Welch, criteria for identifying and evaluating the presence of chiasmus, journal of book of mormon studies. I was an undergraduate, so i hope people will cut me a little slack for what i wrote there. Jubilee marks 50 years from book of mormon chiasmus. In 1967 chiasmus was discovered in the book of mormon, and the findings were published in byu studies. 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.
Welch recognized a phenomenon in the book of mormon which has stimulated a new consideration of the book of mormon as ancient literature and raised new questions relevant to several other ancient literary traditions. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, isbn 9780934893251 hugh w. A study relating chiasmus in the book of mormon to. This article provides an introduction to chiasmus, explaining what it is and why mormons think it is evidence for the book of mormon, giving examples from the bible, and discussing whether the book of mormon contains clear instances of chiasmus. This compilation of groundbreaking book of mormon articles is selected from over fifty years of lds scholarship published by byu studies. Chiasmus in the book of mormon religious studies center. The very first example of chiasmus discovered in the book of mormon isnt a chiasmus at all. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon.
Containing both plain and veiled language, the book of mormon is a spiritually and literarily powerful book that is direct yet complex, simple yet profound. John welch graduated from duke law school in 1972 and is now a professor of law in the j. This discovery has changed the way we forever approach book of mormon scholarship. This phenomenon is the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon. This volume features articles on hebraisms and chiasmus in the book of mormon, as well as articles discussing emendation of the text, naturalistic assumptions, wordprint analyses, variations between copies of the first.
Those who were not so credulous insisted that it obviously read like anything but a hebrew text. Jubilee marks 50 years from book of mormon chiasmus discovery. Since then, two organizations farms and fraa have published extensive literature to show that the book of mormon translated by. Enrich your come, follow me study with highquality articles that are well researched, inspirational, and written by scholars, educators, church leaders, historians, and popular authors. This volume features articles on hebraisms and chiasmus in the book of mormon, as well as articles discussing emendation of. Chiasmus and the book of mormon utah lighthouse ministry. 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. A study relating chiasmus in the book of mormon to chiasmus in the old testament, ugaritic epics, homer, and selected greek and latin authors. Chiasmus and book of mormon textual studies ebook by byu. 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. He is an lds religion and law scholar who is credited with discovering the many instances of the ancient literary form of chiasmus in the book of mormon, a realization he had as a young missionary in germany. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon, in book of mormon authorship. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Seuss, and other works are likely not intentionally chiastic. He has since spent much time studying chiasmus in the book of mormon, the bible, and other sacred literature. Quarterly by an authorized editor of byu scholarsarchive. In this volume, nine latterday saint scholars each address the question of book of mormon authorship from a different approach. I am grateful to byu studies for permission to include the following previously published articles. The discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon part 2. Chiasmus and textual criticism panel discussion chiasmus. Welch discovered the first instance of chiasmus in the book of mormon in 1967. That fall i wrote an article about what i had learned, called chiasmus in the book of mormon. Book of mormonevidenceshebraismschiasmus fairmormon. The discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon is one of the most significant scholarly contributions to understanding and appreciating the nephite record.
The deliberate use of hebrew parallelisms in the book of. One such proof for manycelebrated this week with a jubilee and twoday conference sponsored by byu studies and book of mormon centralis the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon. Byu studies and book of mormon central held a twoday conference on byus campus on tuesday, august 15th and wednesday, august 16th, 2017. Holland gave a stirring address about the power of physical evidence in defending the gospel at the chiasmus conference sponsored by book of mormon central and byu studies.
This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians. Welch discovered the presence of chiasmus on august 16, 1967 while on his mission in germany. Indeed, the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon may be evidence of joseph smiths own literary style and genius. Chiasmus and several varieties of inverted parallel structures are found in many places in the new testament. The amazing true story of how chiasmus was discovered in. The rsc library is not found on or anywhere else online. The following charts offer a few samples of such literary arrangements. Chiasmus and book of mormon textual studies kindle. The conference sessions had presentations by lds and nonlds scholars discussing chiasmus in the bible and in other texts, including the book of mormon. It is entirely possible that descendants of the book of mormon peoples knew of the device and used it in their own records. Book of mormon authorship religious studies center. Pinnock of the first quorum of the seventy, although feeling that such study is faithpromoting, also cautioned. This discovery has had a profound impact on book of mormon. President of the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, he has contributed to byu studies and is coauthor and general editor of the recently published book, chiasmus in antiquity.
