleged gems of Genesis.
But also overlooked was the steady creep of new archaeological discoveries that trickled into museums and libraries in subsequent centuries. Unbeknownst to the world is how impossibly these new texts illuminate the stories of Genesis in precisely the ways Joseph Smith claimed.
Today, using philology and paleography, independent researcher Jonah Barnes has harmonized these texts against the Genesis revelations of Joseph Smith Jr. Together they illuminate the answers to questions like:
- Who the heck are the Giants mentioned in Genesis 6?
- Why did God flush the entire human race down with the Great Flood? What specifically were they doing that was so wicked?
- How could God command the slaughter of the Canaanites?
- What’s the straight story on the mysterious prophet Enoch?
- What really happened to Isaac on Mount Moriah? (Hint: not what you think)
- Is the Book of Abraham authentically ancient or is it a fraud?
- Why is Jacob the Captain America of the Bible?
- Have the lost 116 pages been right under our noses all along?
Anything but boring, The Lost Gems of Genesis will illuminate how Joseph Smith Jr. filled the biggest gaps in the most important book in the world. This book will show that the genuine Genesis is crucial to understanding the rest of the Bible and that it was originally centered around the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. After reading Gems, you’ll never look at the Bible the same way again.