Book of mormon, religion 122 independent study 1 lesson 1 alma 3035 the following assignments include various learning activities, such as questions, lists, essays, charts. The most powerful and beautiful example of chiasmus in the book of mormon and perhaps anywhere. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi the. In his blessing to his son helaman, alma uses chiasmus in recounting his conversion to the gospel of jesus christ. When abridging the account of alma s mission in ammonihah, mormon tangentially explains the legal system under the law of mosiah. In the late 1960s, a young latterday saint discovered that an ancient form of middle eastern poetry was found throughout the book of mormon, suggestive of its ancient semitic origins. The second article is a long, technical response with full documentation. One of the main types of evidence to which mormons appeal in support of the authenticity of the book of mormon as ancient israelite literature is the rhetorical feature called chiasmus. A there is an intelligent omnipotent being, who is selfexistent and infinitely b good and benevolent matter eternally existed. The musical of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Understanding the use of chiasmus in the book of mormon can benefit readers in many ways. Naturally, it is read with varying degrees of comprehension. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians and scientists.
Discussions on the book of mormon alma 14 originally aired. Book of mormonanthropologylanguagehebraismschiasmus. He was a key figure in the rise of the nephite church and republic, serving as the first chief judge in zarahemla, commanderinchief of the nephite army, and high priest c. Another famous author of the book of mormon who creatively employed the principles of chiasmus to great advantage was alma the younger. We now turn to the question of chiasmus in the book of mormon. According to the text it was written by enos, a nephite prophet. Talk about a riveting start to the latest book of mormon video. Alma 17 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. So it is, in my opinion, with the issue of chiasmus in the book of mormon. Mar 19, 2009 update 04092009 note, by the way, that the fatherson name sharing pattern shows up later in the book of mormon.
Style of writing that consists of arranging a series of words or ideas in one order and repeating it in reverse order. Update 04092009 note, by the way, that the fatherson name sharing pattern shows up later in the book of mormon. Alma, son of alma few individuals have had greater influence upon a civilization than alma, son of alma. Chiasmus and the book of mormon utah lighthouse ministry. It was alma the younger whose conversion to the lord was so powerful and rich that it affected an entire generation at the time it happened and has since become one of the most inspirational stories recorded in. Jul 28, 2012 this would also explain why, contrary to convention in the book of mormon, alma 4562 was not made into a separate literary unit called the first book of helaman it seems that the underlying source had been too meager and incomplete to stand on its own. Book of mormon, religion 122 independent study lesson 1 alma. The book of mormon the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Indeed, the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon may be evidence of joseph smiths own literary style and genius. Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth. Alma through helaman joseph fielding mcconkie and robert l. The first chapter of the book claims that it was written in the language of the egyptians but according to the learning of the jews 1 nephi 1. The main idea is at the turning point where the second half begins.
Chiasmus in the book of mormon religious studies center. However, certain other factors must be taken into consideration before any conclusions can be drawn. According to the book of mormon, alma was a nephite prophet who established the church of jesus christ in the americas during the reign of the wicked king. How does chiasmus teach us to reverse the pride cycle. The turning point in alma s conversion was not the appearance of the angel or the fear of eternal banishment, but calling on the name of jesus christ, the son of god. 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. Willes center for book of mormon studies book of mormon onomasticon. This chart illustrates the deep structure of alma 36. Does chiasmus appear in the book of mormon by chance. Chiasmus in the book of mormon mormonism, the mormon church.
It is claimed that the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon is either coincidental, an artifact of the observer, or not impressive since examples of chiastic patterns have been found in the doctrine and covenants or other 19th century. Alma 36 might still be inspired, ancient scripture that just happens not to be chiasmus. Those who were not so credulous insisted that it obviously read like anything but a hebrew text. Book of mormonevidenceshebraismschiasmus fairmormon. The enos problem in the book of mormon adventures in. Alma was paralyzed for three days in spiritual anguish. Watch alma transform from wicked priest to prophet in.
Book of mormon commentary alma 36 page 1 of 12 chiasmus in alma 36 my son give ear to my words v. Submission through surrendering weapons of war and covenanting peace. Chiasmus is one of the most frequently cited evidences for the authenticity of the book of mormon. The book of alma as a prototype for teaching the word of god. Opening the book of mormon itself, we find that it. When abridging the account of almas mission in ammonihah, mormon tangentially explains the legal system under the law of mosiah.
Dec 12, 2009 268 videos play all the book of mormon audio full michael dinkelman how to build a hinged hoophouse for a raised bed garden duration. Fittingly, alma makes this spiritual turning point the literary focal point of this entire chapter, one of the finest examples of chiastic composition anywhere in world literature. Practically since the day the book of mormon rolled off the press in 1830, those who believed in the book asserted that it obviously read like a hebrew text. Mormons commonly cite alma 36 as the supreme example of a long, complex chiasmus in the book of mormon. The majority of the chiastic passages were written by three book of mormon authors. I command you by all the desires which ye have for life, that.
