Literary Aspects of the Book of Mormon

Literary Aspects Of The Book Of Mormon

By Elders E. Cecil McGavin and A. S. Reynolds

FROM THE LIAHONA

Note: This is the third article taken from the manuscript of the forthcoming book Joseph Smith an Inspired Translator.

A LITERARY study of the Bible is absolutely necessary for a proper understanding of its origin, purpose and interpretation. Persons who know the most about the early people whose literature is preserved in the Bible, are the ones who find the most value and meaning from the book. The same is equally true of the Book of Mormon.

Religion has its own peculiar language, sentiments, and ideas. Its message is expressed in a distinctive way. Religious truths are generally given in a certain prescribed way. Persons acquainted with the Bible readily recognize its peculiar sentence structure when they find it elsewhere. When we deal with belief we use concrete example; whereas, when we deal with inferences we use formulae and abstract reasoning.

The Book of Mormon truths are given largely by narration—acts of men, their motives and experiences so true to life that we call them historical, at least true to human experience. There is no use of embellished language, but a simple un-foldment of human experiences that assures one of its truth.

A pedantic style gives stiffness and artificiality to a sacred subject that is meaningless to the average reader. Because of its humble style the Book of Mormon tends to a universal appeal. Great truths are unfolded by showing man’s personal experiences. The Nephite Record never was intended for literature in the usual sense of the word. The Nephite historians and the American translator were far more anxious to be understood than to give us a literary masterpiece. Clearness, common place expressions, and an intense desire to give the truth, overshadow any motive of literary style.

The simplicity of the Book of Mormon is determined primarily by its being a book largely for the common people. It was written originally in very simple language for a new and pioneering community. Since it was translated into English by an untrained youth, we should expect to find that same simple style perpetuated in the modern translation.

It was brought forth in English to a pioneering people whose language was in a plastic state, undergoing many changes. The age in which the Book of Mormon appeared was an uncritical and unscientific age. Another reason for its simplicity is that Joseph Smith showed a loyalty to the original text that in places can be called mere translation English.

A real test of literature is shown by its power to depict natural life or an ideal. Many sections of the Book of Mormon come under this classification.

The construction of the Nephite Record is built on a natural principle in the gradual development of a people. To be a natural and life-like history of a people the story must evolve from the simpler to the complex. It must first show the age of the pioneer, or simple life, then that of conquest and dispersion, to be followed by the trials and struggles in founding a civilization.

Such hectic scenes should be followed by an age of peace or the Golden Age. This is naturally followed by a civilization of opulence, wealth and pride, to be followed by contentions, wars and oppression. A natural outgrowth of this condition would be secret societies, riches, more wars and the end of righteousness, and finally devastation, degradation, extinction.

This, in brief, is a synopsis of the history related in the Book of Mormon. The book is perfectly natural and true to life. Though a form of historical narrative, it is really a great epic of a mighty people. As the book of Esther is a history that can be easily made into a drama, so can many of the historical settings within the Book of Mormon.

In order to receive the full benefit from a study of this inspiring book, one must read it reverently and criticize it constructively. The book is a controversy-provoking book, but the arguments that centre around its disputed texts will never be as heated as those that surround certain disputed texts of the Bible.

From first to last it commands belief. Its gentle admonitions, its stern precepts, its far-reaching prophecies, and its promises of future joy and happiness through obedience to its commands, make it a book worthy of the greatest admiration and confidence. Its simple, direct language means more than sophisticated and complex theological treatises. By a critical analysis one becomes imbued with its spirit and gains respect for its simple yet thorough means of handling the great truths within its pages.

It is a book to be read and reread; to be analyzed and weighed as a thoughtful merchant would consider choice merchandise that he expected to purchase. It commands reverent attention and meditative consideration. Its prayerful reading benefits one more than cool water restores one who js athirst.

It is hoped that the reading of these pages will quicken one’s desire to reread this wonderful book, being more fully assured that this record was written, abridged, preserved and finally translated by the gift and power of God.