Alma has skillfully framed the story of his conversion with chiastic panels for the sole purpose of drawing our attention to the centrality of Jesus Christ in that conversion. Was Chiasmus Known to Ancient American Writers? Some chiasms are relatively straightforward, such as the example in Genesis 7:21–23 (translating literally from the Hebrew): Other chiasms, as we shall see, are much more complex. In Chiasmus in Antiquity: Structures, Analyses, Exegesis. The wicked are estranged from the womb …, Their poison is like the poison of a serpent …, They shall melt away like waters, like a snail will melt as it goes along …, Abortions of a woman that have not beheld the sun …. Needless to say, the discovery of chiasmus has given us plenty to think about. Another easy-to-find chiasm is at Mosiah 5:10–12. "What Does Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon Prove? BYU Studies Quarterly 10, no. Thus it seems that we are able to meet the demands of an exceptionally strong conditional here: Chiasmus is in a literature if and only if its roots are Hebraic. In various forms of communication, chiastic structure can be utilized in everything from a simple phrase to the ordering of complex thematic ideas. Secondly, we may find that we want to put this knowledge to work in two ways: either as evidence for the truth of the Book of Mormon or as a key to unlocking its deeper beauties and more profound meanings. Welch, John W.. "Chiasmus in Helaman 6:7–13." Welch, John W. "Chiasm in Ugaritic," In Chiasmus in Antiquity: Structures, Analyses, Exegesis. Short chiasms are not uncommon in literature. and believe that salvation … is … in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. But still, in this endeavor we only stand in front of an open door with plenty of room left ahead of us for learning and feeling about the Book of Mormon. Photos are what you need to create a stunning website. and also, the name by which he shall call you. Chiasmus is a type of parallelism in which the second half of the text parallels in reverse order the first half. Poetic Parallelisms in the Book of Mormon: The Complete Text Reformatted gives us the entire Book of Mormon in a new format. We build enduring faith in Jesus Christ by making the Book of Mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to people everywhere. Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon is both a necessary and a natural way of explaining some things in the Book of Mormon that go unaccounted for otherwise. To an ancient Israelite this was beautiful, this was metrical, this was inspirational. 1065-9366 (print), 2168-3158 (online) On August 16, 1967, Welch discovered the presence of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon. Edited by John W. Welch. Photos are what you need to create a stunning website. John W. Welch discovered the presence of chiasmus on August 16, 1967 while on his mission in Germany, and since that time, chiasmus has served as a profound witness for the beauty and complexity of the Book of Mormon. Surely not. Time now for a few final evaluations of what we have learned about chiasmus in the Book of Mormon. The most commonly cited example of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon is the prophet Alma's religious experience, as recorded in Alma 36. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1997, 295-309. What is it that has drawn this attention? Poetic Parallelisms in the Book of Mormon: The Complete Text Reformatted, Chiasmus in Antiquity: Strucutres, Analyses, Exegesis, Structure and Chiasm in Aramaic Contracts and Letters. 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. Part 1, What Can We Learn from 10 of the Best Chiasms in the Book of Mormon? In Book of Mormon Authorship: New Light on Ancient Origins, edited by Noel B. Reynolds, 33-52. 5] and again in chapter 18 [1 Ne. Edited by John W. Welch. The professor discussed the work of Father Paul Gaechter, a Catholic priest who had written a book titled, The Literary Art in the Gospel of Matthew. "Does Chiasmus Appear in the Book of Mormon by Chance?" Provo, UT: FARMS, 1998. Indeed, so much is being regularly published on this subject that it takes a very watchful eye and lots of effort just to keep tabs on all that is coming out. Significantly enough, the central idea of the majority of chiastic passages in the Book of Mormon deals with the divinity of Jesus Christ and man’s direct relationship to him. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1998. More often than not, the prophets of the Book of Mormon use chiasmus as a device through which they can focus our attention upon the central idea of their message. therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts. …, I would that ye should remember to retain the name. …. Another famous author of the Book of Mormon who creatively employed the principles of chiasmus to great advantage was Alma the Younger. Criteria for Identifying and Evaluating the Presence of Chiasmus. We could make similar comments about every chiastic passage in the Book of Mormon. In harmony with the nature of that event, he chose to express his story in chiastic form. How Did Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Authors Use Chiasmus? Chiasmus makes this poem harmonic, complete, and brilliant. The phenomenon which makes that possible is the presence of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon. Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 19 (2016): 355-382. From the Collection: John W. Welch (1946- ) discovered chiasmus in the Book of Mormon and founded the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS). "Structure and Chiasm in Aramaic Contracts and Letters." Chiasmus was first noticed by a few nineteenth century pioneer theologians in Germany and England, but the idea had to wait until the 1930s before it found an ardent exponent, Nils Lund, who was able to lay the principle before the eyes of the world in a convincing way. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1992. Or how are we to explain the fact that Nephi wrote two books (1 Nephi and 2 Nephi) instead of just running it all together into one, except by reference to the individual structure of each book? Can you clarify what is in the Bible about the pre-existence? Many Latter-Day Saints point out that the use of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon is proof that Joseph Smith translated a script that was Hebrew in origin, since the chiasmus had not yet been discovered when the Book of Mormon was translated in 1829. To answer any of these questions, chiasmus must be called into the discussion to explain the underlying structural organization behind Nephi’s written record. Welch, John W.. "Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon." Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon. Part 2, What Can We Learn from 10 of the Best Chiasms in the Book of Mormon? They all are artistic and meaningful. I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name. …. Christenson, Allen J.. "Chiasmus in Mesoamerican Texts." This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the Book of Mormon, are rejected by non-Latter Day Saint historians and scientists. John W. Welch was born in 1946. Edited by John W. Welch and Stephen D. Ricks. Clearly, the precise and intricate structure of this great speech adds to it to make it a masterpiece of religious literature. "Book of Mormon/Evidence/Hebraisms/Chiasmus" FAIR Entry. In the last fifty years, hundreds of chiasms from the Book of Mormon have been proposed and studied. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1998. Edited by John W. Welch. Other places that once seemed disorganized have now regained their original orderliness. B 1 2. Surely it would be spectacular if this long-forgotten aspect of Hebrew literature were also to appear in the Book of Mormon. The discovery of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon is one of the most significant scholarly contributions to understanding and appreciating the Nephite record. that ye are not found on the left hand of God. Also consider that there are several examples in the Book of Mormon, including Alma 36, which is one of the best chiasmus anywhere. 3:7; 1 Ne. Power Through Repetition: The Dynamics of Book of Mormon Parallelism. This is truly an amazing passage of scripture, both in its rich content and in its complex structure. Why Would Mankind “Unavoidably Perish” without the Atonement of Jesus Christ? In the first place, we have demonstrated the extensive existence of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon beyond any possible doubt. Just look at how it turned out! And men shall say, there is a reward for righteousness. Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon. It consists of arranging a series of words or ideas in one order and then repeating it in reverse order... Alma 36 is, in my opinion, the very best chiasm in the Book of Mormon, if not in all of world literature. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1996, 53-74. In 1967 chiasmus was discovered in the Book of Mormon, and the findings were published in BYU Studies. Why Does the Book of Ether Begin with Such a Long Genealogy? Chiasmus is not limited to short passages. 1 As John W. Welch noted in 1995, there are “varying degrees of chiasticity,” and while “many proposed chiasms are impressive and interesting; others appear to be contrived or unremarkable.” 