Welch and others have amply demonstrated the presence of a number of legitimate chiasms in the book of mormon. Copy of original characters obtained in 1903 from david whitmers heirs. His research into literary forms in ancient scriptures led him to the original discovery in 1967 of chiasmus in the book of mormon. 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. The debate between critics and defenders of the book of mormon continues today. To the person who knows only chiasmus and no other form of literary. Conflicting results of computer analyses of the book of mormon. In no way does the use of literary criticism suggest that his gospel is only a story.
The literary book of mormon by richard dilworth rust. Wordprint studies of the book of mormon fairmormon. Sondrup the exodus pattern in the book of mormon s. Each book contains between one and thirty chapters, and they are printed in chronological order. New computer study purports to detect literary influences. For the first time, studies of the book of mormons literary qualities were appearing in major journals of american literary studies.
According to the text, the nephites and the lamanites initially spoke hebrew 600 bc and might have spoken a modified semitic language until at least 400 ad, when the book of mormon ends. The implications of reading the book of mormon from a literary perspective stokes, adam oliver. 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. The implications of reading the book of mormon from a literary perspective.
Though the book of mormon was written in nonhebrew script, patterns such as parallelisms could still be used. This led to new research on the ancient american setting and complex literary structure of the book of mormon. What can stylometry tell us about book of mormon authorship. New approaches to the book of mormon explorations in critical methodology edited by brent lee metcalfe. It explores overlooked indigenous perspectives through interdisciplinary essays and vignettes that range from whimsical to factual, and thoughtfully balanced to broaden our. The book of mormon as a really interesting, well, piece of literature. Learned and unlearned reading in the book of mormon jstor. Hunt, the late war, between the united states and great britain, from june 1812, to february 1815 1816 modeste gruau, the first book of napoleon, the tyrant of the earth. The book of mormons structure and complexity is evidence of its authenticity. 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. The book of mormon breaks several rules that are critical to works of fiction. The book of mormon in the english literary context of 1837 gordon k. Literary analysis of book of mormon esovvicomthirs. A literary analysis of the book of mormon pages 14.
Two others are by the hand of mormon and the book of mormon. Over time, however, its become clear that the book of mormon is actually a remarkably complex and sophisticated text. Daniel vogel allows for the possibility that complex chiasms might occasionally appear in the book of mormon, but he argues that the multitude of nearmisses points to what statisticians call the fallacy of the enumeration of favorable circumstances, or emphasizing the successes while disregarding the failures. Book of mormon literature the encyclopedia of mormonism. Some early critics of the book of mormon ridiculed its literary qualities. To latterday saints there can be no objection to the careful and critical study of the scriptures, ancient or modern, provided only that it be an honest studya search for truth. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a.
Personification is a type of imagery where objects or abstract things are treated as though they were human. One challenge in performing a linguistic analysis of the book of mormon is that. Chiasmus, a rhetorical device used prevalently in the bible and in other ancient literatures, was relegated to the intellectual subconsciousness of modern western civilization until the midnineteenth century. The book of mormon is a sacred text in the latter day saint movement published by joseph smith. The literary power of the book of mormon book of mormon. The book of mormon gets the literary treatment religion. This compilation of groundbreaking book of mormon articles is selected from over fifty years of lds scholarship published by byu studies. Even as eloquent a defender of the book as terryl givensa professor of religion and literature at the university of richmond who has since the 1990s been an emissary of mormon culture and theology to nonmormon intellectualsfelt compelled to admit that searching for literary wonders in the book of mormon is a bit like seeking lyrical. If chiasmus is evidence of hebrew style in the bible, it must be evidence of hebrew style in the book of mormon. Essays on american indian and mormon history cleverly interweaves literary and historical analysis with personal anecdotal tales from native and allied scholars. Since the book of mormons publication in 1830, a number of different.
