A worldfamous, nonmormon scholar called it the most stunning information ive learned concerning the book of mormon. The style of the book of mormon has been criticized by some as being verbose and redundant, but in most cases these repetitions are orderly and effective. Since the book of mormon is a translation, with all its faults, into english for englishspeaking people whose fathers for generations had known no other scriptures but the standard english bible, it would be both pointless and confusing to present the scriptures to them in any other form, so far as their teachings were correct. The book of mormon must be read as an ancient, not as a modern book. Book of mormontranslationdescription of the plates. The book of mormon has added words to the language, dotted the map from new york to utah with unique place names, and given believers a gallery of heroes rivaling the old testament. Albright considered the names paanchi and pahoran to be egyptian names.
Maxwell institute publications brigham young university. An account written by the hand of mormon upon the plates taken from the plates of nephi. Literature courses that prominently featured the book of mormon started to appear with more frequency in secular university course catalogues. The prophets direct claims concerning the coming forth of the book of mormon as well as how the book of mormon presents itself to the world do not easily permit any leeway for a middle ground on this matter. Garth book of mormon onomasticon by unknown book of mormon parallels vs book of mormon convergences by livingston, tyler. Perhaps welch could have strengthened his premise by demonstrating that the parallel members in the book of mormon consist of semitic word pairs, the basis of ancient hebrew poetry. The book of mammon is a challenging read, both in content and literary style. Even though mormon is a narrator, the actual books are written in 1st person. Lets be straight forward here, yes the book of mormon has chiasmus, but so do most literary works, specially. Suffice it to say, these two books have totally different objectives and writing styles. A glance at independent studies of poetic style in the book of mormon crowell 1992. What do wordprint studies say about the book of mormon.
Lance larsen s passing the sacrament at eastgate nursing home isnt the greatest mormon poem either, but its much more interesting to me as mormon literature. While olivers letters are an important historical resource, and while they capture olivers deeply moving testimony of the book of mormon. The following video demonstrates that the book of mormon s redundancies are actually sophisticated literary features which, in many cases, are similar or identical to literary techniques used by ancient hebrew authors. Feasting on the word is both a heartfelt and a thoughtful book, as clearly reasoned as it is faithful. This blog post is the first of several about the writers and the construction of the book of mormon. Book of mormon wordprint or word pattern studies parent page. Additionally, the book of mormon reflects kjv literary and linguistic style. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. The book of mormon has been described as the bible of north america i. Joseph smith mentioned several times that he translated the book of mormon record through the gift and power of god by means of the urim and thummim, but the term was used ambiguously. Cosponsored by interpreter foundation and byu studies, the presenters were stanford carmack, jan j.
This may lead readers to wonder if it has any literary merit at all. How byu destroyed ancient book of mormon studies william. January 2, 1988 by ben crowder apocryphal works, attack. We tend to focus on the similarities between the sermon at the temple and matthew 57, but 3 nephi, including chapters 1214, have remarkable affinities with the writings of john. The kjv was the most commonly used translation of the bible when the book of mormon was produced. The pages bespeak faith and testimony of jesus christ and an absolute belief in the historicity of the book of mormon account. This story was originally published in december 2015. If he copied from someone, we should see that authors writing style likewise. It is being shared again to celebrate the 190th anniversary of the publication of the book of mormon. That said, unique literary styles in the book of mormon is not meant to satisfy all technical demands of academic scholarship. The book of mormon spooky mormon hell dream lyrics by azmad202.
According to many witnesses, the rewritten manuscript found like the book of mormon was an attempt at imitating the literary style of the bible. The complete text reformatted maxwell institute grant r. Jul 26, 2018 in late 1834 to early 1835 oliver cowdery wrote a series of letters for the mormon newspaper the messenger and advocate. Fanfic mark twain may have savaged its literary ambitions, but a new novel from avi steinberg tries. Structure and composition of the book of mormon, literary elements. Having read the book of mormon several times and teaching it in sunday school, i was looking for a fresh approach. As early as 1831, eber howe, in his antimormon book mormonism unvailed. Several critics have pointed to grammatical errors in the early modern english style of the book of mormon and made the argument that because the original ms, the printers ms, and the first edition of the book of mormon appear to have contained hundreds of grammatical errors, the book was therefore fabricated by smith and not divinely inspired.
