The Authorship of the Book of Mormon: A Compilational Challenge

The longstanding debate on the authorship of the Book of Mormon is a fascinating subject, particularly when drawing parallels with other historical texts. If a compendium was created using statements from Mark Twain, rather than being written by him, would this compendium reflect the writing of the original author, or would it take on the style and voice of the compiler? This mirrors the complexity of understanding the authorship of the Book of Mormon, where the final product is a compilation of various writings and quotes from different authors over a vast timeframe.

Historical Context and Literary Analysis

The book named The Book of Mormon encompasses a variety of writings attributed to several key figures. The overall book's author, Mormon, compiled and edited a variety of records that extend back several centuries. Throughout his editing process, he included statements from other prophets, most notably Isaiah, an Old Testament prophet. The final sections were written by his son, Moroni. This layered structure of authorship raises questions about the true authorship of the text.

Stylistic Similarities Pointing to a Single Author

Despite the multiple authors, there are stylistic similarities that suggest a unified authorship or a team of authors working in concert. Some of the most notable stylistic characteristics are:

Reoccurring use of 'And' at the beginning of sentences Use of 'And it came to pass...' as a rhetorical device Frequent use of 'behold' Repetition of phrases like 'stiff necked people' Use of archaic terms like 'yea' as a verbal affirmation instead of just 'yes' Inclusion of terms from the King James Version of the Bible such as 'cherubims' and 'seraphims'

These stylistic elements suggest that one author or a very small group of authors used these techniques consistently throughout the text, adding to the challenge of discerning exact authorship.

Compilational Nature of the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is a compilation that draws from multiple sources compiled by Mormon. Despite the involvement of several authors, the book is attributed to Mormon as the editor and compiler. He himself states that the book is an abridgment. This means that Mormon read and summarized the original records, adding personal commentary along the way. This process is similar to the compilation of historical texts like the Bible.

For a clearer understanding of the authorship and compilation process, one can refer to the preface to the Book of Mormon. It provides detailed insights into the process and context of the book's creation.

Conclusion

While the exact authorship of each part of the Book of Mormon is subject to scholarly debate, the overall book is attributed to Mormon, who compiled and edited the text. The presence of stylistic similarities strongly suggests a unified authorship or a team working together in a highly coordinated manner. The book's compilation nature adds layers of complexity to understanding its true authorship, much like studying the intricacies of the Bible itself.

Key Takeaways: The Book of Mormon is a compilation edited and compiled by Mormon. Stylistic similarities suggest a single author or a small group of authors. The text is an abridgment with personal commentary from Mormon.

Further Reading: The Book of Mormon (Preface) Dean Jessee, Joseph Smith's Bios Elder Richard G. Scott, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