Literary analysis of the book of mormon

With degreed work at a bachelor and masters level in english, publication of 18 books including plays and short stories, i have some understanding and appreciation of the endeavors of shakespeare, milton, hardy and james on the england side of the language, hemingway. The book of mormon has been described as the bible of north america i. New computer study purports to detect literary influences. Statisticians at brigham young university completed a computer analysis of the book of mormon. 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. The book of mormon is a religious text which, like the bible, may be subjected to various methods of analysis.

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. Parallelistic literary devices in the book of mormon include synonymous, antithetical, repetitive numerical, and circular repetitive forms. This close reading enables the construction of a theology of the book of mormon that explores the major theological emphases that emerge from a narrative analysis of the book. Analysis of book of mormon names needed to be more technical in considering sound variations than the analyses of studies and authors previously presented. In one gallery, on a mayan altar adorned with symbols, a tour guide points out a glyph that could be interpreted as meaning and it came to pass. Statisticians at brigham young university completed a computer analysis of the.

I dont have space to give an overview of all the other chapters, but ill. The book of mormon is holy writ for millions, but for steinberg it is first of all a work of literature, a modern american novel, complete with exotic locales and an adventure in which. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where. For nearly two centuries, faithful members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds have. The sacred scripture for a global religion, the book of mormon has. Critics of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. Many book of mormon names are either biblical, formed from a rhyming pattern, changed by a prefix or suffix, hebrew, egyptian, sumerian, or greek in etymology. The book of mormon gets the literary treatment religion. Bible and the ancient near came to teach a course on literary analysis. Its local color is extremely plausible, describes a state of social organization which agrees exactly with archaeological and documentary evidence, the personal names are satisfactory for that period and. Aug 23, 2019 to back this up, he showed a series of graphs illustrating his literary analysis of the book of mormon, counting verses that referenced the covenant.

Written for a non academic audience, this book will provide a glimpse into some of the book of mormon s literary complexities that originate from hebrew grammar and style. The analyses are intended to separate chiasmus that may occur randomly over the course of a lengthy book or even chiasmus that may occur when the author is trying to mimic scriptural or repetitive language. A thorough literary analysis of the book of mormon reveals abundant and rich imagery and personification. A literary approach, or literary analysis, consists of using skills normally employed in literature classes to understand scriptures. 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. This may not be an earthshattering observation, but by. Jan 25, 2017 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. Im laura harris hales, your host for this episode of the lds perspectives podcast. Oct 25, 2020 a casual reader of the book of mormon could easily reach that conclusion. Apr 26, 2020 a thorough literary analysis of the book of mormon reveals abundant and rich imagery and personification. Given sufficient sampling, these usage patterns can be used to distinguish on author from another. This paper introduces some literary skills focused around the narrator and characters that can enhance scripture teaching, followed with a model of how to use these methods in a classroom. Are there any literary analyses that objectively evaluate the book of mormon at face value, without attempting to prove or disprove its veracity.

Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. An analysis of wordprints, book of mormon authorship, 181. That it never did wasnt because calls for its study as literature werent being made, either. Although understated as literature in its clear and plain language, the book of mormon exhibits a wide variety of literary forms, including intricate hebraic poetry, memorable narratives, rhetorically effective sermons, diverse letters, allegory, figurative language, imagery, symbolic types, and wisdom literature. The analyses are intended to separate chiasmus that may occur randomly over the course of a lengthy book or even chiasmus that may occur when the author is trying to mimic scriptural or repetitive. Personification is a type of imagery where objects or abstract things are treated as though they were human. Frequencies of the 38 common words were used as data. 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. Chiastic structures in the book of mormon 1997, by h. The book of mormon says that the jaredites did also carry with them deseret, which, by interpretation, is a honey bee. He has moderated panels on the book of mormon for the b. 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 study next traces the books reception amongst followers and opponents alike, as well as its impact in the areas of music, art, and disastrous interpretations of the book. Reclaiming book of mormon narratives signature books, 1999 uses biblical typescenes to illuminate similar typescenes in the book of mormon. Stylometrists analyze literature using statistics, math formulas and artificial intelligence to determine the style of an authors writing. Book of mormon literature the encyclopedia of mormonism. Im not the most qualified person to write on the literary aspects of the book of mormon, but im not a neophyte either. New computer study purports to detect literary influences on. The american scripture that launches a new world religionalthough that work is a reception history of the book of mormon instead of a literary analysis and richard dilworth rusts feasting on the word. Situating the book of mormon in americas literary tradition. The bible connects the book with a prophetic figure.

A literary analysis of the word liahona the book of mormon breaks several rules that are critical to works of fiction. Philosophers, scholars, and writers have debated for thousands of years about the meaning of the word literature. Dec 12, 2017 for the 24 book of mormon authors included in the analysis, see larsen, rencher, and layton, who wrote the book of mormon. Oct 27, 20 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. 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. Intriguing literary analysis of the book of mormon later on. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians and scientists. The book of mormon breaks several rules that are critical to works of fiction. Hunt, the late war, between the united states and great britain, from june 1812, to february 1815 1816. We will be talking about another strategy to enhance our study of the book of mormon. The book of mormon as brilliant literature meridian magazine.

The debate between critics and defenders of the book of mormon continues today. Wordprints are derived from statistical analysis of the word usage patterns of authors. The literary book of mormon brigham young university. A stylometric analysis of mormon scripture and related texts jstor. The large number of book of mormon names and the diversity of cultures that they are said to represent required a more indepth consideration of phonetic structures. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. The book of mormon as a really interesting, well, piece of. In clear and forthright language, he sets forth the contents of the book and then employs tools of literary analysis to study the work. Literary analysis allows a class to explore the nuances of a text and identify authorial intent of the scripture while encouraging students to see a complex, beautiful narrative. A literary analysis of the book of mormon 1996, by walter krajewski.

