Why “It Came to Pass” Is One of the Most Significant Phrases in the Book of Mormon
Keywords
Book of Mormon language, scriptural repetition, divine character
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
Why “It Came to Pass” Is One of the Most Significant Phrases in the Book of Mormon. January 12, 2020.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Halverson, Taylor, "Why “It Came to Pass” Is One of the Most Significant Phrases in the Book of Mormon" (2020). Faculty Publications. 9918.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/9918
Document Type
Other
Publication Date
2020
Language
English
College
Marriott School of Business
Department
Marketing
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