Pause for a moment and picture a copy of the book of mormon. Searching for literary wonders in the book of mormon is a bit like seeking lyrical inspiration in the books of chronicles or judges. Parsons, plates and records in the book of mormon maxwell institute. We find then that the lds claim that smith could not have written the book of mormon is without foundation.
Opening the book of mormon itself, we find that it more than fulfills our expectations. Discussion of themes and motifs in joseph smith, translators the book of mormon. Wordprinting, or stylometry as it is more commonly known, is the science of measuring literary style. Many of the worlds leading science fiction authors appeared, but one author who couldnt make it was william shunn. The book of mormon is negatively correlated with all four pseudobiblical writings, usually strongly negatively correlated, and especially with gilbert j. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. Welch argues in favor of ancient origins for book of mormon chiasmus, demonstrating that public awareness of this style was slight in america when the book of mormon was translated. This knowhy is the first in a series which discusses stylometry and its relevance to questions of book of mormon authorship. The main assumption underlying stylometry is that an author has aspects of literary style that may be unconsciously used, and can be used to identify their. Oct 06, 20 multiple writers contributed to the book of mormon. Prompted by a letter apostle james talmage had received from william riter, the first presidency asked roberts to develop a response to various difficulties and anachronisms within the book of mormon narrative. The book of mormon gets the literary treatment religion. The 1st rule of book of mormon evidence there is no.
Many critics of the book of mormon have tried but failed to give a. Its the calling card for thousands of missionaries, and part of the inspiration for a tony awardwinning broadway musical. They speak out incisively on such topics as the prophecy of ezekiel 37, internal and external evidences of the divine origin of the book of mormon, literary style in the book of mormon, ancient temples and the book of mormon, and the book of mormons teachings for the last days. A biblical scholar looks at the book of mormon mormons.
I totally need the copy of the the wonderful wizard of oz in my life. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. The book of mormon is the doctrinal centerpiece of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Jul 05, 2011 the book of mormon asserts that indians are of hebrew descent, specifically from one of the lost tribes joseph, and uses the old testament to support this. In antithetical parallelism in the book of mormon welch 1992, donald parry discusses another literary form found in the book of mormon, in which an idea in one line is contrasted with an opposite or antithetical idea in a second line. Pure gold plates would be too soft to hold engraving well. Book of mormon literature the encyclopedia of mormonism. That wedding of the rational and the religious works well for a volume which argues that the literary dimensions of the book of mormon contribute deliberately and dramatically to its religious impact. Would it be possible for that boy to understand and include ancient hebrew literary writing styles such as idioms and chiasmus, some of which werent even. For example, central to the style of this hebraic poetry are two key words.
Starting in 2003, university presses and trade publishers issued their own editions of the book of mormon. Of course, richard cracroft called it a competent, earthbound nonmormon poem. Book of mormon literary style in mesoamerica it came to. Bible, book of ether, book of mormon, book of moses, book of the dead, brigham young, carnal, celestial. Fair study aidsbook of mormon resources by chapter and verse. Some say it is a work of fiction, or even a fullblown lie. Why is words of mormon at the end of the small plates. They speak out incisively on such topics as the prophecy of ezekiel 37, internal and external evidences of the divine origin of the book of mormon, literary style in the book of mormon, ancient temples and the book of mormon, and the book of mormon s teachings for the last days. Literary reflections on jacob and his descendants religious. The words urim and thummim did not appear in the book of mormon, early revelations, or early newspaper accounts. Often the literary nature of the book of mormon conveys the doctrine and other. If this is the case, your god is an illiterate imbecile. Sep 26, 2019 how the book of mormon design has changed over the last 100 years kelsey berteaux editors note. Gideon burton brigham young university presentation to the association for.
