Who Wrote the Pentateuch?
by S. Kurt Neumiller

    Many scholars debate over who wrote the Law of Moses, also called
the Pentateuch, or the Torah.  Various theories of multiple authors
have gained popularity rather than simply assuming that Moses himself
wrote it.  These various theories rely largely on attempts to analyze
the text mixed with popular opinion so they are all quite speculative.
Lets take a look at what the scriptures say on the issue.

Deut. 31:24
When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, to the 
very end...

    The Law itself identifes Moses as the author.

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through 
Jesus Christ.

    John the Beloved identifes Moses as the one who gave the Law.

John 7:19
Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do 
you seek to kill me?

    Jesus identifies Moses as the one who gave the Law.

John 8:5
Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about 
her?

    The Pharisees identify Moses as the one who commands via the Law.

1 Ne. 5:11
And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which 
gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, 
who were our first parents;

    Nephi attributes the Law to Moses.

2 Ne. 3:17
And the Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power 
unto him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I 
will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make 
him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger 
of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesman for him.

    Joseph quotes the Lord as saying that He will have Moses write the 
    Law.

PoGP Moses 1:41 
And in a day when the children of men shall esteem my words as naught
and take many of them from the book which thou shalt write, behold, I 
will raise up another like unto thee; and they shall be had again among 
the children of men among as many as shall believe.

    The Lord in a conversation with Moses indicates that people will
    remove content from his writings.

Conclusion
    The scriptures overwhelmingly indicate that Moses himself not only
disbursed the Law to Israel but also wrote it himself.  They also 
indicate that Moses' writings will have material removed from them
over time.  No scriptural source indicates other authors were involved
or that other persons would add or emend material, only that material
would be removed.  It seems likely though that Deut. 34 was written
by someone other than Moses and that some small emendations were made
to the Law over time.  However, the scriptures indicate that the vast
majority of the Law was penned personally by Moses.