Fire and Brimstone

The oft repeated comparison of the torment of  the wicked to “a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever” (Mosiah 3:27), conveys volcanic imagery. It appears more frequently in the Book of Mormon, than in the Bible (The closest wording in biblical passages is found in Revelation 14:10-11 and 19:20, but see also Genesis 19:24; Psalms 11:6). This may indicate that actual examples were available to prophets and their audiences in the Book of Mormon land of promise for comparison. Jacob who lived in the land of Nephi used the analogy seven times, Benjamin’s angel once, Alma and the wicked judge in Ammonihah once each. (See 2 Nephi 9:16,19, 26; 28:23; Jacob 3:11; 6:10; Alma 12:17; 14:14-15).