Abstract: This article is part two of an analysis of the literary structure of Alma 17–27. The current article analyzes the literary structure of Alma 21–22, which is “an account of the preaching of Aaron and Muloki and their brethren to the Lamanites” as noted in the heading before Alma 21. These two chapters were originally a single chapter in the first edition of the Book of Mormon. When Alma 21–22 is treated as a single chapter, it appears to have been organized into an extended parallel structure (A-B-C-A'-B'-C') in which matching elements share many strong links and parallels. This literary structure highlights the extraordinary range of missionary experiences that can occur while preaching the gospel. There also appears to be an eight-element chiasm that consists of Alma 21–22 and the conclusion to the preaching efforts of the sons of Mosiah in the first fifteen verses of Alma 23. This is the second of three macro-chiasms characterizing the overall structure of Alma 17–27.





As a follow-up to a previous article, “The Literary Structure of Alma 17–20,”1 this article is a literary analysis of the next original chapter of the Book of Mormon, Alma 13, which comprises Alma 21–22 in the 2013 edition of the Book of Mormon.2 The same methodology [Page 404]used in that article to identify and analyze literary units is used here as well.3 As recorded in the heading before Alma 21, the narrative shifts from an account of Ammon’s activities among the Lamanites to “the preaching of Aaron and Muloki and their brethren to the Lamanites.” This chapter includes Aaron’s preaching to the king over all the land (Lamoni’s father) in the land of Nephi and his subsequent conversion unto the Lord.

Much like Ammon’s preaching to the Lamanites in the land of Ishmael and Lamoni’s conversion unto the Lord, events from Alma 21–22 had lasting ramifications for both the Lamanites and the Nephites. In Alma 17–20, the literary structure is highly detailed and carefully crafted. It is, therefore, not surprising to find tight literary structure and careful attention to detail in this chapter as well. The six major literary units in this chapter form an extended parallel structure (A-B-C-A'-B'-C') in which the matching units share significant keywords, phrases, and themes.

In addition to this overall structure for Alma 21–22, the first fifteen verses of Alma 23 are analyzed in this article. A previous article, “The Literary Structure of Alma 23–27,”4 includes a proposal for a macro-chiasm that begins with Alma 23:16 . The outer boundaries of the macro-chiasm are effectively framed by...