Alter and kermodes the literary guide to the bible 1990 shows how this is done with the. The book of mormon is, in steinbergs view, a work of fan fiction, a way to imbue a new world with some of the sanctity of the holy land. Its another record of gods dealings with his children. The book of mormon also contains work written by more than one author. Chiasmus in the book of mormon religious studies center. Many faithful mormon scholars have rightly surmised that where chiasmus could be found, there just might be other literary discoveries to be made. This close reading enables the construction of a theology of the book of mormon that explores the major theological emphases that. Muhlestein said that as he progressed through his literary analysis, he realized that references to the abrahamic covenant decreased drastically for. Essays on american indian and mormon history u of u press. New testament interpretation through rhetorical criticism 1984, p. The book of mormon contains a chronology and internal geography that remain consistent through. A thorough literary analysis of the book of mormon reveals abundant and rich imagery and personification. In the early, stilldark hours of the morning, august 16, 1967, a young john w.
Although the book of mormon is composed of such literary elements as. The literary power of the book of mormon religious studies center. As a missionary, i told people about this story all of the time. Chiastic structure in the book of mormon 1997, by h. The correspondence is specific and features some detail in both books, especially in the book of mormon in keeping with the fact that the principal editor of the book of mormon was the commander of the armies of his people during nearly his entire adult life. The book of mormon is where the literary and spiritual ambitions of the. He next presents an extended reading of the narrative contents of the book focusing on its literary and theological dimensions.
Nephi is the predominant writer of personification. This thesis discusses whether literary methods of analysis are applicable to a sacred text, and suggests rules which should govern such a method of analysis. Then there is the possibility of reading the book of mormon as literature, to enlighten, uplift, and inspire the reader. The book of mormon as a really interesting, well, piece of. According to smith, the text was originally written in an unknown language called reformed egyptian. I approach the book of mormon and the questions it prompts from the standpoint of literary analysis, a field that increasingly has trained its sights on this work of. How exactly does one read the book of mormon as literature. Literary analysis of the book of mormon is just as legitimate as the kind of historical analysis and comparisons that hugh nibley did for apologetic purposes. By the late 20th century, academic scholarship began to take seriously the literary quality and religious influence of the book of mormon. Literary analysis of book of mormon, cover letter physical therapist assistant, rouge br sil resume d taill, aliens do exist essay. The literary book of mormon brigham young university. An additional criticism of the historical authenticity of the book of mormon concerns linguistics.
A mormon explanation of the i believe book of mormon. The prophet isaiah uses a variety of literary devices while he is prophesying. This may not be an earthshattering observation, but by. Although the book of mormon is composed of such literary elements as stories, poetry, symbolism, letters, archetypes, typology, and allegories, it is not just literature. Book of mormons literary style most closely matched writing samples from. Kent brown the israelite background of moses typology in the book of mormon noel b. A literary analysis of the book of mormon 1996, by walter krajewski. As john hilton put the matter, if wordprinting is a valid technique, then this analysis suggests that it is statistically indefensible to claim that joseph, oliver, or solomon spaulding wrote the 30,000 words in the book of mormon attributed to nephi and alma. A literary analysis of the word liahona evidences of mormon. Pros cons the book of mormon has 180 named characters that are authenic ancient names, many of which were unknown to the western world at the time. Critics of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. New approaches to the book of mormon signature books. A judeomormon analysis illuminates the seeker of truth on a refreshingly new level.
Following these rules, the thesis provides an analysis of specific themes particular to the book of mormon and suggests how. Does chiasmus appear in the book of mormon by chance. Whenever an ancient document is found which has questionable historical authenticity, there is a standard testing process that is done to determine whether the. A literary analysis of the word liahona book of mormon. Joseph smith translated this record written on golden plates, and that translation is what we now have as the book of mormon. There are many reasons to study the book of mormon as literature.
Reynolds the thronetheophany and prophetic commission in 1 nephi. Literary analysis of book of mormon research narrative paper professional creative essay ghostwriter websites au. The internets been abuzz with hype this week about a new computer study by duane and chris johnson which purports to identify four literary influences on the book of mormon besides the king james bible gilbert j. Jacks efforts to plumb the depths of chiasmus during the 1970s also stimulated other types of literary analysis of the book of mormon. Welch was a missionary serving in regensburg, germany, and chiasmus was an ancient literary technique he had only recently learned about. I wanted to look at the language that the prophet isaiah uses and how that affects the form of his prophecies. Widtsoe, council of the twelve apostles, in search of truth. A bayesian statistical analysis of positive and negative. But even if the book of mormon is not remarkable in its literary qualities as we. The typology of the exodus pattern in the book of mormon.
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