From the outset, hardy asks his readers to suspend their beliefs about whether the book of mormon is true so that we can analyze it as a work of literature. A literary analysis of the word liahona book of mormon. Book of mormon authorship the encyclopedia of mormonism. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. The typology of the exodus pattern in the book of mormon. 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.

John welchs literary analysis of the book of mormon as a current example showing the utility of using structural criteria to investigate the authenticity of dubious scriptures, the latterday saints in recent years have gotten on the band wagon and looked for chiasms mirrorimage organizations of words andor ideas in the book of mormon in. The recent discovery in the book of mormon of its characteristically ancient literary structure or technique known as chiasmusa rhetorical device overlooked by biblical scholarship until decades after joseph smiths deathis another powerful indicator of the records antiquity. Mark twain once quipped that if joseph smith had left and it came to pass out of the book of mormon, the book would have been only a pamphlet 103. The purpose in combining each authors words was to determine how the authors relate to each other. The list of archeological and historical claims of the book of mormon compared to nonapologetic evidence. He next presents an extended reading of the narrative contents of the book focusing on its literary and theological dimensions. This cluster analysis was for the 24 book of mormon authors using one observation consisting of each authors total words combined. The association for mormon letters, the first professional organization intended to study and encourage mormon literature, is only a few years old. Critics believe joseph smith came up with all the names in the book of mormon, noting that joseph owned a king james bible with a table listing all the names used in the bible. In hardys hands, the book of mormon begins to come alive as a kind of shakespearean tragedy as hardy nimbly employs various tools of literary criticism. Absence of joseph smith in the book of mormon religious. The most significant structural studies of the book of mormon derive from john w. Duke, the literary structure and doctrinal significance of alma.

In ludlow, brown, and welch, to all the world, 17176. The book of mormon must submit to every test, literary criticism with the rest. Roberts society and sunstone symposia and has published on related topics. 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. 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. When i did my original indepth literary analysis of the book of mormon, it was obvious that there were several writers. 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. 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. In 1980, researchers at brigham young university used stylometric techniques they called wordprint analysis to examine the possible authors of the book of mormon. In her groundbreaking biography of joseph smith, no. The book of mormon is authentic because it fulfills certain conditions lending it credibility as starting off in the near east such as. Following these rules, the thesis provides an analysis of specific themes particular to the book of mormon and suggests how they are integral to the structure of the text. May 23, 2017 for the first time, studies of the book of mormons literary qualities were appearing in major journals of american literary studies.

Aug 16, 2017 journal of book of mormon studies 4, no. Since the book of mormons publication in 1830, a number of different. This site provides you with an overview of what the book of mormon claims from an archeological or historic viewpoint, and compares it to nonapologetic apologetic meaning speak to defend scientific and historical resources. 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. Whenever an ancient document is found which has questionable historical authenticity, there is a standard testing process that is done to determine whether the. 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. In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the works narrative structure in its 180 year history. Two others are by the hand of mormon and the book of mormon. 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 non mormon intellectualsfelt compelled to admit that searching for literary wonders in the book of mormon is a bit like seeking lyrical. Indeed, it must submit to every analysis and examination. Statistical analyses strongly suggest that several instances of chiasmus in the book of mormon and bible are not due to random chance. It is past time for a study like this, which eschews tiresome debates about the book of mormon s historical authenticity in favor of a careful, lucid exploration of the book s construction, themes, and characters. In his literary analysis, lds scholar and university of north carolina professor grant hardy approaches his study of the book of mormon by analyzing the distinct voices and themes of the three narrators. Recent literary appreciations of the book of mormon include marilyn arnold, sweet is the wordreflections on the book of mormon its narrative, teachings, and people american fork.

What can stylometry tell us about book of mormon authorship. In fact, research suggests that the book was written by numerous distinct authors. May 27, 2011 structural studies have identified an artistic literary form, chiasmus, that appears in rich diversity in both the bible and the book of mormon see book of mormon literature. Terryl givens has a short chapter on the book of mormon as literature in the book of mormon. The use of harold blooms description of joseph smith as a religious genius in this video may mislead viewers into thinking bloom was referr. For an overview of this field of study, see michael p. Nephis use of imagery nephi is the predominant writer of personification. Its local color is extremely plausible, describes a state of social organization which agrees exactly with archaeological and documentary evidence, the personal names are satisfactory for that period and region, and finally, there is nothing unreasonable in the story itself the troubled orient. Literature courses that prominently featured the book of mormon started to appear with more frequency in secular university course catalogues.

Today im here with grant hardy, author of understanding the book of mormon. Looking for some thoughtful perspectives on the following statistical analyses strongly suggest that several instances of chiasmus in the book of mormon and bible are not due to random chance. Jul 12, 2017 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. Likewise, a superficial reading of the king james version would lead a casual reader to the same conclusion about the bible. Linguistically based assertions are frequently cited and discussed in the context of the subject of. A selective bibliography of book of mormon literary features. This led to new research on the ancient american setting and complex literary structure of the book of mormon. Eugene england, a second witness for the logos, in by study and also by faith. Understanding the book of mormon invites comparison to terryl l. The 19th century writers included sidney rigdon, solomon spaulding, joseph smith, w.

In sorenson and thorne, rediscovering the book of mormon, 1001. Three different types of wordprints or stylometry were used in examining the authors of the book of mormon. Nephi is the predominant writer of personification. As a current example showing the utility of using structural criteria to investigate the authenticity of dubious scriptures, the latterday saints in recent years have gotten on the band wagon and looked for chiasms mirrorimage organizations of words andor ideas in the book of mormon in order to prove that it also exhibits this telltale literary characteristic found in the bible.