Video on the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon. While there, on preparation day, he attended a lecture given by a german bible scholar. In the last fifty years, hundreds of chiasms have been potentially identified in the book of mormon. Reynolds editor, book of mormon authorship 1982, 3352. 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. Wednesday was the fiftieth anniversary of welchs discovery. 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. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1982, 3352. Thomas professor of law and editorinchief of byu studies, the premier latterday saint scholarly journal.
Criteria for identifying and evaluating the presence of chiasmus. Chiasmus in the book of mormon philosophies of men. Welch, criteria for identifying and evaluating the presence of chiasmus, journal of book of mormon studies 42 1995. He found that not only are chiasmic structures found in the book of mormon, but that they cover whole chapters and books. In the first place, we have demonstrated the extensive existence of chiasmus.
As it turns out, some of the most meaningful and wellconstructed examples of this form of writing found anywhere in the world appear in the pages of the book of mormon john w. While a missionary for the lds church in regensburg, germany, john welch studied mosiah 5. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon, byu studies 1969. 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.
I highly recommend this production which runs for 10 minutes and 9 seconds. Some people, of course, have gone overboard with this search, and caution must be employed. Chiasmus in the book of mormon mormonism, the mormon. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon, brigham young university studies 10 no.
Welch tells the story of his discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon during the chiasmus jubilee celebrating the 50year anniversary of the discovery. Time now for a few final evaluations of what we have learned about chiasmus in the book of mormon. The most famous example of this is chapter 36 of the book of alma. John woodland jack welch is a scholar of law and religion. Come, follow me recommended study aids book of mormon the. 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. He has also practiced law both in his native california and in utah. Chiasmus in the book of mormon religious studies center.
Dec 19, 2019 chiasmus, or inverted parallelism, is a twopart literary structure or system in which the second half is a mirror image of the first, i. Willes book of mormon lecture is now available online. Those who were not so credulous insisted that it obviously read like anything but a hebrew text. Welch meticulously tracks the timeline of the book of mormons translation. Welch discovered the first instance of chiasmus in the book of mormon in 1967.
The most commonly cited example of chiasmus in the book of mormon is the prophet almas religious experience, as recorded in alma 36. 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. Reuben clark law school at brigham young university in provo, utah. John welch accidentally discovered chiasmus in the book of mormon in the late sixties. Welch recalled in the video gaechters fatherly words after welchs explanation of the chiasms he had found in the book of mormon. 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. Welch, parallelism and chiasmus in benjamins speech, in king benjamins speech. He is an lds religion and law scholar who is credited with discovering the many instances of the ancient literary form of chiasmus in the book of mormon. Come, follow me recommended study aids book of mormon. Chiasmus in the book of abraham by book of mormon central. Chiasmus, or inverted parallelism, is a twopart literary structure or system in which the second half is a mirror image of the first, i. Byu religious studies center, 1982, 3352, republished in 1996 by farms.
In the first place, we have demonstrated the extensive existence of chiasmus in the book of mormon beyond any possible doubt. Jubilee marks 50 years from book of mormon chiasmus discovery. President of the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, he has contributed to byu studies and is coauthor and general editor of the recently published book, chiasmus in antiquity. Old testament, new testament, book of mormon, and other literature. Welch speaks during the chiasmus jubilee, showing his markings in the book of mormon after he found the chiasm in alma 36.
Some of these examples may seem to be compelling, but when closely examined, they turn out to be little more than wishful thinking. 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. He is notable for his contributions to lds scholarship, including his discovery of the ancient literary form chiasmus in the book of mormon. Shows the existence of complex chiastic usage in the text of the book of mormonthis seminal work has been reprinted numerous times, with revisions and additions, as in noel b. More details can now be known about the key events that anchor our historical understandings of the pace of translation, about. Welch, the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon. He is notable for his contributions to lds mormon scholarship, including his discovery of the ancient literary form chiasmus in the book of mormon. Correspondence, criteria, and creativity john welch. Chiasmus in the book of mormon book of mormon central. John welch tells the remarkable story of being a young missionary and discovering chiasmus. Aug 18, 2017 watch book of mormon centrals new video about the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon in john w. What can we learn from 10 of the best chiasms in the book.
