The Chiasmus

Definition:

Chiasmus comes from the Greek , crossing or shaped like the letter
X (the letter X is called chi in Greek). It is a figure of speech in which two or
more clauses are presented to the reader or hearer, then presented again in
reverse order. In other words, it is a mirror structure:
Chiasmus was particularly popular in the
literature of the ancient world,
including Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Its
especially a hallmark of semitic literature that
makes it very recognizable. But it can also be
found in modern rhetorics.

Here are a few examples:

I will visit them
in my anger,
yea, in my fierce anger
will I visit them.
(Mosiah 12:1)
I give not because I have not,
but if I had I would give.
(Mosiah 4:24)
(antithetical chiasm)
Standard of Ur, ca. 2500 bc (Bristish Museum)
 Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon

On August 16, 1967, Welch discovered the presence of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon.
Serving in the LDS South German mission at the time, in the city of Regensburg, Welch
attended a lecture on the New Testament. He there learned of chiasmus and how it
provides evidence of Hebraic origins. After reviewing a book dealing with literary art in
the Gospel of Matthew, he began his analysis of the Book of Mormon for evidence of
chiasmus. His first identification of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon was in Mosiah 5,
but examples of chiastic style have since been found throughout the book. Welch wrote his
masters thesis on chiasmus and continued study on the subject. Though rational
arguments cannot generate a testimony of the truthfulness of the book, the presence of
chiasmus in the Book of Mormon gives credence to its origins.

https://publications.mi.byu.edu/publications/jbms/16/2/S00012-
510c47d56edfb8Chiasmus-Wel.pdf
On August 16-17, 2017, BYU-Provo organized a conference to celebrate the
50th anniversary of the discovery of chiasmus in the the Book of Mormon.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave
the closing remarks at a session Wednesday evening. He said, In making our
case for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, I believe God intends us to find
and use the evidence He has given reasons, if you will which affirm the
truthfulness of His work.
"Our testimonies arent dependent on evidence we still need that spiritual
confirmation in the heart of which we have spoken, Elder Holland said. "But
not to seek for and not to acknowledge intellectual, documentable support for
our belief when it is available is to needlessly limit an otherwise
incomparably strong theological position and deny us a unique, persuasive
vocabulary in the latter-day arena of religious investigation and sectarian
debate.
Lets look at an example: Alma 36 (an antithetical chiasmus)
a) My son give ear to my words (v 1)
b) Keep the commandments and ye shall prosper in the land (v 1)
c) Do as I have done (v 2)
d) Remember the captivity of our fathers (v 2)
e) They were in bondage (v 2)
f) He surely did deliver them (v 2)
g) Trust in God (v 3)
h) Supported in trials, troubles and afflictions (v 3)
i) I know this not of myself but of God (v 4)
j) Born of God (v 5)
k) I sought to destroy the church (v 6-9)
l) My limbs were paralyzed (v 10)
m) Fear of the presence of God (v 14-15)
n) Pains of a damned soul (v 16)
o) Harrowed up by memory of sins (v 17)
p) I remembered Jesus Christ, a son of God (v 17)
p) I cried, Jesus, son of God (v 18)
o) Harrowed up by memory of sins no more (v 19)
n) Joy as exceeding as was the pain (v 20)
m) Long to be in the presence of God (v 22)
l) My limbs received strength again (v 23)
k) I labored to bring souls to repentance (v 24)
j) Born of God (v 26)
i) Therefore my knowledge is of God (26)
h) Supported under trials and troubles and afflictions (v 27)
g) Trust in him (v 27)
f) He will deliver me (v 27)
e) As God brought our fathers out of bondage and captivity (v 28-29)
d) Retain in remembrance their captivity (v 28-29)
c) Know as I do know (v 30)
b) Keep the commandments and ye shall prosper in the land (v 30)
a) This according to his word (v 30)
If you want to learn more about chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, here are
three very interesting videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iC3GdkzIhY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NyZKna4i3Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=141&v=4rPaManmko4

If you want to listen to Elder Jeffrey R. Hollands full talk at the Book of
Mormon chiasmus jubilee conference, The Greatness of Evidence, here is the
link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS3X9ciItLo
Conclusion:

The (archetypal) journey of man is always chiastic:

-In his destiny: we left the presence of God (our home, known world, comfort zone) to
come into this new world (the unknown) as a child. As we become adults, we lose our
innocence (literaly lack of knowledge ) and sin. Through the ordinance of baptism and
the power of the atonement, we have to become like a child again and return to God (with
increased knowledge and power.)

-Even in the history of the entire humanity: the earth was created with one continent, one
people, one religion, on language (the adamic language). Then the earth was divided into
continents, the people into civilizations, many religions were created, as well as many
languages. The climax of this situation was during the middle-ages. This situation started
turning around in the Renaissance. And as we enter the Millenium, the continents will be
one again (pangea), there will be only one religion (the religion of Christ), one language,
the Adamic language, one nationetc.