Source:Rediscovering the Book of Mormon:Ch:3:2:Early text promises fulfilled later: example 2

Mormon promises, text later complies: Example #2

Mormon promises, text later complies: Example #2

An author may promise in the course of writing to return to a subject later to supply further details. Actually keeping such a promise can prove difficult. Even with modern writing aids, memory can betray a person into failing to tuck in the corners of plot or information. Mormon, the editor of much of the Book of Mormon as we have it, made these types of promises at least seven times. In each case, he or his son Moroni followed through perfectly....

The preaching mission of the sons of Mosiah was related in Alma 17:-{[sv||Alma|25|}}, eighteen chapters after Mormon had said in Mosiah 28:9 and 28:19-20 that he would later tell about it....

If following through on editorial promises to return to a subject is difficult in writing, it is even harder done in haste with no written record to serve as a reminder of the promises made. In 1829 Joseph Smith dictated to Oliver Cowdery most of the scripture attributed to Mormon within the period of a few weeks, and without proofreading or revising. Under these circumstances, if Joseph were the original author, then leaving no gaps in the promised materials would have been a remarkable achievement. This makes it much more likely that Joseph was translating rather than creating, and that the editorial consistency is Mormon's work.