Book of Mormon Poet
Poetry in the BoM

Chiasmus · Alma 41:13–15

The Word Restoration

Alma teaches Corianton what restoration actually means by laying down four paired rewards, then walking them backward twice: mercy, justice, righteousness, good — sent out, then returned.

  1. A

    Restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish.41:13

  2. B

    Good for that which is good.41:13

  3. C

    Righteous for that which is righteous.41:13

  4. D

    Just for that which is just.41:13

  5. E

    Merciful for that which is merciful.41:13

  6. E′

    Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren.41:14

  7. D′

    Deal justly.41:14

  8. C′

    Judge righteously.41:14

  9. B′

    And do good continually.41:14

  10. A′

    For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored.41:15

Why the form matters

Unusual and extremely successful. The first half names the restored things; the second names the conditions that call them back. The poem is the doctrine. What you send out is what comes home.