Literary analysis of the book of mormon

In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the works narrative structure in its 180 year history. This led to new research on the ancient american setting and complex literary structure of the book of mormon. Review of books on the book of mormon 19892011 volume 11number 1 article 3 1999 the literary book of mormon richard dilworth rust follow this and additional works at. For an overview of this field of study, see michael p. Whenever an ancient document is found which has questionable historical authenticity, there is a standard testing process that is done to determine whether the document is a work of fiction or nonfiction. 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. Following these rules, the thesis provides an analysis. Its the calling card for thousands of missionaries, and part of the inspiration for a tony awardwinning broadway musical. In the early, stilldark hours of the morning, august 16, 1967, a young john w. The debate between critics and defenders of the book of mormon continues today. One may naturally wonder, though, if the book of mormon s diversity of style is in any way unique or impressive.

Indeed, the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon may be evidence of joseph smiths own literary style and genius. Interpreted as godinspired, its text offers an account of the history and culture of two. Royal skousen has singlehandedly brought the textual analysis of the book of mormon to a professional level on par with the finest classical and biblical scholarship. The book regards america as a land of promise and states that any righteous people that possess the land will be protected by god. Linguistically based assertions are frequently cited and discussed in the context of the subject of. Chiasmus in the book of mormon religious studies center. Since the book of mormons publication in 1830, a number of different. A literary structure known as chiasmus exists in the book of mormon. Conflicting results of computer analyses of the book of mormon. In recent years, rigorous statistical analysis strongly indicates that neither joseph smith nor any of his known associates composed the english text of the book of mormon.

The literary power of the book of mormon religious studies center. What do wordprint studies say about the book of mormon. The book of mormon, the story of its discoveryits constructionthe testimony of the witnessesthe internal evidences of its truth morris, nephi lowell book. For the first time, studies of the book of mormons literary qualities were appearing in. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. This approach is then applied to the corpus of mormon scripture. A literary analysis of the word liahona book of mormon. Wordprint analysis and the book of mormon deseret news. 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 comparison of the book of mormon with the narrative of zosimus, and even an analysis of the book. The book of mormon is where the literary and spiritual ambitions of the. Does chiasmus appear in the book of mormon by chance. Sentiment analysis of the book of mormon here is a visual summary of the entire book of mormon generated by applying computational sentiment analysis to every verse and then graphing a moving average of the results. 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. This volume is the culmination of his labors, and it is the most textually significant edition since joseph smiths work was first published in 1830.

If joseph smith had left out that one phrase, mark twain noted. Some early critics of the book of mormon ridiculed its literary qualities. Is it possible that a single author wrote the book of mormon. The initial book of mormon wordprint studies were carried out by larsen, rencher, and layton. Criddle is a civil engineer and a contributor to an internet message board for exmormons. The book of mormon is a religious text which, like the bible, may be subjected to various methods of analysis. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians and scientists. What can stylometry tell us about book of mormon authorship. Jacob through words of mormon, to learn with joy, eds. An analysis of the book of mormon would be very similar to one of any judeochristian text, though it uniquely puts a large emphasis on american exceptionalism. Does chiasmus prove anything about the book of mormon. 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. Mark twain may have savaged its literary ambitions, but a new novel from avi steinberg tries to rescue mormonisms holy text by treating it like.

To the person who knows only chiasmus and no other form of literary. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a. A literary analysis of the book of mormon 1996, by walter krajewski. To date, the combined data from several valid stylometric studies on the book of mormon have demonstrated that it has multiple, distinct writing styles and that those styles are consistent with the authors designated within the text itself. Chiasmus and the book of mormon utah lighthouse ministry. If chiasmus is evidence of hebrew style in the bible, it must be evidence of hebrew style in the book of mormon. One challenge in performing a linguistic analysis of the book of mormon is that. The book of mormon as literature by dave banack april 3, 2014 9 comments one can read the book of mormon as canonized scripture, to guide the church and its members in doctrine and practice, or as a sign of joseph smiths calling to bring forth new scripture and establish a. In fact, research suggests that the book was written by numerous distinct authors. Literary analysis of book of mormon, cover letter physical therapist assistant, rouge br sil resume d taill, aliens do exist essay. To celebrate this 50th anniversary, through july and august book of mormon central will publish one knowhy each week that discusses chiasmus and its significance and value to understanding the bible, the book of mormon, and other ancient literature.

Over time, however, its become clear that the book of mormon is actually. 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. That we have a trope entry on the book of mormon, a book of scripture used by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and its splinter groups alongside the bible and the canonized revelations of their founder joseph smith and a few other past leaders of the lds church. The book of mormon is the main piece of holygodgiven writ that distinguishes mormonism from catholicism and the. Literary analysis of book of mormon research narrative paper professional creative essay ghostwriter websites au. 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 comparison of the book of mormon with the narrative of zosimus, and even an analysis of the. The literary book of mormon by richard dilworth rust. Intriguing literary analysis of the book of mormon later on. They compared twentyfour book of mormon authors each having at least 1,000 words to each other, and concluded on the basis of three separate statistical tests that these authors were distinct from each other and oliver cowdery, joseph smith, jr. 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 writing. Although the book of mormon is composed of such literary elements as stories.

And research shows that the book does not seem to fit the culture of early 19th. 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. For nearly two centuries, faithful members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds have. The book of mormon stands with the bible as scripture for the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. A stylometric analysis of mormon scripture and related texts d. Literary analysis of book of mormon esovvicomthirs. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1990, 25169. A stylometric analysis of mormon scripture and related. It is the sacred text for the 15 millionstrong church of jesus christ of latterday saints. He said that the heavenly being moroni appeared to him and directed him to some buried gold p. Since the book of mormon contains numerous chiasms, it thus becomes logical to consider the book a product of the ancient world and to judge its literary qualities accordingly. Welch was a missionary serving in regensburg, germany, and chiasmus was an ancient literary technique he had only recently learned about. Hebraisms and other ancient peculiarities in the book of.

A literary and theological introduction thomas, john christopher on. This year marks 50 years since the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon on august 16, 1967. This may not be an earthshattering observation, but by framing joseph smiths as a literary project steinberg recovers it from the abuses of those who dismiss smith as a huckster. Ricks, the journal of book of mormon studies is the leading venue for scholarly work on the book of mormon. Parry in his 2003 book of mormon archaeological forum presentation. The book of mormon gets the literary treatment religion. But even if the book of mormon is not remarkable in its literary qualities as we.

At least three computer analyses have been completed to date in an effort to determine who wrote the. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been written in otherwise unknown characters referred to as reformed egyptian engraved on golden plates. 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 breaks several rules that are critical to works of fiction. It made few claims as a literary work, with wooden and oftrepetitive prose, starting almost every other paragraph with the stock phrase, it came to pass. Book of mormonevidenceshebraismschiasmus fairmormon. Tanner, literary reflections on jacob and his descendants, in the book of mormon. Fields study scrutinizes a 2008 paper published in the journal of literary and linguistic computing, written by matthew jockers, craig criddle and daniela witten of stanford university that identified rigdon as the book of mormon author.

An examination of the book of mormon and its chief joseph smith, the founder of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints claimed that he received the book of mormon as a revelation from god. 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. The book of mormons structure and complexity is evidence of its authenticity. The literary power of the book of mormon book of mormon. In 2008 another stylometric analysis of the book of mormon came out. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. Gideon burton brigham young university presentation to the association for. Our results support the hypothesis that chiasmus appeared by design in the. 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. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Such analysis is limited to either supporting such a hypothesis or rendering it statistically indefensible.