Joseph smith dictated the book with his face in a hat. There were 5,000 original book of mormon copies published in 1830 in palmyra, new york. As discussed above, the changes identified by skousen and carmack do not refer to major modifications or corrections to sections of. Jerald and sandra tanner of the utah lighthouse ministry have identified nearly 4,000 changes when comparing the original 1830 edition to the 1964 edition. He basically broke up the originally much longer chapters, so. One of the first publications documenting the massive changes, 3,9 changes in the. The original book of mormon transcript book of mormon. Initial work concentrated on studying the two manuscripts of the book of mormon, namely the original manuscript and the printers manuscript. Critical comparisons between surviving portions of the manuscripts show an average of two to three changes per page from the original manuscript to the printers. Doctrine and covenants compared with book of commandments most significant changes in lds scripture. The next one, to have hope, the book of mormon in the original text has the main verb have followed by the direct object hope18 to 0, there is one occasion where this is actually due to editing by joseph. The original book of mormon transcript the book of mormon. Holland brigham young university provo follow this and additional works at.
He said the introduction page in current ldsproduced books was not part of the original text translated by joseph smith jr. Why would the mormon church continue to change the work even after joseph. The book of mormon is the scripture embraced by followers of joseph smith in his 1830s latterday saint movement. As discussed above, the changes identified by skousen and carmack do not refer to major modifications or corrections to sections of the book of mormons original wording. For some of the best scholarship on the changes in the book of mormon, see the writings of royal skousen, such as his 2014 article, changes in the book of mormon in interpreter. Book of mormon manuscripts the encyclopedia of mormonism. The change in the 1840 edition was probably made by joseph smith. Significant changes in lds doctrine and covenants 4mormon. I think it is important that we remember how the book of mormon was produced.
Debate renewed with change in book of mormon introduction. Two major goals of each published edition of the book of mormon have been 1 to faithfully reproduce the text. Book of mormon printers manuscript is now online church. Many of the original revelations of the mormon doctrine and covenants scripture were published in the 1833 book of commandments. How many changed has the book of mormon been changed. The original book of mormon transcript the book of. The claim by the critics that the church has somehow hidden these items is seriously outdated.
Book of mormon changes text files to compare it yourself. I have a copy of the original book of mormon and all the changes in it next to it. Smith is full of bluff and bluster, and is a fraud. Two years later, when these revelations were republished in the first edition of doctrine and covenants, significant changes became apparent. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone first staged in 2011, the play is a satirical examination of the church of jesus christ of. Jul 01, 2011 however, there are numerous other changes which affect the doctrinal teachings of the book of mormon. The earliest text, attempts to sift through changes in the manuscript to bring the reader back to the best approximation of what the original text of the book of mormon would have said. These changes have only been applied to the first part of the book of mormon. As you can see, the book of mormon is a changing document.
The goal of textual accuracy has led later editors to earlier editions and, when available, to the original and printers manuscripts see book of mormon manuscripts. By far the majority of changes between the 1830 and. Many of the original revelations of the mormon doctrine and covenants. Godhead changes were made to the book of mormon after joseph smith. The earliest text, attempts to sift through changes in the manuscript to bring the reader back to the best approximation of what the original text of the book of mormon would have. Types of changes in the book of mormon text the following statistics are derived from my computerized collation of the two manuscripts of the book of mormon the original and the printers manuscripts and 20 standard page 173 editions of the book of mormon fifteen lds editions, from 1830 to 1981, the 1858 wright edition, and four rlds. On july 11, 20, i was surprised to get an email from a community of christ colleague informing me that the smithpettit foundation was publishing john s. In making this study we obtained photocopies of an original 1830 edition of the book of mormon, which was donated to the university of utah library by the lds apostle john a. In making this study we obtained photocopies of an original 1830 edition of the book of mormon from the university of utah library. Dingers significant textual changes in the book of mormon. In making this study we obtained photocopies of an original 1830 edition of the book of mormon, which was. Types of changes in the book of mormon text the following statistics are derived from my computerized collation of the two manuscripts of the book of mormon the original and the printers manuscripts. In the 1879 lds edition, however, orson pratt changed the original chapter system. Examples of later verses in which the trinitarian image of gods was retained, are mosiah 16.
The claim is often heard that there are more than 4000 changes to the book of mormon text. It was begun in july 1829 and finished early in 1830. The original 1830 edition of the book of mormon contained numerous passages that demonstrate distinctly nineteenthcentury new england grammar. According to joseph smith, the book of mormon is more correct than the bible history of the church, vol. In addition, at the front of the book of mormon, in the section titled. Church removes racial references in book of mormon. The original text betrays its new england origin in many ways, from. Hales, changing critics criticisms of book of mormon changes, interpreter.
Technically he didnt write the book but he did orally produce it while a scribe wrote what he orated. Changes to latterday scripture lds leaders have made. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone first staged in 2011, the play is a satirical examination of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints beliefs and practices that ultimately endorses the positive power of love and service. Understanding textual changes in the book of mormon. The original 1830 edition of the book of mormon contained numerous. Changes in the book of mormon book of mormon archaeological. The third is the identification of 256 changes in the text that make a difference in meaning or in the spelling of a name, changes that would show up in any translation of the book. Doctrinal changes mormon stories mormon stories podcast. Only a handful of copies were distributed before the press was destroyed. For the latest detailed report, see royal skousen, towards a critical edition of the book of mormon, byu studies 30 winter 1990. Book of mormon changes do not represent revising or rewriting. Why is this so if the book of mormon was translated accurately by the hand of god.
Despite the faith of believers that the book of mormon is the most correct. Changing critics criticisms of book of mormon changes. An original first edition book of mormon has been photographed and is available for viewing at. Some textual changes for a scholarly study of the book of. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of errors.
