Detractors of the book of mormon have often quoted this phrase as they point to changes in different editions of the book of mormon, punctuation or grammatical problems. My introduction to the book of mormon or the book of mormon evidences page could also be consulted. A oneword change in the introduction to a 2006 edition of the book of mormon has reignited discussion among some latterday saints about the books historicity, geography and the descendants of those chronicled within its pages. In making this study we obtained photocopies of an original 1830 edition of the book of mormon from the university of utah library. Yet, many changes in the text of the book of mormon can be detected when. The reader will immediately note that the text is structured and formatted differently from the versions currently in print. I told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth joseph smith, jr. Nov 08, 2007 one word can speak volumes says this mornings salt lake tribune.
Tanner, jerald and sandra 1996, introduction, 39 changes in the book of mormon self published, utah lighthouse ministry, oclc 3906389. Jerald and sandra tanners 1965 publication, 3,9 changes in the book of mormon, has probably had a greater influence. Jun 11, 2009 a recent word change to the introduction of the book of mormon has once again brought attention to the question regarding the historical reliability of one of mormonisms most sacred texts. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. An original first edition book of mormon has been photographed and is available for viewing at. Linguistics and the book of mormon limited geography model prophets and people list of book of mormon prophets jacob book of mormon prophet abinadi alma the elder alma the younger ammon book of mormon missionary king benjamin brother of jared samuel the lamanite captain moroni enos book of mormon prophet ether book of mormon prophet. Box 1884 salt lake city, utah 84110 or visit their website. Mcconkie wrote the introduction in 1981 for the then new edition of the book of mormon and it contained this statement. 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. Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon and the gift and power. Introductory pages of the book of mormon part 1 come. It introduces the book of mormon to the modern reader by providing background information and a description of the book.
To understand this world, historians strive to identify significant changes that occurred at that time. Changes in the book of mormon introduction juvenile. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Since its first publication in 1830, the book of moron has undergone thousands of changes. Debate renewed with change in book of mormon introduction. The published text of the book of mormon has been corrected and edited through its various editions. Gardner earned a masters degree in anthropology and mesoamerican ethnohistory from the state university of new york at albany. Understanding textual changes in the book of mormon. One word can speak volumes says this mornings salt lake tribune.
A oneword change in the introduction to a 2006 edition of the book of mormon has reignited discussion among some latterday saints about the book s historicity, geography and the descendants of those chronicled within its pages. Book of mormontextual changeswhy were these changes made. The prophet joseph smith said, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was. Part of thehistory commons, mormon studies commons, and thereligious thought, theology and philosophy of religion commons. A study based on facts and documents, salt lake city, ut. Readers of the book of mormon, however, will see light at the end of this dark historical tunnel and a silver lining around these dark clouds of destruction. Although this textual study of the editions and manuscripts of the book of mormon is incomplete and preliminary, it is helpful for a general overview of the textual history of the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. 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. It is my testimony that the book of mormon changes lives. A photoreprint of the original 1830 edition of the book of mormon with all changes marked compared to a 1964 edition. Book of mormon word change christian research institute. Another change affirms the teaching that the book of mormon alone contains the fullness of the gospel. Dingers book begins with a foreword by stan larson that provides some historical background to larsons own earlier work on the book of mormon text, plus a list of significant textual changes that come, for the most part, from the current book of mormon critical text project.
An analysis of selected changes in major editions of the. Changing critics criticisms of book of mormon changes the. As you can see, the book of mormon is a changing document. 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. Instead of being the principal ancestors of american indians, lamanites are nowamong the ancestors of the american indians. Over the years many prophets have spoken of the books importance. A recent word change to the introduction of the book of mormon has once again brought attention to the question regarding the historical reliability of one of mormonisms most sacred texts. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Part of thehistory commons,mormon studies commons, and thereligious thought, theology and philosophy of religion commons. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the.
The annotated edition of the book of mormon has been formatted to enlarge our understanding of and give reverence to this unique and sacred volume of scripture. Changing critics criticisms of book of mormon changes. Also see book of mormon introduction truth, they say, is stranger than fiction and never was it more so than with the presence of mormonism. Certainly the introduction of the current book of mormon is not there by mistake or accident. Significant book of mormon introduction change mormons talk.
Jul 01, 2011 however, there are numerous other changes which affect the doctrinal teachings of the book of mormon. The few significant modifications were made by the prophet joseph smith to clarify the meaning of the text, not to change it. 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. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints 165,852 views. Much like lamoni calls approach in the 1890s, jerald tanner sat down eighty years later with an 1830 edition and a 1964 edition of the book of mormon and annotated all changes he could identify. New changes in the book of mormon introduction main street. An analysis of selected changes in major editions of the book of mormon 18301920 jeffrey r. Some of the revelations that appear in the doctrine and covenants have had hundreds of words added to them. 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. An analysis of selected changes in major editions of the book. Textual variations in the supplemental text of the book of. Im first going to describe the critical text project, some of its major findings. Book of mormon editions 18301981 the encyclopedia of.