2 In other words, not all chiasms are created equal. I've heard all the time about how Alma 36 is an incredible example of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon and how this is strong evidence for the BOM's authenticity. The word order of this passage is undeniably chiastic. Consider briefly the outline of the First Book of Nephi and how the order of Nephi’s narration revolves around his vision of the Spirit of the Lord: Lehi’s dream leads him to prophesy warnings to the Jews (chapter 1), Nephi accomplishes a great feat emphasis>in obtaining the brass plates of 1 Nephi 3:7; the brothers are confounded (3–5), Ishmael joins the group with his daughters (7), Lehi prophesies about the Old World and the coming of the Lamb (10), Nephi prophesies about the New World and the coming of the Lamb (12–14), The sons of Lehi marry the daughters of Ishmael and Ishmael dies (16), Nephi accomplishes a great feat by building a ship of 1 Nephi 17:3; the brothers are confounded (17), Nephi warns the Jews and quotes the prophecies of Isaiah (19–22). Strong interest in the study of chiasmus, especially in biblical texts and in the Book of Mormon, continues to abound. But from our present vantage point we can certainly feel justified, by many mutually self-reinforcing indications, in believing that we have here a viable door to enter, a profitable way to go, and a rich meaning to pursue. Edited by John W. Welch and Daniel B. McKinlay. Why Was Chiasmus Used in Nephite Record Keeping? Provo, UT: FARMS, 1992. What Can We Learn from 10 of the Best Chiasms in the Book of Mormon? Those who were not so credulous insisted that it obviously read like anything but a Hebrew text. It now appears certain that the ancient Israelites not only had a unique message to give to the world, but they also had a unique way in which to write this message down. That volume, published by an internationally respected academic press, featured an essay by Welch on chiasmus in the Book of Mormon.16 Eminent Biblical scholar David Noel Freedman praised this book and called special attention to Welch’s “unique treatment of the Book of Mormon,” and considered the work “indispensable.”17 More recently, Welch has been the driving force behind a … Save me, O my God, for thou has smitten all my enemies on the cheek-bone; 8. Some LDS writers are trying to establish the historicity of the Book of Mormon by maintaining that it contains a poetic style, sometimes used in the Bible, called chiasmus (see: [link] for a description of chiasmus.). However, a recently recognized phenomenon in the Book of Mormon has now made it possible for us to cite many specific examples of passages in the Book of Mormon which bear the distinct stamp of an ancient Hebraic literary form. The study of ancient literature has been enriched in the second half of the 20th century by the growing awareness and understanding of chiasmus in ancient literature. According to most adherents of the Latter Day Saint movement, the Book of Mormon is a 19th-century translation of a record of ancient inhabitants of the American continent, which was written in a script which the book refers to as "reformed Egyptian". Either in an attempt to avoid redundant repetitions or to prevent awkward word orders, the King James translators did a good job of leveling almost every chiasm in the Bible. Why Is the Presence of Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon Significant? ", Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: the Evidence for Ancient Origins (Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies), ISBN 978-0-934893-25-1 Hugh W. Pinnock of the First Quorum of the Seventy, although feeling that such study is faith-promoting, also cautioned: Copyright 2021 Book of Mormon Central: A Non-Profit Organization. ), the PDF of the entire edition can be downloaded or individual articles can be viewed as HTML or PDF files. Chiasmus is "a figure of speech by which the order of the words in the first of two parallel clauses is reversed in the second" (Oxford Companion to English Literature, 1985 ed. and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, submissive, meek, humble … full of love. …. 2 Of course, scholarship does not replace spiritual witness as a source of testimony. 17:3]—or again the fact that Nephi is bound by cords once in chapter 5 [1 Ne. Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon is both a necessary and a natural way of explaining some things in the Book of Mormon that go unaccounted for otherwise. Smith, Gregory L.. "“From the Sea East Even to the Sea West”: Thoughts on a Proposed Book of Mormon Chiasm Describing Geography in Alma 22:27." where the first term recurs last, and the last first.” 1 Most Latter-day Saints who know about chiasmus have probably heard about their presence in the Book of Mormon and the Bible. In a sense, we might even say that it ought to appear in the Book of Mormon, it being of Hebraic origins. Chiasms appear in Greek, Latin, English and other languages, but it was most highly developed in Hebrew. The prayer is set in the center for the very purpose of showing how prayer to the Lord God can turn everything completely around. We hope these resources will enrich your study and serve to strengthen your testimony of this masterful work. What is Chiasmus and How is It Used in the Book of Mormon? Now, 50 years since Welch’s discovery of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, we see that his find is still reverberating in scholarly publications on the Book of Mormon. Let us turn now to the Book of Mormon. John W. Welch discovered the presence of chiasmus on August 16, 1967 while on his mission in Germany, and since that time, chiasmus has served as a profound witness for the beauty and complexity of the Book of Mormon. How else, except by chiasmus, can we explain the postponed interpretation of the vision of the tree of life? From the Collection: John W. Welch (1946- ) discovered chiasmus in the Book of Mormon and founded the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS). Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon. Keep the commandments [and] ye shall prosper in the land (1), Support in trials, trouble, and afflictions (3), Seek no more to destroy the church of God (9), The agony of conversion (11–16) destroyed, torment, harrowed up, racked, the pains of hell, inexpressible horror, banished and extinct, the pains of a damned soul, I remember … the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me (17–18), The joy of conversion (19–22) no more pain, what joy, marvelous light, exquisite, nothing as sweet, singing and praising God, longing to be with God, Labored without ceasing to bring souls unto repentance (24), Supported under trials and troubles, yea afflictions (27), Keep the commandments and ye shall prosper in the land (30). Edited by John W. Welch. Welch, John W.. "Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon." It is also important for us to notice that chiasmus is not just a simple repetition; it also involves an intensification or an aspect of completion in the second half. Chiasmus in Alma 36: John Welch, who discovered chiasmus in the Book of Mormon in 1967 wrote the following: Chiasmus is a style of writing known in antiquity and used by many ancient and some modern writers. 1 And, with more study, the book’s sturdiness and richness and the remarkable accomplishment of its translator, the Prophet Joseph Smith, become more apparent for everyone to see. Chiasmus was first recognized by a handful of scholars in 1820, but not well-known until 1942. Thus it is perfectly natural to find that Nephi gives his autobiography a structure all its own, a structure that conveys by its very form a message of emphatic centrality and symmetrical contrasts about important events in Nephi’s life. In 1967, while serving in the LDS South German Mission, Welch and his companion attended a lecture in the Catholic Priesterseminar which talked about the use of chiasmus in the Gospel of Matthew. Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 16, no. High quality photos will ensure your website is always updated. Parallelism and Chiasmus in King Benjamin's Speech. Students of biblical literature and of the Book of Mormon can now access an important new volume on chiasmus, Chiasmus: The State of the Art, just published as a special supplement to the journal BYU Studies Quarterly.For subscribers (or everyone? John W. Welch was born in 1946. Is religious education more important than academic education? See if you can identify its six repeating elements! Since Welch’s discovery of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon fifty years ago, chiasmus has become one of the most frequently cited evidences for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon as ancient literature, and therefore as having been translated miraculously by Joseph Smith. It has led us to think about the nature of our sacred literature and to reevaluate the skill and deliberation with which it was written. 1 And, with more study, the book’s sturdiness and richness and the remarkable accomplishment of its translator, the Prophet Joseph Smith, become more apparent for everyone to see. I think it would be fair to say that the discovery of this pattern, the discovery of chiasmus, has added more insights into the nature of biblical literature than has any other single discovery of a comparable kind in modern times. For this article I am going to discuss an ancient literary form known as chiasmus. Smith, Robert F. "Assessing the Broad Impact of Jack Welch's Discovery of Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon." Chiasmus is an inverted-parallel literary form that was employed by ancient Hebrew biblical writers, among others. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1982. Edited by Noel B. Reynolds. What could the phrase “learning of the Jews” better refer to, in this context, than to some particular Hebraic style of writing? Additional Book of Mormon Study Resources. Today, articles on the subject are quite common. Why Did Jesus Mix Together Micah and Isaiah? Serious study of the Book of Mormon by Latter-day Saints is flourishing today as never before. It contains chiasms of all sorts and sizes. Edwards, Boyd F., and Farrell W. Edwards. “Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon,” New Era, Feb. 1972, 6. ). The discovery of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon is one of the most significant scholarly contributions to understanding and appreciating the Nephite record. Book of Mormon Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also, my brethren took of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also Zoram took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to wife.” 1 Nephi 16:7 And now … whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1998. Fraenkel, Jonah. "When Are Chiasms Admissible as Evidence?" 