Aug 16, 2017 welch, a study relating chiasmus in the book of mormon to chiasmus in the old testament, ugaritic epics, homer and selected greek and latin authors m. Serving in the lds south german mission at the time, in the city. Welch 1946 discovered chiasmus in the book of mormon and founded the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. Jack and jeannie welch, has just posted an excellent youtube video entitled the amazing true story of how chiasmus was discovered in the book of mormon. Chiasmus in the book of mormon audio cassette john w. Jubilee marks 50 years from book of mormon chiasmus. Welch discovered a variety of instances of chiasmus in the book of mormon and along with his discovery came attention to the phenomenon. Thirty years in the making, it is the most exhaustive work of its kind ever completed.
Book of mormonevidenceshebraismschiasmus fairmormon. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon, byu studies 101 1969. What is chiasmus and why is it so important in the book of. Reuben clark law school of brigham young university. 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 the book of mormon mormonism, the mormon church. Instead of burying it deep in the academic journals, lets put it out in. Chiasmus itself can be understood in two distinct ways. A significant development during the second half of the 20th century was the growing awareness and understanding of chiasmus in ancient literature. Does chiasmus appear in the book of mormon by chance. Welch was just a young missionary on germany at the time. He is an lds religion and law scholar who is credited with discovering the many instances of the ancient literary form of chiasmus in the book of mormon, a realization he had as a young missionary in germany. It can be seen simply as a structural element which describes the parallels in inverted order. 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.
Nov 09, 2011 many latterday saints point out that the use of chiasmus in the book of mormon is proof that joseph smith translated a script that was hebrew in origin, since the chiasmus had not yet been discovered when the book of mormon was translated in 1829. Many latterday saints point out that the use of chiasmus in the book of mormon is proof that joseph smith translated a script that was hebrew in origin, since the chiasmus had not yet been discovered when the book of mormon was translated in 1829. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, isbn 9780934893251. Since that time, several other examples of chiasmus have been found in the book of mormon. If chiasmus is evidence of hebrew style in the bible, it must be evidence of hebrew style in the book of mormon. Welch noted in 1995, there are varying degrees of chiasticity, and while many proposed chiasms are impressive and interesting.
Welch was the first to notice chiastic structures in the book of mormon. Byu studies and book of mormon central held a twoday conference on byus campus on tuesday, august 15th and wednesday, august 16th. Welch practically since the day the book of mormon rolled off the press in 1830, those who believed in the book asserted that it. Because of previous exposure to the ancient literary device, john welch correctly identified mosiah 5. What can we learn from 10 of the best chiasms in the book of. 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. Chiasmus in the book of mormon philosophies of men mingled. Welch is a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and currently teaches at the j. Contains the documents and studies related to jack welchs research into chiasmus in scriptural and other ancient texts. Welch, an attorney specializing in tax matters, joined the faculty of the j. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon, byu studies 10, no. Chiasmus is a biblical literary form, where the writer lists certain key words or ideas in one order, and then goes back and repeats them in the opposite order. Chiasmus is both a necessary and natural way of understanding book of mormon literature.
Holland of the quorum of the twelve apostles spoke at a chiasmus jubilee at brigham young university that commemorated 50 years since john w. Welch was a missionary serving in regensburg, germany, and chiasmus was an ancient literary technique he had only recently learned about. The chiastic structure, according to welch, is as follows. So it is, in my opinion, with the issue of chiasmus in the book of mormon. Katholisches bibelwerk, 1965, 9, as cited in welch, the discovery of. 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. Welch, chiasmus in ugaritic, ugaritforschungen 6 1974. Welch speaks during the chiasmus jubilee celebrating the 50th anniversary of his discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon. John welch brought much of chiastic structure in the book of mormon to the forefront. This form of inverted parallelism has been found in the bible, the book of mormon, and in many other ancient writings. Welch answers questions from the audience following his lecture at church history museum april on the topic the trial of jesus. It can also be seen as a rhetorical figure which employs this structure. He had been studying chiasmus in homer and other ancient books and reasoned that it should be expected in the book of mormon.
Welch published the first study of chiasmus in the book of mormon,1 hundreds of additional book of mormon chiasms have been proposed. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon maxwell institute. Guidelines for such analysis can be found at john w. Now comes the question of chiasmus in the book of mormon.
It lists about 900 works on chiasmus by author and title and includes full publication information. Welch discovered the presence of chiasmus on august 16, 1967 while on his mission in germany, a steady stream of publications since that time has thrown much light on this matter. The discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon is one of the most significant scholarly contributions to understanding and appreciating the nephite record. Wednesday was the fiftieth anniversary of welch s discovery. Chiasmus in the book of mormon brigham young university.
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