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| − | {{Articles FAIR copyright}} {{Articles Header 1}} {{Articles Header 2}} {{Articles Header 3}} {{Articles Header 4}} {{Articles Header 5}} {{Articles Header 6}} {{Articles Header 7}} {{Articles Header 8}} {{Articles Header 9}} {{Articles Header 10}} | + | {{Main Page}} |
| − | {{BoMPortal}}
| + | {{Navigation:Book of Mormon}} |
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| | <onlyinclude> | | <onlyinclude> |
| − | =[[Book of Mormon/Textual changes|Book of Mormon textual changes]]= | + | {{H2 |
| − | <noinclude>
| + | |L=Book of Mormon textual changes |
| − | =={{Criticism label}}==
| + | |H=Book of Mormon textual changes |
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| − | The published text of the Book of Mormon has been corrected and edited through its various editions. Critics claim that this is evidence that Joseph Smith and other Church leaders were attempting to cover up errors that would expose the book as a work of man, not God.
| + | |L1=Book of Mormon/Textual changes/Why were these changes made |
| − | | + | |L2=Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"the Son of" |
| − | {{CriticalSources}}
| + | |L3=Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"white" changed to "pure" |
| − | </noinclude>
| + | |L4=Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"Benjamin" changed to "Mosiah" |
| − | =={{Subarticles label}}==
| + | |L5=Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"Words missing in Alma 32:30" |
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| − | {{SummaryItem
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| − | |link=Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"the Son of" | |
| − | |subject="the Son of" added to 1 Nephi 11:18, 1 Nephi 11:21, 1 Nephi 11:32, and 1 Nephi 13:40
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| − | |summary=Critics charge that the earliest edition of the Book of Mormon referred to Jesus as "God," but in later editions this was changed to "the Son of God." They cite this as evidence that Joseph Smith changed the Book of Mormon to conform to his changing beliefs about the Trinity. They claim Joseph was originally a solid Trinitarian (perhaps even a Modalist), and as he later began to teach that the Father and Son were two separate beings, he had to change the Book of Mormon to support his new doctrine.
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| − | }}
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| − | {{SummaryItem
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| − | |link=Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"or out of the waters of baptism" | |
| − | |subject="or out of the waters of baptism" added to 1 Nephi 20:1
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| − | |summary=The phrase "or out of the waters of baptism" was added to 1 Nephi 20:1 in the 1840 edition Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith.
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| − | }}
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| − | {{SummaryItem
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| − | |link=Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"white" changed to "pure" | |
| − | |subject="white" changed to "pure" in 2 Nephi 30:6 | |
| − | |summary=The phrase "white and delightsome" was changed to "pure and delightsome" in the Book of Mormon. Critics accuse the Church of attempting to hide a racially offensive statement.
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| − | }}
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| − | {{SummaryItem
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| − | |link=Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"Benjamin" changed to "Mosiah"
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| − | |subject="Benjamin" changed to "Mosiah" in Mosiah 21:28 and Ether 4:1 | |
| − | |summary=In the text currently found in Mosiah 21:28 of the Book of Mormon, the 1830 edition reads "Benjamin", while all subsequent editions read "Mosiah." Likewise, a reference to Benjamin in what is now Ether 4:1 was changed to "Mosiah" in 1849. Critics claim that "either God made a mistake when He inspired the record or Joseph made a mistake when he translated it."
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| − | }}
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| − | {{SummaryItem
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| − | |link=Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"Words missing in Alma 32:30"
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| − | |subject="Words missing in Alma 32:30"
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| − | |summary=Thirty-five words at the end of Alma 32:30 in the original manuscript were omitted from previous editions of the Book of Mormon. The text was restored in the 1981 edition of the Book of Mormon.
