Doctrine and Covenants/Textual changes

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Doctrine and Covenants Textual Changes

Textual changes in the Doctrine and Covenants

Summary: Joseph Smith and others made revisions, additions, and deletions to his early revelations when preparing them for publication. Some claim that revelations from God are inerrant and should never be changed, and that this proves that Joseph Smith did not receive revelation.

Why did Joseph Smith and others edit the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants?

Summary: Joseph Smith made revisions, additions, and deletions to his early revelations when preparing them for publication. Are revelations from God inerrant and thus should never be changed? Were the revelations in the Book of Commandments modified because they were "showing their age," "contained outdated information," "included erroneous statements" and "abandoned doctrines?"

Oliver Cowdery and the "rod of nature"

Summary: It is claimed that a revelation received by Joseph praised Oliver Cowdery's gift of using divining talents. It is claimed that the revelation was published in the Book of Commandments in its original form, then subsequently modified in the Doctrine and Covenants in order to hide the reference to the "rod of nature." Therefore, Joseph attempted to "cover up" Oliver Cowdery's work with a divining rod by changing a revelation.