The first chiasmus is one that I arranged and is a
bit weak. Note that spoken
is repeated three times above and beneath and the idea that the prophet speaks
the words and the people repeat the words is important in ancient Israelite
customs. Interesting is that the two words spoken and words are
in reverse order in the top and bottom. Also interesting is the repetition of king Benjamin in top and bottom and there are three
references to king above and two plus the angle speaking below. The E) term has
relevance with the heart
as the focus which is why I believe this may be in the middle of a chiasmus
structure as it matches the second chiasmus structure.
The last two chiasmus structures are well known.
I’ve also highlighted some other words that are
typically significant.
Chapter Five
A) 1 And now,
it came to pass that when king Benjamin had
thus spoken
to his people,
B) he sent among them, desiring to know
of his people if they believed the words which
he had spoken unto them.
C) 2 And they all cried with one voice,
saying: Yea, we believe all the words which
thou hast spoken unto
us; and also, we know of their surety
and truth,
D) because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent,
E) which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts,
that we have no more disposition to do evil,
but to do good continually.
(antithetical)
D) 3 And we, ourselves, also, through
the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit,
C) have great views of that which is to
come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.
4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has
brought us to this great knowledge,
whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.
5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do
his will, and to be obedient to his
commandments
in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days,
that we may
not bring upon ourselves a never-ending
torment,
B) as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the
wrath of God.
A) 6 And now,
these are the words which king Benjamin desired
of them; and therefore he said unto
them: Ye have
spoken
the words
that I desired; (chiasmus)
and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.
7 And now,
because of the covenant which ye
have made
A) a) ye shall be called the children of Christ,
b) his
sons, and his daughters;
B) for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you;
B) for ye say that your hearts are
changed through faith on his name;
A) a) therefore, ye are born of him
b) and have become his sons and his daughters. (chiasmus and simple alternate)
8 And under this head
ye are made free,
and there is
no other head whereby ye can be made free.
A) a) There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh;
b) therefore, I would that ye should
take upon you the name of
Christ,
B) all you that have entered into the covenant with God
C) that ye should be obedient
unto the end of your lives.
C) 9 And it shall come to pass that
whosoever doeth this
B) shall be found at the right hand of God,
A) a) for he shall know the name by which he is called;
b) for he shall be called by the name of Christ. (chiasmus)
10 And now it
shall come to pass,
A) that whosoever shall not take upon
him the name of Christ
B) must be called by some other name;
C) therefore, he findeth
himself on the left hand of God.
D) 11 And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name
E) that I said I should give unto you
that never should be blotted out,
F) except it be through transgression; therefore,
F) take heed that ye do not transgress,
E) that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.
D) 12 I say unto you, I would that ye
should remember to retain the name
C) written always in your hearts, that ye are not found
on the left hand of God,
B) but that ye hear and know the voice
by which ye shall be called,
A) and also, the name
by which he shall call you. (chiasmus)
13 For how knoweth
a man the master
whom he has not served, (Matt 6:24)
and who is a stranger unto him,
and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? (working out)
14 And again,
doth a man take an ass which belongeth
to his neighbor, and keep him? I say unto you,
Nay; he will not even suffer that he shall feed among his flocks,
but will drive him away, and cast him out. (synonymous words)
I say unto
you, that even so shall it be among you if ye know not the name by which ye are
called.
15 Therefore,
I would that ye should be steadfast
and immovable, always abounding in
good works,
That Christ,
the Lord
God Omnipotent,
may seal you his,
that you may
be brought to heaven,
that ye may have
everlasting salvation and eternal life, (synonymous words)
through the wisdom,
and power,
and justice,
and mercy of him (synonymous
words)
who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.