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| | }} | | }} |
| | </onlyinclude> | | </onlyinclude> |
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| − | =={{Response label}}==
| + | The claim is often heard that there are more than 4000 changes to the Book of Mormon text. The majority of these are typographical. Few of the changes are significant. We examine the more noteworthy changes. |
| − | [[FAIRwiki:Table_of_contents#Joseph_Smith.2C_Jr.|Joseph Smith]] taught "the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."{{ref|mostcorrect}} As the end of the preceding quote clarifies, by "most correct" this he meant in ''principle and teaching.'' The authors of the Book of Mormon themselves explained several times that their writing was imperfect, but that the teachings in the book were from God ({{scripture|1|Nephi|19|6}}; {{scripture|2|Nephi|33|4}}; {{scripture||Mormon|8|17}}; {{scripture||Mormon|9|31-33}}; {{scripture||Ether|12|23-26}}).
| + | {{:Book of Mormon/Textual changes/Why were these changes made}} |
| − | | + | {{:Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"the Son of"}} |
| − | ===Insignificant changes===
| + | {{:Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"white" changed to "pure"}} |
| − | | + | {{:Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"Benjamin" changed to "Mosiah"}} |
| − | If one counts every difference in every punctuation mark in every edition of the Book of Mormon, the result is well over 100,000 changes.{{ref|skousen2002}} The critical issue is not the ''number'' of changes that have been made to the text, but the ''nature'' of the changes.
| + | {{:Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"Words missing in Alma 32:30"}} |
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| − | Most changes are insignificant modifications to spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and are mainly due to the human failings of editors and publishers. For example, the word ''meet'' — meaning "appropriate" — as it appears in {{scripture|1|Nephi|7|1}}, was spelled "mete" in the first edition of the Book of Mormon, published in 1830. (This is a common error made by scribes of dictated texts.) "Mete" means ''to distribute'', but the context here is obvious, and so the spelling was corrected in later editions.
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| − | Some of these typographical errors ''do'' affect the meaning of a passage or present a new understanding of it, but not in a way that presents a challenge to the divinity of the Book of Mormon. One example is {{scripture|1|Nephi|12|18}}, which in all printed editions reads "a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the ''word'' of the justice of the Eternal God," while the manuscript reads "the ''sword'' of the justice of the Eternal God." In this instance, the typesetter accidentally dropped the ''s'' at the beginning of ''sword''.
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| − | The current (1981) edition of the Book of Mormon has [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/explanation this notice] printed at the bottom of the page opposite 1 Nephi, chapter 1:
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| − | :Some minor errors in the text have been perpetuated in past editions of the Book of Mormon. This edition contains corrections that seem appropriate to bring the material into conformity with prepublication manuscripts and early editions edited by the Prophet Joseph Smith.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Significant changes===
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| − | [[Image:Printing_BoM1.jpg|frame|right|Some Book of Mormon changes were corrections of transcription or printing errors.]]
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| − | Changes that would affect the ''authenticity'' of the Book of Mormon are limited to:
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| − | *those that are substantive AND
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| − | **could possibly change the doctrine of the book OR
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| − | **could be used as evidence that the book was written by Joseph Smith.
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| − | There are surprisingly few meaningful changes to the Book of Mormon text, and all of them were made by Joseph Smith himself in editions published during his lifetime. These changes include:
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| − | *'''[[Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"the Son of"|"the Son of"]]''' added to {{scripture|1|Nephi|11|18}}; {{scripture|1|Nephi|11|21}}, {{scripture|1|Nephi|11|32}}, and {{scripture|1|Nephi|13|40}}.
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| − | *'''[[Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"or out of the waters of baptism"|"or out of the waters of baptism"]]''' added to {{scripture|1|Nephi|20|1}}.
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| − | *'''[[Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"white" changed to "pure"|"white" changed to "pure"]]''' in {{scripture|2|Nephi|30|6}}.
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| − | *'''[[Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"Benjamin" changed to "Mosiah"|"Benjamin" changed to "Mosiah"]]''' in {{scripture||Mosiah|21|28}} and {{scripture||Ether|4|1}}.
