The Book of Mormon is probably a creative artifact from Joseph Smith.

It certainly does appear like a game of ‘Gish Gallop' is afoot… 1. Chiasmus Since my opponent claims that Alma 36 has been noted to be not a true Chiasmus, I will have to walk him, and the readers threw exactly what a chiasmus is. In rhetoric, chiasmus (from the Greek: χιάζω, chiï¿½zō, "to shape like the letter Χ") is the figure of speech in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures in order to make a larger point; that is, the clauses display inverted parallelism. Chiasmus was particularly popular both in Greek and in Latin literature, where it was used to articulate balance or order within a text. As a popular example, the Greek and Hebrew texts of the Bible also contain many long and complex chiasmi. (http://en.wikipedia.org..., http://grammar.about.com..., http://www.drmardy.com... For example I will use an excerpt from the Bible Psalms 3:7-8 a) Save me, b) O my God, c) for thou has smitten d) all my enemies e) on the cheekbone; e) The teeth d) of the wicked c) thou hast broken; b) to Jehovah, a) the salvation. As you can see the A from the top and the A from the bottom express the same point, or use the same words/synonyms. This is a chiasmus. a) My son give ear to my words (v 1) b) Keep the commandments and ye shall prosper in the land (v 1) c) Do as I have done (v 2) d) Remember the captivity of our fathers (v 2) e) They were in bondage (v 2) f) He surely did deliver them (v 2) g) Trust in God (v 3) h) Supported in trials, troubles and afflictions (v 3) i) I know this not of myself but of God (v 4) j) Born of God (v 5) k) I sought to destroy the church (v 6-9) l) My limbs were paralyzed (v 10) m) Fear of the presence of God (v 14-15) n) Pains of a damned soul (v 16) o) Harrowed up by memory of sins (v 17) p) I remembered Jesus Christ, a son of God (v 17) p) I cried, Jesus, son of God (v 18) o) Harrowed up by memory of sins no more (v 19) n) Joy as exceeding as was the pain (v 20) m) Long to be in the presence of God (v 22) l) My limbs received strength again (v 23) k) I labored to bring souls to repentance (v 24) j) Born of God (v 26) i) Therefore my knowledge is of God (26) h) Supported under trials and troubles and afflictions (v 27) g) Trust in him (v 27) f) He will deliver me (v 27) e) As God brought our fathers out of bondage and captivity (v 28-29) d) Retain in remembrance their captivity (v 28-29) c) Know as I do know (v 30) b) Keep the commandments and ye shall prosper in the land (v 30) a) This according to his word (v 30) (http://www.cometozarahemla.org...) There is absolutely no question to the fact that this is a chiasmus, and possibly one of the greatest chiasmi of all time (absolutely this is opinionated). Whatever source pro is using that tells him chiasmus in Alma 36 has been noted to be not a true chiasmi, that source is faulty and I would urge him to venture away from it. I'm not sure what pro means by ‘rules of chiasmus,' because chiasmus is an ancient Hebrew form of literature used to balance out long pieces of literature. Chiasmus used a mirror technique for example ABCDEEDCBA, and as far as I know those are the only rules. Alma 36 expresses this beautifully, as well as Alma 41:13-15, Alma 29:8-17, Helaman 6: 7-13, First Nephi, the entire book of Mosiah, and many more areas. My opponent explained that "chiasmic structure (following same rough rules) occurs in Smith's D & C (not a claimed divine text)" Incorrect, all D & C is, is claimed divine text. It's a recording of the Lords words threw his prophet. So if chiasmus is found inside the D&C then it further strengthens J.S's claim to be a prophet. Chiasmus is found NOWERE in the 1830's, it was a lost form of literature, yet here it shows up all over the BOM. I urge the readers, and pro to read this link http://www.cometozarahemla.org.... I sadly don't have time, or room to address the rest of his claims however I will address one more. 5. ‘Impossibility spiel' My opponent claims that there is no source validating my (and the entire church's) claim that all this was done while staring into a hat, however this is incorrect. There are numerous sources including the diary of Emma Smith, accounts from Martin Harris, and Joseph Smith. Of course you can say that Harris's, and Smiths claims could have been made up along with the rest of the story, but that doesn't explain Emma writing about it in her diary, not to mention, if you were to make up a story why would you do everything in your power to make it unbelievable? Staring into a hat while holding a rock up to his eye? This is silly, if he were to make this up why do it in an unbelievable manner? I wish I could address the rest of these issues; however I feel it is essential I introduce a crucial point. Threw out this debate, as well as my forum ‘The Book of Mormon' (http://www.debate.org...), I have come to realize that I will honestly never be able to prove the Book of Mormon an ancient document, and pro, or anybody else who attempts, will never be able to disprove it. We can throw out evidence we believe supports the book, or evidence we believe condemns it, however we will truly never be able to prove it either way. This is the way God set it up. If there was an ample amount of proof supporting it the entire world would convert thus being no point for our existence on this earth. Pro, anything you find on the internet you believe is proof, is nothing but speculation. Think about it, if there was actual proof condemning the book the church would be nowhere near as strong as it is today, currently the second fastest growing church in America with over 13 million members. There is no proof discrediting the BOM, and I am confident there will never be, because the Lord has given us a promise. "No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calamity may defame. but the truth of god will go forth boldly nobly and independent. Till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear. Till the purposes of shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah will say ‘the work is done'."