2 (2007): 63-73, 98-99. But in the case of the chiasms from the Book of Mormon, these objections can be tossed aside as unconvincing, unsatisfactory, unimaginative, and unintelligent. The essays in Chiasmus in Antiquity, first published in Germany in 1981, examine the use and effect of chiasmus in the Old and New Testaments and the Book of Mormon, as well as in Sumero-Akkadian, Ugaritic, Talmudic, Greek, and Latin literatures. Because Mormons claim that examples of chiastic writing in the Book of Mormon help authenticate the book. A further phenomenon that we can see in the structure of the 58th Psalm is the importance of the chiastic turning point. Chiasmus It is claimed by many within the LDS Church that special literary patterns found in Hebrew writing are also found in the Book of Mormon, which they feel helps prove that book comes from ancient Jewish origins and not from Joseph Smith's mind. Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon John W. Welch departed for a mission to Germany in 1964. Should we consider it contrived that Ishmael is mentioned only twice in the entire Book of Mormon and that these two occurrences just happen to fall symmetrically around 1 Nephi 11 [1 Ne. Indeed we find that much of King Benjamin’s speech is built upon chiastic elements. “From the Sea East Even to the Sea West”: Thoughts on a Proposed Book of Mormon Chiasm Describing Geography in Alma 22:27. Alma himself gives us two accounts of that miraculous conversion; the first is found in Mosiah 27:24–31. In King Benjamin's Speech: That Ye May Learn Wisdom. Book of Mormon Evidences, Part 2: Chiasmus, Mesoamerican evidences, cement, olives, ancient names like Alma, and other evidences for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon--a divine ancient record from the New World that testifies of Jesus Christ. Q: How significant is the Mormon claim that chiasmus is in the Book of Mormon? A world-famous, non-Mormon scholar called it the “most stunning information I’ve learned concerning the Book of Mormon.” John, presently a doctoral student at England’s Oxford University, is a transplanted Californian via BYU. In Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins. What Does Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon Prove? BYU Studies Quarterly 49, no. Chiasmus, or inverted parallelism, is “a two-part [literary] structure or system in which the second half is a mirror image of the first, i.e. His twist here is extremely clever and unequaled in Hebraic literature. In all seriousness and in all respects, this is a great play on words. 11 ]? In 1969, John W. Welch discovered a variety of instances of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon and along with his discovery came attention to the phenomenon. Consider what happens when we rewrite these verses by arranging them in the following way: It now becomes quite clear to us that the repetition in these verses is not just a haphazard redundancy. "Chiasmus in Talmudic-Aggadic Narrative." Book of Mormon Evidences, Part 2: Chiasmus, Mesoamerican evidences, cement, olives, ancient names like Alma, and other evidences for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon--a divine ancient record from the New World that testifies of Jesus Christ. All rights reserved. The Amazing True Story of How Chiasmus was Discovered in The Book of Mormon, Chiasmus, Poetry and Literary Forms - Book of Mormon Evidence, Stephen Ehat - Brief Introduction to Chiasmus in Alma 36. What we have in 1 Nephi is Nephi telling the story, and he does so in Nephi’s way of seeing things. Why Did King Benjamin Use Poetic Parallels So Extensively? But even at that, it was not until the decade of the 1960s, after much more had been learned about the philology of early Semitic languages, that chiasmus was properly understood and unequivocally acknowledged. Thus, chiasmus could easily have appeared in the Doctrine and Covenants by chance, whereas it's highly unlikely that chiasmus could have appeared in the Book of Mormon by chance. Why Did Nephi Use Chiasmus to Testify of Christ? In Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins. Sandy, UT: FairMormon, 2012. This particular discovery is not an archeological one nor, strictly speaking, an historical one, but rather a unique type of literary discovery that helps modern minds to understand the literature of the ancient Near East.