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| − | *'''[[Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"Words missing in Alma 32:30"|"Words missing in Alma 32:30"]]{{ref|juddstoddard}} {{scripture||Alma|32|30-31}}
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| − | The historical record shows that these changes were made to ''clarify'' the meaning of the text, not to ''alter'' it.
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| − | Many people in the church experience revelation that is to be dictated (such as a patriarch blessing). They will go back and alter their original dictation. This is done to clarify the initial premonitions received through the Spirit. The translation process for the Prophet Joseph may have occurred in a similar manner.
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| − | =={{Conclusion label}}==
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| − | The authenticity of the Book of Mormon is not affected by the modifications that have been made to its text because the vast majority of those modifications are minor corrections in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The few significant modifications were made by the Prophet Joseph Smith to clarify the meaning of the text, not to change it. This was his right as translator of the book.
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| − | These changes have not been kept "secret." A discussion of them can be found in the individual articles linked above, and in the references listed below, including papers in ''BYU Studies'' and the ''Ensign''.
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | *[[Textual criticism|Biblical textual criticism]]
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| − | =={{Endnotes label}}==
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| − | #{{note|mostcorrect}}{{WWJ1|vol=2|start=139}} Quoted in {{HoC1|vol=4|start=461}} See also {{TPJS1|start=194}}
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| − | #{{note|skousen2002}}Royal Skousen, "Changes In the Book of Mormon," 2002 FAIR Conference proceedings.{{fairlink|url=http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2002_Changes_in_the_Book_of_Mormon.html}}
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| − | #{{note|juddstoddard}}Daniel K. Judd and Allen W. Stoddard, "Adding and Taking Away 'Without a Cause' in Matthew 5:22," in ''How the New Testament Came to Be'', ed. Kent P. Jackson and Frank F. Judd Jr. (Provo and Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center and Deseret Book, 2006),159-160 ISBN 1590386272
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| − | =={{Further reading label}}==
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| − | ==={{FAIR wiki articles label}}===
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| − | {{BoMWiki}}
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| − | *[[Doctrine and Covenants textual changes]]
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| − | *[[Pearl of Great Price textual changes]]
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| − | ==={{FAIR web site label}}===
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| − | *{{tg|url=http://fairlds.org/apol/ai282.html|topic=Changes in the Book of Mormon}}
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| − | *L. Ara Norwood, "Benjamin or Mosiah? Resolving an Anomaly in Mosiah 21:28" {{link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/conf/2001NorL.html}}
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| − | *J. Cooper Johnson, "King Benjamin or Mosiah: A Look at Mosiah 21:28" {{link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/apol/bom/bom03.html}}
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| − | *Royal Skousen, "Changes In the Book of Mormon," 2002 FAIR Conference proceedings.{{fairlink|url=http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2002_Changes_in_the_Book_of_Mormon.html}}
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| − | {{BoMFAIR}}
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| − | ==={{External links label}}===
| + | <!-- PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE --> |
| − | *Jeff Lindsay, "Have there been thousands of changes in the Book of Mormon?" ''jefflindsay.com'' {{link|url=http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_changes.shtml}}
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| − | *Mike Ash, "Book of Mormon Criticisms: Changes," ''mormonfortress.com'' {{link|url=http://www.mormonfortress.com/changeb3.html}}
