Concluding Ellipsis

The first five books of the Bible are known to Jews at the Torah.

Interestingly, the Torah ends in Ellipsis. (Read Rabi Josh Franklin's article "The Torah Ends with an Ellipsis . . . really it does" here)

Moses powerful prophecy wording ultimately leaves the reader hanging.

Deuteronomy 34:

11 In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,

12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.

What seems to English readers as a poorly constructed sentence is actually Hebrew ellipsis.

Ellipsis at the end, seems insignificant.  And after all, who knew?

It turns out many of the Book of Mormon's significant conclusions also end with ellipsis.

What seemed perhaps clunky wording in English was actually powerful writing in Hebrew.

How would an American boy (Joseph Smith) know to plagiarize something so subtle as Ellipsis in a concluding remark, if plagiarism had occurred?  This nuance of the Hebrew language may elude experts.

Here are some examples of concluding verses from significant messages in the Book of Mormon.

Jacob's sermon conclusion in Nephi's writings:

2 Nephi 7:43-44 

Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, And also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement,

That ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, That ye may praise Him through grace divine. Amen.

Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection,

And also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement,

   [May God raise you] that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God,

   [May God raise you] that ye may praise Him through grace divine. Amen. 

(LDS: 2 Nephi 10:25)

Nephi's conclusion on coming to Jesus, coming in 'at the gate.'

 2 Nephi 14:12 

But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always and not faint, That ye must not perform anything unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, That He will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always and not faint,

That ye must not perform anything unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ,

[Pray to the Father in the name of Jesus] That He will consecrate thy performance unto thee,

[Pray to the Father in the name of Jesus] That thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul. 

(LDS: 2 Nephi 32:9)

Nephi's conclusion of all his writings

2 Nephi 15:18 

And you that will not partake of the goodness of God and respect the words of the Jews, And also my words and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, Behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day,

For what I seal on earth shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; For thus hath the Lord commanded me and I must obey. Amen.

And you that will not partake of the goodness of God and respect the words of the Jews,

And also [respect] my words

and [respect] the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God,

Behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day

For what I seal on earth shall be brought against you at the judgment bar;

For thus hath the Lord commanded me and I must obey. Amen. 

(LDS: 2 Nephi 33:15)

Mormon's conclusion of Nephite/Lamanite prophecy to Moroni

Moroni 8:34 

And after rejecting so great a knowledge, my son, they must perish soon,

Unto the fulfilling of the prophecies which were spoken by the prophets,

As well as the words of our Savior Himself. 

And after rejecting so great a knowledge, my son, they must perish soon.

Unto the fulfilling of the prophecies [of them perishing] which were spoken by the prophets,

As well as the words [of them perishing] of our Savior Himself. 

(LDS: Moroni 8:29)

Moroni's conclusion to the Book of Mormon

Moroni 10:30 

And again if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ and deny not His power,

Then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God through the shedding of the blood of Christ,

Which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins.

That ye become holy without spot. 

And again if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ and deny not His power,

Then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God through the shedding of the blood of Christ,

Which is in the covenant of the Father [through the shedding of the blood of Christ] unto the remission of your sins.

That [through the shedding of the blood of Christ]ye become holy without spot . 

(LDS: Moroni 10:33)