Family history students at brigham young university are working to document each immigrant through the available records of the time, as well as linking journals, biographies, and photos to each. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, isbn 9780934893251. Tvedtnes, has responded by theorizing that the shift from therefore to wherefore can be linked to the shift in the book of mormon between mormons style and that of other book of mormon contributors. The discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon would have a profound impact on academic efforts to study of the book of mormon as an authentic ancient hebrew text. Welch discovered a variety of instances of chiasmus in the book of mormon and along with his discovery came attention to the phenomenon. He had been studying chiasmus in homer and other ancient books and reasoned that it should be expected in the book of mormon. It occurs in a list with food items, namely, corn, wheat, barley, neas another book of mormon hapax legomenon, and fruit seeds. Welch, criteria for identifying and evaluating the presence of chiasmus, journal of book of mormon studies 42 1995. 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.
But in the case of the chiasms from the book of mormon, these objections can be tossed aside as unconvincing, unsatisfactory, unimaginative, and unintelligent. Welch 1946 discovered chiasmus in the book of mormon and founded the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. These findings establish a dictation chronology and suggest the p. Includes articles and books related to chiasmus in the book of mormon, old and new testaments, doctrine and covenants, and pearl of great price, as well as the works of homer and ancient jewish literature. He studied greek philosophy at oxford university st. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon, byu studies 10, no. Fifty years ago, when he was a young missionary in germany, john w. Chiasmus in the book of mormon is both a necessary and a natural way of explaining some things in the book of mormon that go unaccounted for otherwise. Reuben clark law school of brigham young university. 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. Greg welch, the amazing true story of how chiasmus was discovered in the book of mormon.
Elder holland speaks at book of mormon chiasmus conference. The reorganized mormon church does not teach or practice polygamy. Greg welch how chiasmus was discovered in the book of mormon. Published in the new era, february 1972, pages 611. In this book, he analyzes the legal cases in the book of mormon, and compares the legal system and laws to those of ancient israel. It can also be seen as a rhetorical figure which employs this structure. Welsh mormon history seeks to find and share information about the welsh converts to mormonism who immigrated to the united states in the 19th century.
Over the years, i have had many opportunities to speak and publish about the gospel of jesus christ and particularly about the book of mormon. John welch has noted that mosia, when coupled with the theophoric element iah, would mean the lord is a mosia. Does chiasmus appear in the book of mormon by chance. 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. Welch, an attorney specializing in tax matters, joined the faculty of the j. He woke up with the idea to look for it in the book of mormon.
Also includes welchs correspondence with scholars, publishers, and readers regarding the impact and reception of his work. Panel discussion of the revelation of john the apostle. Correspondence, criteria, and creativity, 2012 fairmormon conference address, online at. 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. This article is brought to you for free and open access by the all journals at byu scholarsarchive. It can be seen simply as a structural element which describes the parallels in inverted order. Joseph smith, the book of mormon, the book of abraham, the book of doctrine and covenants, the book of commandments, and all the other fraudulent works of mormonism and embrace christ and the gospel as presented in the word of god.
Before he gets into the cases in the book of mormon, welch explains the trials and statutes in the old testament to give context. 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. So it is, in my opinion, with the issue of chiasmus in the book of mormon. Welch, now recognized as an international expert on chiasmus, was first introduced to this form of poetic parallelism in 1967. It is entirely possible that descendants of the book of mormon peoples knew of the device and used it in their own records.
Greg welch how chiasmus was discovered in the book of. Jack welch attended a lecture on chiasmus in the bible. Accounts of divine manifestations, 18201844, edited by john w. John welch accidently discovered chiasmus in the book of mormon in the late sixties. Chiasmus in the book of mormon byu scholarsarchive. He and his companion, seeking to get better acquainted with the. May 01, 2008 john welch is a brilliant lawyer, linguist, professor, etc. Welch suggested, somewhat in jest, how about a course on babylonian law and the book of mormon.
If the book of mormon truly is direct translation of a text whose. Reuben clark law school at byu, first identified this particular writing style in the book of mormon while he was a missionary serving in regensburg. The first page of the book claims that it was written in the language of the egyptians but according to the learning of the jews. Some people, of course, have gone overboard with this search, and caution must be employed. Chiasmus in the book of mormon mormonism, the mormon. Chiasmus and book of mormon textual studies byu studies.
Those who were not so credulous insisted that it obviously read like anything but a hebrew text. Book of mormonevidenceshebraismschiasmus fairmormon. To celebrate chiasmus day august 16, this page features various resources for studying chiasmus in the book of mormon. He has also practiced law both in his native california and in utah. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Gregory welch, charting the book of mormon 1999 chiasmus bibliography 1999 chiasmus in antiquity 1998 echoes and evidences of the book of mormon 2002 glimpses of lehis jerusalem 2004 illuminating the sermon at the temple and sermon on the mount 1998 isaiah in the book of mormon 1998 king benjamins speech 1998. The study of ancient literature has been enriched in the second half. Correspondence, criteria, and creativity john welch. While there, on preparation day, he attended a lecture given by a german bible scholar.
