How would Joseph Smith manage to use conceptual parallels rather than repeated words in chiasmus?

One particularly interesting example of chiasmus is found in Mosiah 3:18–19:

A. but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves

B. and become as little children,

C. and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

D. For the natural man

E. is an enemy to God,

F. and has been from the fall of Adam,                                                                           

F. and will be, forever and ever,

E. unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit,

D. and putteth off the natural man

C. and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord,

B. and becometh as a child,

A. submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love

This chiasm makes use of conceptual parallels rather than simply repeating words in a particular order, namely:

• Rather than repeating specific words, this chiasmus refers to time in terms of “has been” and “will be” in the F lines
• Rather than repeating specific words, this chiasmus refers to God and the Holy Spirit in the E lines
• The first half of the chiasm is wholly negative, whereas the second half is wholly positive

If it would have been difficult for Joseph to have dictated chiasmus, how much more difficult would it be to not even repeat the words?

See:

• Evidence Central – Book of Mormon Evidence: Chiasmus in Mosiah 3:18–19

© 2024 Showyourshelf.com

Show Your Shelf is not in any way sponsored or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For official information from the Church please see churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org