Chiasma in 1 Nephi 1:20 - 2 Nephi 1

Chiasma in 1 Nephi 1:20 - 2 Nephi 1

A	and they also sought his life, that they might take it away.
	B	But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.
		C	For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream,
		C	and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done;
	B	and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold,
A	they seek to take away thy life.

Chiasma in 1 Nephi 1:1-3

Donald A. Parry proposes the following chiasmus in 1 Nephi 1:1-3.

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 had a great knowledge of the goodness 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.

With versification removed:

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 had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days. 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. 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.

The following is the proposed chiastic structure:

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;

A	yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God,
	B	therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.
		C	Yea, I make a record in the language of my father,
			D	which consists of the learning of the Jews
		C'	and the language of the Egyptians.
	B'	And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand;
A'	and I make it according to my knowledge.

The central unit being the learning of the Jews.

Proposed Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon

Reference	Description	Depth	Center	Source
1 Nephi 1:1-3	Record written in Egyptian language, but using learning of the Jews	4	1	Parry*
1 Nephi 1:15-18		5	2	Parry
1 Nephi 1:20 – 2:1		3	2	Parry
1 Nephi 2:2-4		3	2	Parry
1 Nephi 2:5		4	1	Parry
1 Nephi 2:11-12		5	2	Parry
1 Nephi 3:3-12		7	2	Parry
1 Nephi 3:16-22		4	2	Parry
1 Nephi 4:5-24		6	2	Parry
1 Nephi 4:32		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 4:33-35		6	2	Parry
1 Nephi 4:38- 5:6		6	2	Parry
1 Nephi 5:7-9		4	2	Parry
1 Nephi 5:14-16		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 5:17-20		4	2	Parry
1 Nephi 6:1-2		4	1	Parry
1 Nephi 7:3-5		5	1	Parry
1 Nephi 7:13		3	1	Parry
1 Nephi 7:16-19		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 8:8-9		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 8:10-12		4	2	Parry
1 Nephi 8:22-23		3	2	Parry
1 Nephi 9:3-5		2	1	Parry
1 Nephi 11:11		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 11:16-22		3	2	Parry
1 Nephi 11:32		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 11:34-35		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 12:19		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 13:16-19		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 13:26		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 13:29-30		3	2	Parry
1 Nephi 13:39-42		8	2	Parry
1 Nephi 13:42		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 13:42		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 14:15-16		4	2	Parry
1 Nephi 14:20-25		4	2	Parry
1 Nephi 15:7-12		5	2	Parry
1 Nephi 15:24		3	2	Parry
1 Nephi 15:25		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 15:33-35		3	2	Parry
1 Nephi 16:1-3		5	2	Parry
1 Nephi 16:13-14		3	2	Parry
1 Nephi 16:28-29		4	2	Parry
1 Nephi 17:7		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 17:13		3	2	Parry
1 Nephi 17:18-19		4	2	Parry
1 Nephi 17:31		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 17:38		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 17:46		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 17:48-52		5	2	Parry
1 Nephi 18:24		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 19:13-14		4	2	Parry
1 Nephi 20:21		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 21:1		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 21:11		2	2	Parry
1 Nephi 21:24-25		3	1	Parry
1 Nephi 22:1-3		4	2	Parry
1 Nephi 22:25		2	2	Parry
3 Nephi 1:15-19	Prophesied sign given of Savior's birth	3	2	Self
Ether 4:14-15	Great and marvelous things held back from House of Israel until they believe	3	3	Self

* "Poetic Parallelisms in the Book of Mormon", Donald W. Parry