“Thus They Were a Very Indolent People”

Brant Gardner

Of course a difference between the Joshua example and Mormon’s text is that a different redactor added the aside after the fact, and Mormon’s comments are inserted as he is writing. Nevertheless, the technique for returning to the main text is the same. Bokovoy notes that the textual interruption of Alma 11:1–19 is bracketed by the prior statement: “Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain according to their employ” (Alma 10:32); it is paralleled by the statement at the end of the insertion: “Now it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they received their wages according to their employ” (Alma 11:20).

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4

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