A Power and hope through the Son
BA In the beginning all things were made by the Son
BB The gospel vs the law of Moses
BC Israel didn’t see the light and got the law of Moses
C John was before the Son
D John bear witness of the Son
E John bear witness of the Son
F Witness of Who never succumbed to the flesh
G When we receive light we become followers of the Son
H The world and Israel reject the Messiah

JST John 1:1-19 (KJV John 1:1-18)
AA 1 In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son.
A-BA And the gospel was the Word [Torah],
A-BB and the Word [Torah] was with the Son,
A-BA and the Son was with God [Elohim],
A-BB and the Son was of God [Elohim].
AA 2 The same was in the beginning with God [Elohim].
-BAA 3 All things were made by Him;
-BA-B and without Him
-BAA was not anything made which was made.
-BBA 4 In him was the gospel,
-BBB and the gospel was the life,
-BBC and the life was the light of men;
-BCA 5 And the light shineth
-BC-B in the world,
-BC-B and the world
-BCA perceiveth it not.
–C 6 Then was a man [John] sent from God [Elohim],
—D whose name was John.
—-EA 7 The same [John] came into the world for a witness,
—-E-B to bear witness of the Light,
—-E–C to bear record of the gospel through the Son,
—-E-B unto all,
—-EA that through him [John] men might believe.
—–FA 8 He was not that Light,
—–FB but came to bear witness of that Light.
——GA 9 Which was the true Light,
——GB which lighteth every man who cometh into the world;
——-HAA 10 Even the Son of God.
——-HA-B He who was in the world,
——-HA-B and the world was made by Him,
——-HAA and the world knew Him not.
——-HBA 11 He came unto His own [Israel],
——-HBB and His own [Israel] received him not.
——GA 12 But as many as received Him,
——G-B to them gave He power to become the sons of God [Elohim];
——GA only to them who believe on His name [authority & character].
—–FA 13 He was born,
—–F-B not of blood,
—–F–C nor of the will of the flesh,
—–F-B nor of the will of man,
—–FA but of God [Elohim].
—-EA 14 And the same Word was made flesh,
—-E-B and dwelt among us,
—-E–C and we beheld His glory,
—-E-B the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,
—-EA full of grace and truth.
—D 15 John bear witness of Him, and cried, saying,
–CA This was He of whom I spake;
–C-B He who cometh after me,
–C-B is preferred before me;
–CA for He was before me.
-BAA 16 For in the beginning was the Word [Torah], even the Son,
-BA-B who is made flesh,
-BA–C and sent unto us by the will of the Father.
-BA—DA And as many as believe on His name
-BA—DB shall receive of His fullness.
-BA–C And of His fullness have all we received,
-BA-B even immortality and eternal life,
-BAA through His grace.
-BBA 17 For the law [of Moses] was given through Moses,
-BBB but life and truth came through Jesus [Yeshua] Christ [the Messiah].
-BCA 18 For the law [of Moses] was after a carnal commandment,
-BC-B to the administration of death;
-BC-B but the gospel was after the power of an endless life,
-BCAA through Jesus [Yeshua] Christ [the Messiah],
-BCAB the Only Begotten Son,
-BCAC who is in the bosom of the Father.
AA 19 And no man hath seen God [Elohim] at any time,
AB except he hath borne record of the Son;
AC for except it is through Him no man can be saved.

During Scripture Study on 2023-01-20, my friend, in the Messiah, Ben asked if we could spend some time to see if we could find a chiasmus in the beginning of JST John 1. Interestingly enough it is Ben who has helped me be more diligent in checking the JST. Above is what we brought out after spending some time together working on it. If you are interested in watching the deliberating we did while figuring it out, it is near the end of Scripture Study 2023-01-20.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the Joseph Smith Translation as of late. Personally I find it unfounded and lacking of substance. Lets take a look at two parts from JST John 1:1-19 (KJV John 1:1-18) as an example.

Lets start with John 1:16.

KJV John 1:16 And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

JST John 1:16
-BAA For in the beginning was the Word [Torah], even the Son,
-BA-B who is made flesh,
-BA–C and sent unto us by the will of the Father.
-BA—DA And as many as believe on His name
-BA—DB shall receive of His fullness.
-BA–C And of His fullness have all we received,
-BA-B even immortality and eternal life,
-BAA through His grace.

