Chapter XXXVII

INTERNAL EVIDENCES.--THE BOOK OF MORMON, IN STYLE AND LANGUAGE, IS CONSISTENT WITH THE THEORY OF ITS CONSTRUCTION.

I.

_Of the Unity and Diversity of Style._

As already set forth in previous pages, the Book of Mormon, with reference to the original documents from which it was translated, is made up of two classes of writings:

1. Original, unabridged Nephite records;

2. Mormon and Moroni's abridgment of Nephite and Jaredite records.

The translation of the unabridged Nephite records comprises the first 157 pages of current editions of the Book of Mormon. The rest of the 623 pages--except where we have the words of Mormon and Moroni at first hand, or here and there direct quotations by them from older records--are Mormon's abridgment of other Nephite records, and Moroni's abridgment of a Jaredite record. It is quite evident that there would be a marked difference in the construction of these two divisions of the book. How there came to be unabridged and abridged records in Mormon's collection of plates has been explained at length in previous pages, [1] so that it is now only necessary to say that when Joseph Smith lost his translation of the first part of Mormon's abridgment of the Nephite records, comprised in the 116 pages of manuscript which he entrusted to Martin Harris, he replaced the lost part by translating the smaller plates of Nephi which make up the first 157 pages of the Book of Mormon before referred to. Now, if there is no difference in the style between this part of the Book of Mormon translated from the small plates of Nephi, and Mormon's abridgment of the larger plates, that fact would constitute very strong evidence against the claims of the Book of Mormon. On the other hand, if one finds the necessary change in style between these two divisions of the book, it will be important incidental evidence in its support. Especially will this be conceded when the likelihood that neither Joseph Smith nor his associates would have sufficient knowledge of things literary to appreciate the importance of the difference of style demanded in the two parts of the record. Fortunately the evidence on this point is all that can be desired. The writers whose works were engraven on the smaller plates of Nephi employ the most direct style, and state what they have to say in the first person, without explanation or interpolations by editors or commentators or any evidence of abridgment whatsoever, though, of course, they now and then make quotations from the Hebrew scriptures which the Nephite colony brought with them from Jerusalem. The following passages illustrate their style.

THE FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI.

CHAPTER I.

1. I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was
taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen
many afflictions in the course of my days--nevertheless, having
been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having a great
knowledge of the goodnesss and the mysteries of God, therefore I
make a record of my proceedings in my days.

2. Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which
consists of the learning of the Jews, and the language of the
Egyptians.

3. And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it
with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge. etc.

THE BOOK OF JACOB. [The brother of Nephi.]

CHAPTER I.

1. For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed
away, from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave
me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which
these things are engraven.

2. And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon
these plates, a few of the things which I considered to be most
precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning
the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi,
etc.

THE BOOK OF ENOS.

CHAPTER I.

1. Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he
was a just man: for he taught me in his language, and also in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord. And blessed be the name of God
for it.

2. And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God,
before I received a remission of my sins:

3. Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forest; and the words which
I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the
joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart, etc.

And so it continues with each of the nine writers in this division
of the Book of Mormon. But now note how marked the difference is
when we come to Mormon's abridgment of the Nephite record which
begins with the book of Mosiah:

THE BOOK OF MOSIAH.

CHAPTER I.

1. And now there was no more contention in all the land of
Zarahemla, among all the people who belonged to King Benjamin, so
that king Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his
days.

2. And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their
names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they
should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby
they might become men of understanding; and that they might know
concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of
their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord.

So also in the abridgment of the book of Alma:

THE BOOK OF ALMA.