Helaman

Helaman (Superscription) An Account . . . (Mormon’s Use of Inverted Parallels):

According to Wade Brown, there was at least one author in the Book of Mormon who chose to use an inverted parallel to introduce books. When Mormon prepared the introduction to the Book of Helaman, he placed it in the following structure:

1. The Book of Helaman

    2. an account of the Nephites, their wars and contentions and their dissension

      3. and also the prophecies of many holy prophets before

        4. the coming of Christ

          5. according to the record

            6. of Helaman who was the son

            6′ of Helaman and also

          5′ according to the records of his sons even down to

        4′ the coming of Christ

      3′ and also many of the Lamanites are converted

    2′ an account of their conversion,

        an account of the righteousness of the Lamanites and the wickedness and abominations of the Nephites according to the record of Helaman and his sons even down to the coming of Christ which is called

1′ The Book of Helaman

Many believe that the finest inverted parallels pinpoint the subject at the beginning and end of the poem and also at the center or focal point of the structure. Notice that Mormon introduces the author Helaman at the beginning, at the end and twice in the center of the poem.¹

Helaman (Superscription) An Account . . . Which Is Called the Book of Helaman, Etc.:

According to Roy Weldon, critics have ridiculed the Latin “et cetera” at the end of the superscription which follows the title and begins the book of Helaman. However, Dr. Sidney B. Sperry writes: “The equivalent of our ‘et cetera’ occurred in ancient literature–Greek for example”²