Last week it was reported that the lds church is going to change the introduction page of the book of mormon. New changes in the book of mormon introduction main. It is not part of the original book of mormon, but only later added as a helpful introduction. A oneword change was made to the introduction in the latest edition of the book of mormon published by doubleday. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of. There also have been many important changes in the pearl of great price. It carried a small story on a change to a single word in the introduction of the book of mormon in the recent doubleday edition. Understanding the nature of the thousands of small changes in the book of mormon may be helpful and interesting. Mormonism must stand or fall on the story of joseph smith. Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad.
There can be no more bible, chapter 1 of since cumorah. The following pages are commentaries on those items. Changes to latterday scripture lds leaders have made. I thought id just post this since it is imo the biggest thing in the lds church since blacks received the priesthood. The change would seem to acknowledge that the science challenging the book of mormonand in fact, mormonism itselfis valid.
That change takes into account details of book of mormon demography which are not. The primary research for this information was taken from the book 39 changes in the book of mormon by jerald and sandra tanner. The changes made to the preface of the book of mormon. Holland brigham young university provo follow this and additional works at. The introduction to the book of mormon used to say.
Interestingly, in addition to the changes in the actual text of the book of mormon, there are changes that have taken place in the introductory material as well. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Contains a 16page introduction by jerald and sandra tanner which shows that the changes are not in harmony with the original text. Claiming it was scripture like the bible, in 1841 he declared it to be the most correct of any book on earth and the keystone of our religion. Book of mormon changes yesterday while reading some interesting news stories on byus online newspaper, i came across an article they posted a few years back about changes made to the introduction in the book of mormon. The original phrase and the changes are noted in red and bold for emphasisin the introduction to the book of mormon the second paragraph reads. Then i would like to turn to the issue of changes in the text to 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. However, there are numerous other changes which affect the doctrinal teachings of the book of mormon. We will examine the book of mormon verses and compare them to the bible. Finally, the mormon church leaders became so embarrassed about the grammar that they decided to abandon the idea that god gave joseph smith the. Book of mormon changes the fall of mormonism rich kelsey. For example, president ezra taft benson spoke of the book of mormon as a gift more important than any of the inventions that have come out of. It now says, all were destroyed except the lamanites, and.
The introduction to the book of mormon was not a part of the original plates. Their article reminded me once again of the arbitrary nature of the church when it comes to the. Joseph originally taught that jesus and the father were the same. Book of mormon introduction change may reflect new thinking.
And in 2007 the book of mormon introduction was amended to suggest that the lamanites. Mormon doctrines changed in my lifetime jonathan ellis medium. New mormon scriptures tweak race, polygamy references. It has been suggested by many that the announced change in the book of mormon introduction has everything to do with the dna challenge that the church has been facing for the past few years.
There have been thousands of changes to the exact text of the book of mormon since its first printing, in. Although there have been thousands of changes made in the book of mormon, the changes made in some of the other mormon books are of a more serious nature. Changes were made to the book of mormon after joseph smith changed his doctrine from monotheism to polytheism. Get unlimited access to the best stories on medium and. Book of mormon introduction change may reflect new. A critical text of the book of mormon was published in 19841987 by the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies.
Textual changes to the book of mormon in 1837 and 1840 by stan larson, sunstone, fall 1976, pp. Critical texts have previously been prepared for important historical and literary works but until fairly. Yesterday while reading some interesting news stories on byus online newspaper, i came across an article they posted a few years back about changes made to the introduction in the book of mormon. This seemingly minor adjustment in the book of mormon introduction has some enormous implications. In early 1830 joseph smith published the book of mormon, a 269,938word volume that discusses religious themes intermingled with a history of ancient american peoples.
One of the first publications documenting the massive changes, 3,9 changes in the book of mormon was produced by the tanners you can order a copy at utah lighthouse ministry. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. The book of mormon is an account of the former inhabitants of this continent that contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. This is the first published text of the book of mormon to show the precise history of many textual variants.
Posted in book of mormon changes, tagged book of mormon introduction. We invite all men everywhere to read the book of mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask god, the eternal father, in the name of christ if the book is true. The reasons why this church flew under the radar for so long are as numerous as the changes made to its premiere canon. Nov 12, 2007 a small but significant correction is that the change is not on the title page, which was written by the hand of mormon himself, but rather the change is to change wording in the introduction to the book of mormon. 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. Smith is full of bluff and bluster, and is a fraud. Joseph fielding smith, the tenth president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, proclaimed. Book of mormon introduction change may reflect new thinking about an ancient people. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of errors. The bible, the book of mormon, and continuing revelation duration. Mar 17, 20 mormons change references to blacks, polygamy the changes are the first since 1981, and deal specifically with the churchs original ban on black priesthood ordination and polygamy. Before the actual chapters of the book of mormon begin, there are several items which have been added by way of introduction and testimony.