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| − | *{{Dialogue1|author=Douglas Campbell|article='White' or 'Pure': Five Vignettes|vol=29|num=4|date=Winter 1996|start=119}} {{link|url=http://www.geocities.com/marcschindler1/vignette.htm}}
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| − | *Stephen R. Gibson, "Why Were 4,000 Changes Made in The Book of Mormon?" ''lightplanet.com'' {{link|url=http://www.lightplanet.com/response/answers/changes.htm}}
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| − | *{{Ensign1|author=George Horton|article=Understanding Textual Changes in the Book of Mormon|date=December 1983|start=25}} {{link|url=http://library.lds.org/library/lpext.dll/ArchMagazines/Ensign/1983.htm/ensign%20december%201983%20.htm/understanding%20textual%20changes%20in%20the%20book%20of%20mormon.htm}}
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| − | *{{Sunstone|author=Stan Larson|article=Early Book of Mormon Texts: Textual Changes to the Book of Mormon in 1837 and 1840|vol=4|num=4|date=Fall 1976|start=45|end=59}}
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| − | *{{Dialogue|author=Stan Larson|article=Textual Variants in Book of Mormon Manuscripts|vol=10|num=4|date=Autumn 1977|start=8|end=30}}{{link|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/cgi-bin/docviewer.exe?CISOROOT=/dialogue&CISOPTR=1260&CISOSHOW=1117}}
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| − | *Stanley R. Larson, "A Study of Some Textual Variations in the Book of Mormon Comparing the Original and the Printer's Manuscripts and the 1830, the 1837, and the 1840 Editions," Master's Thesis, BYU, Department of Ancient Scripture, April 1974. {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/MTAF&CISOPTR=28431&REC=20}}
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| − | *{{Ensign1|author=Robert J. Matthews|article=I Have A Question: Why have changes been made in the printed editions of the Book of Mormon?|date=March 1987|start=47}}{{link|url=http://library.lds.org/library/lpext.dll/ArchMagazines/Ensign/1987.htm/ensign%20march%201987.htm/i%20have%20a%20question.htm#LPTOC1}}
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| − | *{{BYUS|author=Royal Skousen|article=Towards a Critical Edition of the Book of Mormon|vol=30|num=1|date=1990|start=41|end=69}}{{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cgi-bin/docviewer.exe?CISOROOT=/byustudies&CISOPTR=21978&CISOSHOW=9564}}
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| − | *Royal Skousen, "Piecing Together the Original Manuscript," ''BYU Today'' (May 1992): 18–24.
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| − | *Royal Skousen, "Changes In the Book of Mormon," 2002 FAIR Conference proceedings.{{fairlink|url=http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2002_Changes_in_the_Book_of_Mormon.html}}
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| − | *W. John Walsh, Robert L. Matthews, Van Hale, and Stan Larson, "Changes to the Book of Mormon," ''lightplanet.com'' {{link|url=http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/response/qa/bom_changes.htm}}
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| − | *Daniel B. Wallace, "Changes to the KJV since 1611: An Illustration," ''bible.org'' {{link|url=http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1197}}
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| − | {{BoMLinks}}
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| − | ==={{Printed material label}}===
| + | [[de:Das Buch Mormon/Textänderungen]] |
| − | *George A. Horton, Jr., “Changes in the Book of Mormon and How to Handle Them,” in ''Report of the Sixth Annual Church Educational System Religious Educators’ Symposium on the Book of Mormon,'' August 1982.
| + | [[es:El Libro de Mormón/Cambios en el texto]] |
| − | *{{Ensign|author=Stan Larson|article=Changes in Early Texts of The Book of Mormon|date=September 1976|start=77|end=82}}
| + | [[pt:O Livro de Mórmon/Alterações textuais]] |
| − | *{{BoMCriticalText}}
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| − | {{BoMPrint}}
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| − | [[es:Cambios_textuales_en_el_Libro_de_Morm%C3%B3n]] | |
| − | {{Articles Footer 1}} {{Articles Footer 2}} {{Articles Footer 3}} {{Articles Footer 4}} {{Articles Footer 5}} {{Articles Footer 6}} {{Articles Footer 7}} {{Articles Footer 8}} {{Articles Footer 9}} {{Articles Footer 10}}
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| − | [[de:Textänderungen im Buch Mormon]] | |
| − | [[fr:Book of Mormon/Textual changes]] | |