Book of mormon commentary alma 42 page 3 of alma 42. First, chiasmus in the book of mormon demonstrates that the text is orderly, complex, rich, and aesthetically pleasing. Book of mormon central archive chiasmus in alma 36. Some of these examples may seem to be compelling, but when closely examined, they turn out to be little more than wishful thinking. Hinckley related the story of a young man who faced terrible odds to learn about the gospel because of the way church members treated him. Apr 15, 2016 for a short, less technical summary of this article, see alma 36. Alma 30 the book of alma mormon views alma as a prototype. Provided to youtube by the orchard enterprises hasa diga eebowai musical mania music from the book of mormon. If the book of mormon person name is analogous to this epithet, then alma would probably mean exactly what the ugaritic epithet meant, lad of god, a rather appropriate meaning for both book of mormon prophets who bear this name, especially since alma, when first introduced, is called a young man mosiah 17. Such simple examples of chiasmus are well known in english speech. Nineteen papers on a variety of topics related to the largest book in the book of mormon, alma, make up this volume. See for yourself if the discussion of epanodos there could have been used to create alma 36 and other masterpieces of chiasmus in the book of mormon.
He also diagrams the chiasmus in alma 36 as well as other chiasms found in the book of mormon. In each of the major episodes of these first chapters, mormon emphasizes a different aspect of the word of god. This volume features articles that look at doctrines in the book of mormon, including resurrection, the allegory of the olive tree, and the appearance of jesus christ to the brother of jared. What is chiasmus and why is it so important in the book of. View homework help alma 30 from religion 121 at brigham young university, idaho. Mormonen sehen diesen widerspruch als irrelevant an, da in alma. For example, alma 36 is structured as an intricate chiasm with jesus christ as its central focus. The first article here is a short, relatively nontechnical response to this claim. In the last 20 chapters, he recounts a long fourteen. As the keystone of our religion, the book of mormon is highpriority reading. A literary structure known as chiasmus exists in the book of mormon. Now it was in the law of mosiah that every man who was a judge of the law, or those who were appointed to be judges, should receive wages according to the time which they labored to judge those who were brought before them to be judged.
Usually, a clear transition of recordkeepers merits independent status as a. The structure is obviously chiastic, but there are some very sophisticated and elegant perturbations which have been the subject of careful and lengthy analysis. I believe ive ripped up pretty well the majority of the oftenquoted verses that most people claim as evidence or even proof of others in the book of mormon. What can we learn from 10 of the best chiasms in the book of mormon. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1997. Who the designer might bejoseph smith or another modern author with preknowledge of chiasmus, god, satan, or. What is chiasmus and how is it used in the book of mormon. Book of mormon commentary alma 4 page 3 of 6 president gordon b. The phenomenon which makes that possible is the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The most commonly cited example of chiasmus in the book of mormon is the prophet almas religious experience, as recorded in alma 36. Thomasson sees center of this overarching chiasm as the atonement at alma 34.
Chiasmus of alma 36 chiasmus is a style of writing known in antiquity and mused by many ancient and some modern writers. Alma 24 and alma 44 by grego 2020 c grego the nephite forces have surrounded the lamanites. If this was the only sort of chiasmus to be found in the book of mormon, then it would be weak evidence, at best, of any sort of ancient origin for the text. The chiastic structure, according to welch, is as follows.
Welch discovered a variety of instances of chiasmus in the book of mormon and along with his discovery came attention to the phenomenon. Chiasmus in the book of mormon book of mormon central. 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. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a 19thcentury 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. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. 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. Alma remembered all his sins, and wished he could disapear out of guilt. I began reading the book of mormon as a child and have read it several times. Nephi, benjamin, and alma, who all were descendants of lehi and his hebrew traditions, but almost completely missing from writings of mormon, moroni and ether. Jesus christ is the crux of the chiasm, just as he is the center of the gospel and the only means whereby salvation can be attained. Alma 1 alma 2, helaman 1helaman 2, and nephi 2nephi 3.
Why is the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon significant. Alma was out with sons of mosiah, destroying the church, when an angel stopped them. This compilation of groundbreaking book of mormon articles is selected from over fifty years of lds scholarship published by byu studies. Book of mormon commentary 2 nephi 20 page 1 of 8 2 nephi 20 chiasmus chiasmus. So an enos 1 enos 2 naming pattern would be consistent with other parts of the book of mormon. Unlike the white haired abinadi of arnold fribergs paintings, abinadi in the new. Amalekis writing also introduce the jaredites for the first time in the book of mormon, since the people of zarahemla had contact with coriantumr, the last surviving jaredite. Before his death, amaleki passed the nephite record to king benjamin, who was the son of mosiah. Alma tells helaman to listen to his conversion story. May 16, 2014 discussions on the book of mormon alma 14 originally aired.
The son of alma usually referred to as the book of alma, is one of the books that make up the book of mormon. 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. Alma 45 heading the account of the people of nephi. Start studying book of mormon assessment 1 nephi alma 16.
The evidence for ancient origins, edited by noel reynolds provo, utah. Jan 04, 2012 book of mormon commentary alma 4 page 3 of 6 president gordon b. Aug 11, 2009 you can read more about chiasmus in the book of mormon at jeff lindsays excellent site here. 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. Solomon spaulding wrote a manuscript that is now missing some critics believe it is the actual source of the book of mormon had another book, manuscript found, in which appears the following chiasmus. 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. The inverse parallelism that is the defining characteristic of chiasmus is thought to be difficult if not impossible to explain if joseph smith was the author. The discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon is one of the most significant scholarly contributions to understanding and appreciating the nephite record. This short book consists of a single chapter 1 and relates enos conversion after praying all day and all night, and his subsequent dialogue with the lord. Hilton concluded that, if wordprinting is a valid technique, then this analysis suggests that it is statistically indefensible to claim that smith, oliver cowdery, or solomon spalding wrote the 30,000 words in the book of mormon attributed to nephi and alma. It consists of arranging a series of words or ideas in one order, and then repeating it in reverse order.
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