To start off with no main commentaries found at BibleHub on John 1:16, and I read all fifteen of them, suggest this change in any way. Interestingly enough, when we look at Adam Clarke’s commentary on BibleHub for John 1:16 it also has nothing to suggest this lengthy addition to the verse. It does how ever suggest reordering the verses, which Joseph Smith was not inspired to do here.

This verse should be put in place of the fifteenth, and the 15th inserted between the 18th and 19th, which appears to be its proper place: thus John’s testimony is properly connected.
Adam Clarke’s Commentary, John 1:16, BibleHub

Contrast that with how with JST Matthew 24 Joseph Smith was inspired to reorder the verses in that chapter. Where Adam Clarke’s Commentary on Matthew 24 no where suggests a reordering of verses. As I find chiasmi very insightful, I wonder if the restored verse order would bring out a chiasmus or two that would have not been possible otherwise. Below is the restored verse order of JST Matthew 24:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 8, 22, Missing, 23, 24, Missing, 6, 25, 26, 27, 28, Missing, 7, Missing, 14, Missing, 29, 34, 35, 30, Missing, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, Missing, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, Missing.
JST Matthew 24 arrangement of KJV Matthew 24 verses

I see this inspired restoration of JST John 1:16 making the BA stanzas connection possible. (JST John 1:3 only restored a which for a that.)

JST John 1:3
-BAA 3 All things were made by Him;
-BA-B and without Him
-BAA was not anything made which was made.

KJV John 1:16 And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

JST John 1:16
-BAA For in the beginning was the Word [Torah], even the Son,
-BA-B who is made flesh,
-BA–C and sent unto us by the will of the Father.
-BA—DA And as many as believe on His name
-BA—DB shall receive of His fullness.
-BA–C And of His fullness have all we received,
-BA-B even immortality and eternal life,
-BAA through His grace.

JST John 1:16 restores a connection of the begging when all things were made that goes along in John 1:3 the complementary stanza BA. Contrasted with KJV John 1:16 where I honestly don’t see much of a connection other than YHWH / Yeshua is both of them. John 1:3 is about YHWH Elohim creating everything and KJV John 1:16 is about us receiving Yeshua’s fullness and being sanctified. Don’t get me wrong, both are very important things YHWH / Yeshua does for us, but they are not good connections in poetry let alone Hebrew poetry / chiasmus.

JST John 1:18 is another one to look at for support of JST being what Joseph Smith said it was. In that without it, and JST John 1:16, there would be no B stanzas. In addition, neither would there be reinforcing ABC sub-stanzas in in them.

JST John 1:5
-BCA And the light shineth
-BC-B in the world,
-BC-B and the world
-BCA perceiveth it not.

JST John 1:18
-BCA For the law [of Moses] was after a carnal commandment,
-BC-B to the administration of death;
-BC-B but the gospel was after the power of an endless life,
-BCAA through Jesus [Yeshua] Christ [the Messiah],
-BCAB the Only Begotten Son,
-BCAC who is in the bosom of the Father.

To help reinforce the importance of the restorations of JST John 1:16 & 18, I’m putting the two contrasting B stanzas next to each other.

JST John 1:3-5
-BAA 3 All things were made by Him;
-BA-B and without Him
-BAA was not anything made which was made.
-BBA 4 In him was the gospel,
-BBB and the gospel was the life,
-BBC and the life was the light of men;
-BCA 5 And the light shineth
-BC-B in the world,
-BC-B and the world
-BCA perceiveth it not.

JST John 1:16-18
-BAA 16 For in the beginning was the Word [Torah], even the Son,
-BA-B who is made flesh,
-BA–C and sent unto us by the will of the Father.
-BA—DA And as many as believe on His name
-BA—DB shall receive of His fullness.
-BA–C And of His fullness have all we received,
-BA-B even immortality and eternal life,
-BAA through His grace.
-BBA 17 For the law [of Moses] was given through Moses,
-BBB but life and truth came through Jesus [Yeshua] Christ [the Messiah].
-BCA 18 For the law [of Moses] was after a carnal commandment,
-BC-B to the administration of death [of mainly two daily lambs];
-BC-B but the gospel was after the power of an endless life,
-BCAA through Jesus [Yeshua] Christ [the Messiah],
-BCAB the Only Begotten Son,
-BCAC who is in the bosom of the Father.

