Why is there gradation in the Book of Mormon just like the Old and New Testaments?

Gradation is a form of parallelism found in the Old and New Testament (as well as the Book of Mormon) which occurs when the same word or words are found in successive clauses or sentences. 

An example from the Bible is the following on Joel 1:3-4

Tell ye

your children of it, and let

your children tell

their children, and

their children another generation. That which the palmerworm hath left hath the

locust eaten; and that which the

locust hath left hath the

cankerworm eaten; and that which the

cankerworm hath left hath the

caterpiller eaten.

One example from the Book of Mormon is found in Alma 42:17-20

Now, how could a man repent except he should

sin? How could he

sin if there was no

law? How could there be a

law save there was a

punishment? Now, there was a

punishment affixed, and a just

law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man. Now, if there was no

law given—if a man murdered he should

die—would he be afraid he would

die if he should murder? And also, if there was no law given against

sin men would not be afraid to

sin.

How did Joseph Smith know about gradation? If it appears in the Book of Mormon by chance then why does gradation appear mainly in sermons, letters and prophecies?

See:

• Evidence Central – Book of Mormon Evidence: Gradation

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