Welch was the first to notice chiastic structures in the book of mormon. The discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon is one of the most significant scholarly contributions to understanding and appreciating the nephite record. Why is the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon. Jul 20, 2016 greg welch explains the story of how his father, john w. Chiasmus is one of the most frequently cited evidences for the authenticity of the book of mormon. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon maxwell institute. Welch, the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon. In fact, chiasmus was not searched for and discovered in the book of mormon until the late 1960s, when lds scholar john welch learned of scholarly work on chiasmus in antiquity and hypothesized that the book of mormon might contain examples as well note 4. Joseph smith published the book of mormon in 1830 in western new york. John welch is a brilliant lawyer, linguist, professor, etc. Thomas professor of law at brigham young university, and was for 27 years editorinchief of byu studies, the premier latterday saint scholarly journal. The miraculous translation of the book of mormon welch, john w the miraculous translation of the book of mormon. It was forty years ago, on wednesday, august 16, 1967, that the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon occurred.
Guidelines for such analysis can be found at john w. 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. Indeed, the presence of chiasmus in the book of mormon may be evidence of joseph smiths own literary style and genius. Jack welch, and the story of how he came to spot chiasmus in the book of mormon is well documented and calling him dumb doesnt really help the cause, in my opinion. Chiasmus in the book of mormon mormonism, the mormon church. Before he gets into the cases in the book of mormon, welch explains the trials and statutes in.
In a variety of ways, every time i have written or talked about these subjects, i have borne my testimony that this work is good, that it is true, that it is what i want, that it is what i. Jack welch is a lawyer, a faithful scholar and an editor, and all three skills enrich this impressive work. Chiasmus in the book of mormon or the book of mormon does it again new era, 1972 february. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon, brigham young university studies 10 no. The discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon brother john w. Wade brown, the godinspired language of the book of mormon, rainbow press, clackamas, oregon, 1988, pp. 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. The essays in this book, written by some of the finest lds scholars, take a variety of approaches to help readers make the most of the isaiah passages in the.
In reexploring the book of mormon, edited by john w. Welch 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. John welch brought much of chiastic structure in the book of mormon to the forefront. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1982, 3352. Chiasmus resources from john welch great collection of information, tools, and resources on chiasmus by the scholar who found it in the book of mormon, dr. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon, in book of mormon authorship. The book of mormon name or title mosiah is quite similar to mosia. In 1979, he established the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms, serving as its president until 1989 and as a member of its board of. Chiasmus in mayan texts book of mormon archaeological forum. Without such a demonstration, both welch s and reynolds arguments from chiasmus are weak. Thomasson sees center of this overarching chiasm as the atonement at alma 34. Though it appears in a list of seeds and grains, the context in mosiah 9.
This is the first of a twopart series about the incredible discovery of chiasmus in the. Welch, criteria for identifying and evaluating the presence of chiasmus, journal of book of mormon studies 42 fall 1995. Chiasmus in the book of mormon religious studies center. Instead of burying it deep in the academic journals, lets put it out in. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1982, 4142 assyria and the last days the first portion of this chapter prophesies of the coming destruction of assyria, and the last part compares this. 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. Serving in the lds south german mission at the time, in the city. Welch on the temple in the sermon on the mount and the. Reexploring the book of mormon paperback january 1, 1992 by john w. This compilation of groundbreaking book of mormon articles is selected from over fifty years of lds scholarship published by byu studies.
Meticulously researched and heavily footnoted, this very readable book is pregnant with insights as it casts new light on nephite culture through detailed analyses of half a dozen legal cases in the scriptural text. It has been accepted for inclusion in byu studies quarterly by an authorized editor of byu scholarsarchive. Willes center for book of mormon studies has invited john w. He is notable for his contributions to lds mormon scholarship, including his discovery of the ancient literary form chiasmus in the book of mormon. But as colddodger has pointed out, chiasmus appears in plenty of works without hebrew origins, including some of the proposed non. Now, 50 years since welch s discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon, we see that his find is still reverberating in scholarly publications on the book of mormon. While serving as a young missionary in germany, welch discovered many instances of the chiasmus literary form in the book of mormon. Some of these examples may seem to be compelling, but when closely examined, they turn out to be little more than wishful thinking. Forty years later, journal of book of mormon studies 16, no. The chiastic structure, according to welch, is as follows. The spirit said start where you left off yesterday.
Now comes the question 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 edition, and more. Welch reported his discovery of manyelement chiasms in the book of mormon. Timing the book of mormon translation the 2017 laura f. Chiasmus itself can be understood in two distinct ways. He was then serving as a missionary in the predominantly catholic town of regansburg, germany.
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