Both BA stanzas talk about the beginning. In like manner, both BB stanzas brings out how the good news of Yeshua the promised Messiah will give us life and light. JST John 1:17 also brings out a contrast of the law of Moses, also know as the daily performances and ordinances which is killing of two lambs daily, and Yeshua [Jesus] the promised Messiah. Which is setting up a foundation for BC stanza in JST John 1:18. The reason that the Israelites were given the law of Moses is because of disobedience, which is rejecting and not perceiving the light, as described in Mosiah (LDS 13:25-33) (RLDS 8:1-12) and JST Galatians 3:13-18 along with D&C (LDS 84:27) (RLDS 83) (1835 4)(1844 4). I see that being taught with JST John 1:5 BC in connection with JST John 1:18 in that the law of Moses was given to the Israelites because of their stiffneckedness soon after all the miracles YHWH did to physically save them.

Mosiah (LDS 13:25-33) (RLDS 8:1-12)
AA 25 And it came to pass that after Abinadi had made an end of these sayings that he said unto them:
AB Have ye taught this people that they should observe to do all these things for to keep these commandments?
-B 26 I say unto you, Nay; for if ye had, the Lord would not have caused me to come forth and to prophesy evil concerning this people.
–CA 27 And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses [daily performances and ordinances].
–C-B I say unto you that it is EXPEDIENT that ye should keep the LAW OF MOSES [TYPES OF THINGS TO COME] AS YET [AT THIS TIME];
–C-B but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall NO MORE be EXPEDIENT to keep the LAW OF MOSES [DAILY PERFORMANCES AND ORDINANCES].
–CA 28 And moreover, I say unto you, that SALVATION DOES NOT COME BY THE LAW [TORAH] ALONE [Torah has a part in salvation] [Law of Moses is a dead work];
—DA and were it not for the ATONEMENT,
—DB which GOD [ELOHIM] HIMSELF SHALL MAKE [ATONEMENT] for the sins and iniquities of his people,
–CA that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding [not opposing] the LAW OF MOSES [TYPES OF THINGS TO COME].
–C-B 29 And now I say unto you that it was EXPEDIENT that there should be a LAW [OF MOSES] given to the children of Israel,
–C–CA yea, even a very STRICK LAW [OF MOSES, KEEP THEM IN REMEMBRANCE OF ELOHIM];
–C–C-B for they were a stiffnecked people,
–C–C-B quick to do iniquity,
–C–CA and SLOW TO REMEMBER THE LORD [YHWH] THEIR GOD [ELOHIM];
–C—D 30 Therefore there was a LAW [OF MOSES, TYPES OF THINGS TO COME] given them,
–C—D yea, a law [of Moses] of PERFORMANCES AND OF ORDINANCES,
–C–C a law [of Moses] which they were to observe STRICTLY from DAY TO DAY [DAILY],
–C-B to KEEP THEM IN REMEMBRANCE OF GOD [ELOHIM] and their duty towards him.
–CA 31 But behold, I say unto you, that all THESE THINGS [LAW OF MOSES] were TYES OF THINGS TO COME.
-BA 32 And now, did they understand the law [of Moses, TYPES OF THINGS TO COME]?
-B-B I say unto you, Nay,
-B–C they DID NOT ALL UNDERSTAND the LAW [OF MOSES, TYPES OF THINGS TO COME];
-B-B and this BECAUSE OF THE HARDNESS OF THEIR HEARTS;
-BA for they UNDERSTOOD NOT that there could not any man be SAVED EXCEPT it were through the REDEMPTION OF GOD [ELOHIM].
AA 33 For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people?
AB Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?

JST Galatians 3:13-18
AA 13 Christ [the Messiah] hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
A-B being made a curse for us:
AA for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
-BA 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus [Yeshua] Christ [the Messiah]; [70 weeks, especially the atonement]
-BB that they might receive the promise [Genesis 22:8] of the Spirit through faith.
–CA 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men;
–C-B Though it be but a man’s covenant,
–C-B yet when it be confirmed,
–CA no man disannulleth [set aside], or addeth thereto.
–CA 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.
–C-B He saith not, And to seeds, as of many;
–C-B but as of one, And to thy seed,
–CA which is Christ [the Messiah].
-BA 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God [Elohim] in Christ [the Messiah] [Genesis 22:8],
-B-B the law [of Moses],
-B–C which was four hundred and thirty years after [because of disobedience],
-B-B cannot disannul [revoke],
-BA that it should make the promise [Genesis 22:8] of none effect.
AA 18 For if the inheritance [possession] is of the law [of Moses],
A-B then it [law of Moses] is no more of promise:
AA but God gave it to Abraham by promise [Genesis 22:8].