You think the book of mormon is a literary masterpiece that just couldnt have been written by joseph smith or any man. Joseph smiths own writings have a very different style than the wording of the book of mormon. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. Davis examines joseph smiths 1829 creation of the book of mormon, the foundational text of the latter day saint movement. Their lack of ability, in each case, did not seem to deter them from producing works which equal, or easily surpass, the book of mormon in literary style and quality. There is just no way around it if youre going to stick with this claim. A second major question is sometimes raised about the isaiah material in the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a work of substantial complexity, however, with numerous wellspun narratives subsumed with a larger comprehensive vision there is a neat symmetry to the bible as we have received it. A clear poetic voice the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
The ultimate list of lds classics every mormon should read. They add emphasis to twicerepeated concepts and give definition to sharply drawn contrasts. For most of a decade, elder holland has read the book of mormon repeatedly and thoroughly, focusing on all references to the savior and his teachings. Because the study of hebrew writing forms in the book of mormon can strengthen testimony and be quite. The book of mormon reference companion book of mormon. Whether it be regarded as an authentic ancient record or as a highly contemporary document, the book of mormon is nevertheless a fact and a force. Hunts the late war, the text compared most often to the book of mormon. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on. Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record of the inhabitants of the ancient. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1990, 25169. Witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pounds.
Hamblin noted that if the practice of subscriptio is proof, as burkert said, of the dependence of greek literature on mesopotamian influence, cannot the same thing be said of the book of mormon that the practice of subscriptio represents a detailed and exclusive correspondence which. However, along with its incomparable spiritual message, the book of mormon contains a wealth of literary forms and figures of speech containing dozens of literary patterns. It has been claimed that the books of the apocrypha were a source for the book of mormon. In these letters he describes important events relative to the coming forth of the book of mormon and the early history of joseph smith. Does chiasmus appear in the book of mormon by chance. Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure gold, or that they are a solid block of gold. Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other denominations of the latter day saint movement believe that it describes ancient historical events in the americas.
Tanner, literary reflections on jacob and his descendants, in the book of mormon. Mar 06, 2015 on saturday, march 14, 2015 i attended the conference exploring the complexities in the english language of the book of mormon at byu. So was the manuscript submitted to patterson, according to his own statement. Chiasmus and the book of mormon utah lighthouse ministry. Two others are by the hand of mormon and the book of mormon. The book of mormon relates the religious history of the nephite nation for a thousand years. Because the study of hebrew writing forms in the book of mormon can. From his experience working at mormon corporate headquarters in salt lake citythe church office buildingsmith concludes that the cob is an enormous inwardlyfocused, selfperpetuating machine fueled by the tithing monies of the faithful.
For this monumental task, god prepared additional, practical help in the form of. Writing style of the book of mormon the writing style of the book of mormon is different than the bible. The title page of the book of mormon states the following. My intended readers are those who may have little appetite for endless footnotes from obscure sources, and are not bedazzled by credentials behind a name. For example, parallelisms, which abound in the book of mormon, serve many functions. Unique literary styles in the book of mormon, further. According to hugh nibley, the father of contemporary mormon scriptural and theological scholarship, the book of mormon can and should be tested.
