There is a very obvious element of parallelism in these verses, a point not missed in Welch’s chiastic structuring of the chapter. The joy is definitely structured to be parallel to, and a balance for, the pain and anguish of sin. Whether seen as a literary chiasm, or a conceptual balancing of opposites, this is a powerful message. The joy is as exquisite as the pain. The balance is made. While it is likely true that the joy is greater than the pain (note “there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy”) the structure of the passage requires the balancing statement. Note: see the comments following 2 Nephi 2:25 for a discussion of the meaning of joy in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.