D&C (LDS 84:27) (RLDS 83) (1835 4)(1844 4) Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments [law of Moses], which the Lord [YHWH] in His wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John [the time of John when Yeshua performed the atonement], whom God [Elohim] raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb.

1828 Webster’s Dictionary, CARNAL:
1) Pertaining to flesh; fleshly; sensual; opposed to spiritual; as carnal pleasure.
3) Pertaining to the ceremonial law; as carnal ordinances. Hebrews 9:10.

JST Hebrews 9:10 Which consisted only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Personally I see the law of Moses more as a punishment than a law. And why it’s called a law instead of a punishment is something I need to look more into myself. But until then, the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary on LAW does give us something to consider: 17) … His revealed will. And the law of Moses was YHWH’s revealed will for the Israelites to to help them recognize Yeshua the promised Messiah after He took away the sins of the world in performing the atonement for them and us. Torah on the other hand does not point to Yeshua’s first coming, but does teach us how we are to have a Holy Behavior [Spirit] that we may be like Him such that we will recognize Him, see ALL Things You Should DO Chiasmi for more details on this.

Alma (LDS 34:10-14) (RLDS 16:210-215)
AA 10 For it is expedient that there should be a GREAT AND LAST SACRIFICE;
A-B yea, not a sacrifice of man,
A–C neither of beast [burnt offering],
A–C neither of any manner of fowl [burnt offering];
A-B for it shall not be a human sacrifice;
AA but it must be an INFINITE AND ETERNAL sacrifice.
-BA 11 Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another.
-B-B Now, if a man murdereth [when we sin we, we cause our own death]
-B–CA behold will our law, which is just,
-B–CB take the life of his brother?
-B–CA I say unto you, Nay.
-B–CB12 But the law requireth the life of him
-B-B who hath murdered;
-BA therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.
–C 13 Therefore, it is EXPEDIENT that there should be a GREAT AND LAST SACRIFICE,
-BA and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood [law of Moses];
-B-B then shall the law of Moses [TYPES OF THINGS TO COME] be fulfilled;
-B–C yea, it shall be all fulfilled,
-B–C every jot and tittle [pointed to in the daily performances and ordinances],
-B-B and none shall have passed away [been omitted].
-BA 14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law [of Moses, daily performances and ordinances],
AA EVERY WHIT POINTING [TYPES] TO THAT GREAT AND LAST SACRIFICE [OF THINGS TO COME];
A-B and that GREAT AND LAST SACRIFICE
A-B will be the SON OF GOD [ELOHIM],
AA yea, INFINITE AND ETERNAL.

Below are some, but not all, passages in first five books of Moses detailing what the law of Moses is, specifically ones regarding killing of the two daily lambs to be done in anticipation of the Yeshua’s sacrifice for us.

Exodus 29:38-42
AA 38 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar;
AB two lambs of the first year day by day continually.
-BA 39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning;
-BB and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:
–CA 40 And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil;
–CB and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.
—D 41 And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even,
–CA and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning,
–CB and according to the drink offering thereof,
-B for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord.
AA 42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord:
AB where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.

Leviticus 6:8-13
8 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying,
AA This is the law of the burnt offering:
A-B It is the burnt offering,
A-B because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning,
AA and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
-BAA10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment,
-BAB and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh,
-BBA and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar,
-BBB and he shall put them beside the altar.
–CA 11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments,
–CB and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
-BA 12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out:
-B-B and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning,
-B-B and lay the burnt offering in order upon it;
-BA and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
AA 13 The fire shall ever be burning
A-B upon the altar;
AA it shall never go out.

Numbers 28:1-8
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them,
AA My offering,
AB and my bread for my sacrifices
AC made by fire,
AD for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.
-BA 3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lord;
-B-B two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.
-B-B 4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
-BA 5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.
–C 6 It is a continual burnt offering,
—D which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour,
–C a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord.
-BA 7 And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin
-BB for the one lamb:
-BA in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink offering.
-BB 8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even:
AA as the meat offering of the morning,
AB and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it,
AC a sacrifice made by fire,
AD of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

For those who want to dig deeper into this subject here is a recording quoting Joseph Smith and many Book of Mormon verses showing that Torah and the law of Moses are two different things: Scripture Study 2022-08-26. Another recording showing how Torah is still valid after Yeshua’s visit to the Lehites after His resurrection by examining many Book of Mormon verses after that visit: Scripture Study 2022-11-02. The carnal commandments from JST Exodus 34:1-2 is the law of Moses: Scripture Study 2022-11-09.