According to David Wright, one of the Book of Mormon's formal literary characteristics is embedding, where each phrase in a series of phrases is grammatically or logically dependent upon the phrase just before it, thus forming a chain of linked phrases. For example in Alma's description of Korihor's curse (Alma 30:47) we find a five-member embedded structure:
a. Therefore, if thou shalt deny again,
b. behold, God shall smite thee,
c. that thou shalt become dumb,
d. that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more,
e. that thou shalt not deceive this people any more.
The first two phrases are members of a conditional ("if-then") phrase. Phrase c develops b with a result clause conjoined with the word "that" describing the effect of the smiting; phrase d develops c, also with a result clause similarly conjoined, describing or defining the effect of being dumb; and finally he concludes with another similar result clause describing what happens when one cannot open one's mouth. One of the literary effects of this particular embedded structure is a feeling of focusing. From the general condition of denial one moves to the specific result of being smitten. This is then defined further as becoming dumb. Temporal limits are then set for the curse: Korihor will never open his mouth any more. The final clause fleshes out the description by giving the ultimate rationale for the curse. [David P. Wright, "Review of Wade Brown, The God-Inspired Language of the Book of Mormon: Structuring and Commentary," in Review of Books of the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1, 1989, p. 13]