How One of the Most Common Phrases in the Book of Mormon Is Also the Most Meaningful

Keywords

Book of Mormon language, scriptural repetition, literary interpretation

Abstract

Mark Twain famously quipped that if Joseph Smith would have left out the phrase “it came to pass,” the Book of Mormon would have only been a short pamphlet (Roughing It, Hartford, CT: American Publishing Co., 1901, p. 133).

We may justifiably join Mark Twain in wondering why this phrase is used in the Book of Mormon ad nauseum (a fancy phrase that means “until we are literally sick!”). It’s like listening to high school teenagers, who use the word “like” about every third word and like, no one even knows why they do it.

Joking aside, why does this phrase show up so often? Let me suggest several reasons that I hope expand our love, gratitude, and understanding of scripture and God’s character.

Original Publication Citation

How One of the Most Common Phrases in the Book of Mormon is Also the Most Meaningful, LDS Living, November 15, 2017.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2017

Publisher

LDS Living

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Marketing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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