Each change is color coded and identifies the person making the change. Mormons would make a motion with their right hand and with. Historian dan vogel acknowledged, smiths method of dictation did not allow for rewriting. In this study we will show that there have been at least 3,9 changes made in the book of mormon from the time it was first published in 1830. For some thoughtprovoking analysis and evidence, see hugh nibleys essay. Part of thehistory commons, mormon studies commons, and thereligious thought, theology and philosophy of religion commons. At the conclusion of the original article, i provide some specific numbers for the different types of changes in the history of the book of mormon text, including the number of changes introduced in the book of mormon. Since its first publication in 1830, the book of moron has undergone thousands of changes. An analysis of selected changes in major editions of the. At the conclusion of the original article, i provide some specific numbers for the different types of changes in the history of the book of mormon text, including the number of changes introduced in the. Despite the faith of believers that the book of mormon is the most correct of any book, ever since smith dictated the text to scribes in 1827, there have been significant modifications with each printing.
Lds critic historian dan vogel acknowledged, smiths method of dictation did not allow for rewriting. Royal skousen, a professor of linguistics at byu and a recognized expert of the textual history of the book of mormon, has identified 5,280 variations in all editions of the book of mormon. The primary research for this information was taken from the book 39 changes in the book of. The original text betrays its new england origin in many ways, from inconsistent spelling to incorrect use of tenses and number, as well as incorrect usage of jacobean english. Book of mormon changes the fall of mormonism rich kelsey.
However, there are numerous other changes which affect the doctrinal teachings of the book of mormon. Understanding the nature of the thousands of small changes in the book of mormon may be helpful and interesting. An analysis of selected changes in major editions of the book of mormon 18301920 jeffrey r. Why has the church found it necessary to make changes any. Types of changes in the book of mormon text the following statistics are derived from my computerized collation of the two manuscripts of the book of mormon the original and the printers manuscripts and 20 standard page 173editions of the book of mormon fifteen lds editions, from 1830 to 1981, the 1858 wright edition, and four rlds. Joseph originally taught that jesus and the father were the same. The next one, to have hope, the book of mormon in the original text has the main verb have followed by the direct object hope18 to 0, there is one occasion where this is actually due to editing by joseph smith, he changed it to to have hoped he made the have into what we call an auxiliary verb, the perfect, and he. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of. An analysis of selected changes in major editions of the book. For information about the more recent discovery of several fragments of the original manuscript. A printing history of the book of mormon 101 the year 2000 marked an important event in the publishing history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Nov 06, 2017 this page shows the original text and the changes that were made by joseph smith and others for later editions of the book of mormon. Key passages on deity in the original 1830 text of the book of mormon were changed in the 1837 edition to reflect.
Significant textual changes in the book of mormon signature. Yet the original 1839 book of mormon was full of all kinds of errors. In addition, royal skousen has extensively studied the original book of mormon manuscripts and published a critical text edition of the book of mormon. Joseph smith said that 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, history of the church, vol. Typical of the minor changes made in the book of mormon through its various printings, joseph smith in the 1837. In 1990 the mormon church radically changed its secret temple ceremony by removing the motions of slashing ones throat and stomach. Book of mormontextual changeswhite changed to pure. Doctrinal changes a selection of doctrinal changes in the book of mormon. All the text changes look like he pulled the bom out of a hatpun intended.
Jul 14, 2019 this video discusses the 5 types of changes that have occurred with the text of the original book of mormon translation and why they should not be of any concern. The primary research for this information was taken from the book 39 changes in the book of mormon by jerald and sandra tanner. To obtain copies of their work please write to utah lighthouse ministry p. Joseph smith, and later the church, changed key revelations, documents, and. The reasons why this church flew under the radar for so long are as numerous as the changes made to its premiere canon. Key passages on deity in the original 1830 text of the book of mormon were changed in the 1837 edition to reflect joseph smiths changing doctrine of deity. A valuable new analysis of the many types of changes in the text of the book of mormon is brian c. To view the pages of the original manuscript that are still remaining is to be reassured that it is a.
I told the brethren that 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. Changes to the bible in comparison most scholars agree that there are about. Book of mormon editions 18301981 the encyclopedia of. This copy is called the printers manuscript p, since it was the one normally used to set the type for the first 1830 edition of the book of mormon. Changes were made to the book of mormon after joseph smith changed his doctrine from monotheism to polytheism. In reality, though, the kind of stylistic accuracy achieved by these changes has little to do with what joseph meant when he called the book of mormon the most correct of any book on earth. The book of mormon has a number of original and distinctive doctrinal discussions on subjects such as the fall of adam and eve, the nature of the christian atonement, eschatology, redemption from physical and spiritual death, and the organization of the latterday church. Changes to the bible in comparison most scholars agree that there are about 24,000 changes between 1611 version and the 1769 version of the kjv bible.
Holland brigham young university provo follow this and additional works. In reality, though, the kind of stylistic accuracy achieved by these changes has little to do. The first printed edition compared to the manuscripts and to the subsequent major lds english printed editions and that there was to be. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god and not by the power of man address to all believers in christ, richmond, missouri, 1887, p. Book of mormon changes almost all spelling, grammar, and.
Feb 27, 2020 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has stewardship over the book of mormon and will do everything in its power to put a copy of the book into your hands in your own language. Parker and stone were best known for creating the animated comedy south park. Changes in the book of mormon book of mormon central. By far the majority of changes between the 1830 and subsequent versions of the book of mormon are spelling or grammar corrections. Changing critics criticisms of book of mormon changes the. Mormons would make a motion with their right hand and with the palm facing the floor to slash their own throat or to cut open their bowels if they were to ever reveal the secrets in the temple. The earliest text, the definitive scholarly edition of the book of mormon, published in 2009 by yale university press.
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