Abstract: This article is an analysis of the literary structure of Alma 17–20. These four chapters in the current Book of Mormon were originally a single chapter in the first edition of the Book of Mormon (originally, chapter 12). The current article describes a process and rationale that was used to identify several major literary units whose structure is no longer obvious with the division into four chapters. The original literary structure appears to have been written as a 14-part chiasm in which the matching units share many strong links and parallels. According to this analysis, the central units of this chiasm highlight the turning point of the narrative. Ammon preaches the gospel to King Lamoni, and Lamoni then proceeds to cry unto the Lord for mercy upon himself and his people. Thousands of Lamanites then repent and are converted unto the Lord. This critical episode in the Book of Mormon had far-reaching and long-lasting effects. It now appears that Mormon carefully structured this episode to help readers remember key events that transpired and to highlight its importance as a hinge point in Nephite/Lamanite history.

h2 {font-size: 120% !important;} h3 {margin-bottom: 1em !important;} .chiasm-a {text-indent: -1.5em !important;} .chiasm-b, .chiasm-c, .chiasm-d, .chiasm-e, .chiasm-f, .chiasm-g, .chiasm-h, .chiasm-i {text-indent: -1.5em !important; padding-top: 0 !important;} .chiasm-b {padding-left: 1.5em;} .chiasm-c {padding-left: 3em;} .chiasm-d {padding-left: 4.5em;} .chiasm-e {padding-left: 6em;} .chiasm-f {padding-left: 7.5em;} .chiasm-g {padding-left: 9em;} .chiasm-h {padding-left: 10.5em;} .chiasm-i {padding-left: 13em;}

Analysis of literary structures in the scriptures has become increasingly important in recent years. Jack R. Lundbom’s, Biblical Rhetoric and Rhetorical Criticism, along with David A. Dorsey’s, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament, are two sources that provide a more complete understanding of literary techniques used in the Old Testament. Literary studies on the Book of Mormon have increased exponentially since the [Page 88]turn of the century thanks to the work of John Welch,1 Grant Hardy,2 Donald Parry,3 Brant Gardner,4 Noel Reynolds,5 Joseph Spencer,6 and many others.

Much of the literary analysis done on the Book of Mormon has concentrated on chiasmus. Since John Welch first identified chiasmus in the Book of Mormon in 1967, scholars and novices alike have attempted to identify chiasms of all sizes within the text. As thrilling as it can be to identify a new chiasm, there is great risk of superimposing chiasms onto the text that were most likely ...