His finding, published in byu studies as chiasmus in the book of mormon in 1969, and subsequent publications have shaped scholarly inquiry into the linguistic aspects and historical origin of the book of mormon. A statistical analysis that indicates the chiasmus found in the book of mormon and old testament was deliberate while strangite scripture, the doctrine and covenants, nursery rhymes, dr. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading chiasmus and book of mormon textual studies. An instance of this form, called a chiasm, presents two or more literary elements, and then restates them in reverse order. While serving as a young missionary in germany, welch discovered many instances of the chiasmus literary form in the book of mormon. Chiasmus in the book of mormon brigham young university. Chiasmus jubilee conference evening session august 16. In reading bible commentaries, students will often encounter figures displaying chiastic patterns. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon, brigham young university studies 10 no. Why this oftencited example of an israelite chiasmus in the book of mormon is really a modern text. Farrell 2004 does chiasmus appear in the book of mormon by chance. While a missionary for the lds church in regensburg, germany, john welch studied mosiah 5.
An anonymous author similarly suggests that chiasms in the book of mormon are the result of the incredible amount of repetition contained therein, and are well within the bounds of probability. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1982, 3352. Included in these documents are a paper on the akkadian language, a bibliogrpahy of documents with chiasms, and a collection of akkadian poetry with chiasms. Select one of the links above to view examples of chiasmus in various books of the book of mormon. In addition, he has also published extensively on the history and role of chiasmus in sacred literature. Welch first identified chiasmus in the book of mormon in 1967. Book of mormon literature the encyclopedia of mormonism. This conference, held on august 16, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon. The phenomenon which makes that possible is the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon.
This video gives a brief description of a writing style called chiasmus, and tells the story of how one 20yearold latterday saint missionary first discovered its existence in the book of mormon. Chiasmus and book of mormon textual studies byu studies. This volume features articles on hebraisms and chiasmus in the book of mormon, as well as articles discussing emendation of the text, naturalistic assumptions, wordprint analyses, variations between copies of the first edition, and more. Many of these chiasms have been identified and discussed, 3 but very little research has been done on the use of chiasmus in other ancient american writings. 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. This volume features articles on hebraisms and chiasmus in the book of mormon, as well as articles discussing emendation of the text, naturalistic assumptions, wordprint analyses, variations between copies of the first edition, and. Chiasmus is an invertedparallel literary form that was employed by ancient hebrew biblical writers, among others. Book of mormon central byu studies conference cosponsors harold b. Chiasmus is one of the most frequently cited evidences for the authenticity of the book of mormon. Also by boyd and farrel edwards, published in byu studies in 2010. Since that time, a steady stream of publications has greatly illuminated this profound and ancient. Chiasmus in the book of mormon book of mormon central. This article is brought to you for free and open access by the all journals at byu scholarsarchive.
Lee library special collections byu religious education. The conference sessions had presentations by lds and non. Because of previous exposure to the ancient literary device, john welch correctly identified mosiah 5. Welch 1946 discovered chiasmus in the book of mormon and founded the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1982, ixx. This is the landmark true story of how a young missionary serving in germany, 50 years ago, discovered chiasmus in the book of mormon.
As printed here they include revisions that vary from minor word changes to. Chiasmus in the book of mormon 73 name he used for chiasmus in 1854 however john forbesforbes4forbess completed a much more extensive study the symmetrical structures of scripture with the publication of this book it is possible to begin speaking of relatively widespread awareness of chiasmic forms in the bible a wave of other writers fol lowed forbes and in 1860 a section on chiasmus. Believers have seen the presence of chiasmus as an indication of the book of mormon s ancient origins. The scripture readings and lessons are displayed first, followed by recommended readings. Chiasmus and book of mormon textual studies kindle edition by various authors. 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.