Wordprint studies of the book of mormon fairmormon. The book of mormon also contains work written by more than one author. 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. What can stylometry tell us about book of mormon authorship. A judeomormon analysis illuminates the seeker of truth on a refreshingly new level. 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. He next presents an extended reading of the narrative contents of the book focusing on its literary and theological dimensions. Many faithful mormon scholars have rightly surmised that where chiasmus could be found, there just might be other literary discoveries to be made. For nearly two centuries, faithful members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds have. Book of mormon literature the encyclopedia of mormonism. 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. The literary power of the book of mormon book of mormon. A literary analysis of the word liahona book of mormon. Welch was a missionary serving in regensburg, germany, and chiasmus was an ancient literary technique he had only recently learned about.
Copy of original characters obtained in 1903 from david whitmers heirs. 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. 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. 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. Literary analysis of book of mormon esovvicomthirs. 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.
Intriguing literary analysis of the book of mormon later on. Reynolds the thronetheophany and prophetic commission in 1 nephi. Its another record of gods dealings with his children. As a missionary, i told people about this story all of the time. Chiasmus in the book of mormon religious studies center. Conflicting results of computer analyses of the book of mormon. Critics of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. Since the book of mormons publication in 1830, a number of different. In no way does the use of literary criticism suggest that his gospel is only a story. Literary analysis of book of mormon, cover letter physical therapist assistant, rouge br sil resume d taill, aliens do exist essay. The book of mormon as a really interesting, well, piece of literature. New computer study purports to detect literary influences. A thorough literary analysis of the book of mormon reveals abundant and rich imagery and personification.
Joseph smith translated this record written on golden plates, and that translation is what we now have as the book of mormon. Chiastic structures in the book of mormon 1997, by h. Sondrup the exodus pattern in the book of mormon s. Following these rules, the thesis provides an analysis of specific themes particular to the book of mormon and suggests how. In the early, stilldark hours of the morning, august 16, 1967, a young john w. Essays on american indian and mormon history cleverly interweaves literary and historical analysis with personal anecdotal tales from native and allied scholars. Then there is the possibility of reading the book of mormon as literature, to enlighten, uplift, and inspire the reader. The book of mormon contains a chronology and internal geography that remain consistent through. 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. In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the works narrative structure in its 180 year history.
Book of mormons literary style most closely matched writing samples from. The book of mormon is a religious text which, like the bible, may be subjected to various methods of analysis. A mormon explanation of the i believe book of mormon. Chiastic structure in the book of mormon 1997, by h. It explores overlooked indigenous perspectives through interdisciplinary essays and vignettes that range from whimsical to factual, and thoughtfully balanced to broaden our. Whenever an ancient document is found which has questionable historical authenticity, there is a standard testing process that is done to determine whether the.
Unlike virtually all other recent world scriptures, the book of mormon presents itself as an integrated narrative rather than a series of doctrinal expositions, moral injunctions, or devotional hymns. An additional criticism of the historical authenticity of the book of mormon concerns linguistics. Nephi is the predominant writer of personification. His research into literary forms in ancient scriptures led him to the original discovery in 1967 of chiasmus in the book of mormon. The debate between critics and defenders of the book of mormon continues today. Learned and unlearned reading in the book of mormon jstor. This last landmark work by renowned isaiah scholar and literary analyst avraham gileadi is destined to transform readers understanding of the most timely and empowering truths the scriptures reveal. The book of mormon gets the literary treatment religion. 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. The literary power of the book of mormon religious studies center. For the first time, studies of the book of mormons literary qualities were appearing in major journals of american literary studies. Some early critics of the book of mormon ridiculed its literary qualities.
Although the book of mormon is composed of such literary elements as. New approaches to the book of mormon signature books. Above, characters reportedly copied by joseph smith from the gold plates. New approaches to the book of mormon explorations in critical methodology edited by brent lee metcalfe. 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. This compilation of groundbreaking book of mormon articles is selected from over fifty years of lds scholarship published by byu studies. A literary analysis of the book of mormon 1996, by walter krajewski. There are many reasons to study the book of mormon as literature. By the late 20th century, academic scholarship began to take seriously the literary quality and religious influence of the book of mormon. 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. To the person who knows only chiasmus and no other form of literary. 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.
But even if the book of mormon is not remarkable in its literary qualities as we. Over time, however, its become clear that the book of mormon is actually a remarkably complex and sophisticated text. The book of mormon comprises fifteen books, all named for their primary narrator or protagonist. The implications of reading the book of mormon from a literary perspective. Does chiasmus appear in the book of mormon by chance. This close reading enables the construction of a theology of the book of mormon that explores the major theological emphases that. How exactly does one read the book of mormon as literature. 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. The book of mormons structure and complexity is evidence of its authenticity.
Alter and kermodes the literary guide to the bible 1990 shows how this is done with the. This led to new research on the ancient american setting and complex literary structure of the book of mormon. Each book contains between one and thirty chapters, and they are printed in chronological order. This means that nsc analysis will always deliver positive results for one of. The prophet isaiah uses a variety of literary devices while he is prophesying. This may not be an earthshattering observation, but by. Jacks efforts to plumb the depths of chiasmus during the 1970s also stimulated other types of literary analysis of the book of mormon. Kent brown the israelite background of moses typology in the book of mormon noel b.
Two others are by the hand of mormon and the book of mormon. One challenge in performing a linguistic analysis of the book of mormon is that. 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 book of mormon is a sacred text in the latter day saint movement published by joseph smith. Muhlestein said that as he progressed through his literary analysis, he realized that references to the abrahamic covenant decreased drastically for. The literary book of mormon brigham young university. I wanted to look at the language that the prophet isaiah uses and how that affects the form of his prophecies. The book of mormon breaks several rules that are critical to works of fiction. If chiasmus is evidence of hebrew style in the bible, it must be evidence of hebrew style in the book of mormon. According to smith, the text was originally written in an unknown language called reformed egyptian. The book of mormon is where the literary and spiritual ambitions of the. A literary analysis of the word liahona evidences of mormon.
Though the book of mormon was written in nonhebrew script, patterns such as parallelisms could still be used. A bayesian statistical analysis of positive and negative. New testament interpretation through rhetorical criticism 1984, p. The typology of the exodus pattern in the book of mormon. Literary analysis of book of mormon research narrative paper professional creative essay ghostwriter websites au. Widtsoe, council of the twelve apostles, in search of truth. A literary analysis of the book of mormon pages 14. The book of mormon as a really interesting, well, piece of.
The literary book of mormon by richard dilworth rust. Personification is a type of imagery where objects or abstract things are treated as though they were human. The implications of reading the book of mormon from a literary perspective stokes, adam oliver. 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. Essays on american indian and mormon history u of u press. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a. 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. The book of mormon in the english literary context of 1837 gordon k. 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. 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.
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