A chiasmus is an ancient form of contextual (not rhyming) poetry that was used to emphasize key points.
There are a number of these that appear in the Book of Mormon that are lengthy, elaborate, and perfectly formed.
This form of ancient poetry was not known when Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. Further, he never mentioned anything about them and they were only discovered in recent years.
So, how do you try to explain how an uneducated farm boy "wrote" these into the Book of Mormon?
Here's a link for more info on Chiasmus's if you're interested.
http://www.jefflindsay.com/chiasmus.shtml
...............lastly, this question is for people who are regularly bashing Mormons. We know you think we're a cult, brainwashed, whatever. We know you think our church is inspired by Satan himself. We know...Try hard to answer the question without a tangent or off-topic rant. .....It will be hard, but I bet you can do it. Seriously....
2007-11-28 22:22:37 · 11 answers · asked by Ender 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Wow....none of you have even taken a crack at it..........yet you still go off about some other irrelevant detail.
Seriously, we're not talking about missionary work or anything else, we're talking about a very specific instance of a supporting evidence of the Book of Mormon.
Is it so hard to respond and stay on task without basically saying "I hate Mormons, they suck"?????
2007-11-29 03:13:39 · update #1
Wally....using your own interpretation of Revelations, you'd have to say that everything after Deuteronomy was false...............because Moses said the EXACT same thing.
So....either you're misinterpreting what John wrote in Revelations or no book is true after Deuteronomy.
You can't really have it both ways.
2007-11-29 03:15:40 · update #2
Fireball....It's funny that you brag about the fact that your church doesn't do missionary work.....ad then quote a scripture that commands missionary work.
3,000 vs 13,000,000 Not that it's a competition, but you probably shouldn't be bragging if you're that far behind.
2007-11-29 03:19:46 · update #3
Ha! They can't do it! They're all OCD! They can't help but rant... funny- especially where you asked them to not.
I think that Chiasmus' are fascinating... there's more than one?... The only one I knew about was the Psalm of Nephi (starts with "Oh wretched man that I am..."...)
BTW- I know the author of that site you reference... Jeff Lindsay was the bishop in one of the areas on my mission ;)
Actually, I was on my mission when I was introduced to Nephi's Psalm.
Sorry- I just can't get over the whole rant thing! It's just too darn funny!
2007-11-28 22:50:44 · answer #1 · answered by Yoda's Duck 6 · 10⤊ 0⤋
It would suggest to me that the Book of Mormon was not simply authored by a poor, uneducated farm boy from new York, but rather had divine origins.
And in response to another answerer's statement, the fact that there are similar "Bible quotes" in the Book of Mormon suggest that the same author of the Bible (God) may have also had something to do with the Book of Mormon.; ie if I share a message to my saints in one land and the message is important, i share that same message to my saints in other lands as well.
2007-11-29 11:23:49 · answer #2 · answered by Kerry 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's interesting huh? Just to think that an uneducated farm boy (with what we consider to be about a 6th education level today) could just "come up" with something like the Book of Mormon all on his own. Hmmm... Not only that, but a farm boy who was a no body. Gets you to wonder. Alma 37:6 says it the best: Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
I really like how a lot of the non-LDS people are still spouting the same old things, even though you asked them not to. Seems to me they are unwilling to think for themselves and are just spouting what they have heard from others.
How do I explain the Chiasmus's in the BoM? Simple- John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Also, Matt. 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
2007-11-29 02:43:29 · answer #3 · answered by odd duck 6 · 8⤊ 0⤋
hey that is way cool. i never knew about the existence of chiasmi in the Book of Mormon. very interesting.
i guess whatever we saints tell other people about the veracity of everything we believe in, if they won't accept our testimonies then no doctrine in the world could convert them. people will only hear what they want, and their hearts are hard and not ready for the truth. but what we have is the truth, and there is no denying that.
2007-11-29 11:30:54 · answer #4 · answered by jose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I knew that. I also know how well the BoM flows since there are no parts missing. If one truly understands the book of Mormon they would understand how beautiful and inspired it is. And necessary for our day.
2007-11-29 02:27:46 · answer #5 · answered by plastik punk -Bottom Contributor 6 · 9⤊ 0⤋
How do you explain the long quotes from the King James version of the bible in the Book of Mormon?
2007-11-28 22:29:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Dear Friend,
You have answered your own question, The Bible is the one and only word of God. The beginning and end of all scripture. Perfect in it entirety and in no need of an addendum like the Book of Mormon. I do not believe you arebrainwashed, maybe a little deceived.
God Bless
2007-11-28 22:33:06 · answer #7 · answered by ianptitchener 3 · 0⤊ 8⤋
The Bible stands alone as God’s Word, and needs no additional book to explain or complete it.
Each cult has its own bible. It may be a book that is added to the Bible or it may be a book that substitutes for the Bible. In either case, the replacement book is a false source for truth. God said about His Book, the Bible, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Revelation 22:18 & 19.
The God of the Cults is created with the attributes that suit the teaching of each cult and will always resemble the personality of the cult leader. In the beginning, God created man, and the cults keep trying to return that favor by creating a god of their own.
2007-11-28 22:35:53 · answer #8 · answered by Wally 6 · 0⤊ 9⤋
Why must I explain?
2007-11-28 23:16:04 · answer #9 · answered by hhindu 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I do not know this but thanks for informing me.
That simply means that he was inspired by the holy ghost. =)
Please add me to your contacts.
2007-11-28 22:29:09 · answer #10 · answered by Youth of Noble Birthright 2 · 12⤊ 0⤋