Jacob through words of mormon, to learn with joy, eds. Including the mormon churches conflicting results of computer analyses of the book of mormon. The term chiasmus is never used, but this book clearly shows that hebrew poetic styles were recognized and studied even before joseph smiths time. It is the sacred text for the 15 millionstrong church of jesus christ of latterday saints. As mentioned, the book of mormon is uncorrelated with the king james bible in this domain. Some months ago, john announced in an academic journal the remarkable discovery that an ancient and highly specialized hebrew literary style could be found throughout the book of mormon. The answer here rests on the whole literary style contained in the book of mormon compared to maya writing in the popol vuh. The book of mormon weaves nt phraseology into complex literary tapestries that go far beyond mere cut and paste plagiarism. Wordprint studies of the book of mormon fairmormon. Many writers contributed to the book of mormon as ive stated earlier the purpose of my blog is to bear my witness that the book of mormon is another witness of jesus christ. Mormon personal journals, incidentally, are a primary literary type. Furthermore, the new book of mormon class offered by byurel a 275 teachings and doctrine of the book of mormon is now a single two hour class approaching the book of mormon. Not least, it has added to native literature a distinct literary type, the nephite legend, by now an approved subject for ph.
The result is an intelligent observation and thorough study of the book of mormon s contribution to our understanding of christ. One of the most prominent examples is the template that forms the. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a. This first article explains what stylometry is and gives readers a short history of stylometric studies performed on the book of mormon. Some scholars believe that some of the chapters of the current book of isaiah were not written by that prophet but by one or more different authors long after isaiahs timein fact, after the time that lehi and his family left jerusalem. The book of mormon asserts that indians are of hebrew descent, specifically from one of the lost tribes joseph, and uses the old testament to support this. For the first time, studies of the book of mormon s literary qualities were appearing in major journals of american literary studies. Whatsoever is good cometh from god, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the. Book of mormon central, one year later in bmafbmc book of mormon conference. As unnatural parallels multiply in any study, the scale tips from accident toward the cultural connection side. The following video demonstrates that the book of mormons redundancies are actually sophisticated literary features which, in many cases, are similar or identical to literary techniques used by ancient hebrew authors.
This was a literary approach to the book of mormon which gave interpretations and insights that had never occurred to me. The literary masterpiece called the book of mormon. Davis examines joseph smiths 1829 creation of the book of mormon, the foundational text of the latter day saint m. The book of mormon bears the unmistakable mark of ancient hebrew literary forms. The literary power of the book of mormon religious studies center. Articles alphabetical book of mormon archaeological forum. Some critics have disparaged the book of mormons language for being too repetitive.
Book of mormon central archive book of mormon central. Thus, the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon would reveal new ways in which the book of mormon is true to itself, true to its general cultural origins, and truly a remarkable piece of religious literature in its own right. I especially appreciated the authors system of breaking the narrative up by authoreditor and helping me think through their backgrounds and purposes. Some critics have disparaged the book of mormon s language for being too repetitive. There is a science of measuring literary style called.
Reading this book was a pleasure as i studied the book of mormon from this literary perspective. David bokovoys work and grant hardys understanding the book of mormon have already been mentioned and both would qualify as efforts that bracket issues of truthfulness to evaluate the literary value. Book of mormon problems lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. At least three computer analyses have been completed to date in an effort to determine who wrote the book of mormon, and whether it was a single individual or a group. Review of books on the book of mormon 19892011 volume 11number 1 article 3 1999 the literary book of mormon richard dilworth rust follow this and additional works at. Isaiah in the book of mormon religious studies center. Kjv isaiah in the book of mormon why the lds church is true. Although the book of mormon is composed of such literary elements as stories. Lets be straight forward here, yes the book of mormon has chiasmus, but so do most literary works, specially in that day and age, as well as scriptural times.
If joseph smith wrote the book of mormon, we should be able to see his literary style across the entire book. In particular, 2 maccabees includes the name nephi. Positioning the text in the history of early american oratorical techniques, sermon culture, educational practices, and the. This volume features articles that look at literary aspects of the book of mormon, including a lyric reading of nephis psalm, the exodus pattern and moses typology in the book, the literary context that affected its acceptance in england in 1837, a comparison of the book of mormon with the narrative of zosimus, and even an analysis of the. Joseph smith and the making of the book of mormon kindle.