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. Understanding textual changes in the book of mormon. Introduction to 3,9 changes utah lighthouse ministry. Behold, the lamb of god, yea, even the son of the eternal father. Joseph originally taught that jesus and the father were the same person and that god had always been god, but later developed the idea that the father and son were separate gods, each with a tangible body. Dingers significant textual changes in the book of mormon. The claim is often heard that there are more than 4000 changes to the book of mormon text. A photo reprint of the original 1830 edition of the book of mormon with all the changes marked compared to a 1964 edition. That first version, although preliminary helped to establish criteria for the current project, especially the need for direct access to the original and printers manuscripts as well as the clearest. Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of god. Hales, changing critics criticisms of book of mormon changes, interpreter. The first printed edition compared to the manuscripts and to the subsequent major lds english printed editions and that there was to be. Changes in the book of mormon book of mormon central.
I started feeling the spirit as i obeyed the admonitions written in the book of mormon, like praying to know. In english, we have conditional clauses like if you come, then i will come, with then being optional. For example, the endowment given in the kirtland temple lacked the masonic elements later added at the nauvoo. The endowment has even changed repeatedly in modern times.
Changes lvies ordinances among those people got me wanting to know more about his ministry. Hales reminds us that the tanners and others have been deceptive in their treatment of the minor changes and corrections that have been made, creating the. Jun 11, 2009 the onepage introduction to the book of mormon, which gives a brief overview of its contents, was added in 1981 when the lds church released a revised text of the book of mormon. Welch, a byu professor of law, admits that the best early manuscripts lack tois archaiois in matthew 5. Why is this so if the book of mormon was translated accurately by the hand of god. Truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the book of mormon duration. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version. However, there are numerous other changes which affect the doctrinal teachings of the book of mormon.
In that part of the original article here presented with some minor editing, i first describe the different kinds of changes that have occurred in the book of mormon. Mormon similarly describes the construction of highways and road systems in 3 nephi 6. In what some believe was a response to the accusation that mormons do not place a lot of value in the. Since its first publication in 1830, the book of moron has undergone thousands of changes. But beginning about 182728, smith and his followers began to change how they talked about the translation process, transforming it from magical treasure lore into christian epic. But the most common changes have not been in spelling, but in grammar. How many changed has the book of mormon been changed. Behold, the lamb of god, yea, even the eternal father. 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. The printing and binding of the book of mormon were finished and the book was offered for sale to the public on march 26, 1830, just eleven days before the church was officially organized. An original first edition book of mormon has been photographed and is available for viewing at.
Then i turn to five changes in the text the five chestnuts that critics of the book of mormon continually refer to. Changes in the lds scriptures 20 at the end of february, 20, the deseret news featured an amazing article. The book of mormon announces cast changes from 1 feb. Book of mormon wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the church of jesus christ of latterday saints salt lake city the book of mormon. Mcconkie, at the time considered to be one of the churchs most prominent theologians. The book of mormon mentions other public works such as dikes, irrigation systems alma 17.
It occurs in a list with food items, namely, corn, wheat, barley, neas another book of mormon hapax legomenon, and fruit seeds. Jul 01, 2011 however, there are numerous other changes which affect the doctrinal teachings of the book of mormon. Contains a 16page introduction by jerald and sandra tanner which shows that the changes are not in harmony with the original text. The book of mormon changes lives i witnessed a miracle this last march as i saw a boy whom we will call eric, age 15, change from a depressed, low selfesteemed, bitter teenager into a happy, confident, grateful, and testimonyfilled young man. The introduction was written by mormon apostle brucer. After thousands of years, all the jaredites were destroyed except the lamanites, and they are the principal ancestors of the american indians. 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. Third and most importantly, changes in the text from the 1830 book of mormon show only that there was human error, and in no way influences the fact that the book. There also have been many important changes in the pearl of great price.
A valuable new analysis of the many types of changes in the text of the book of mormon is brian c. The onepage introduction to the book of mormon, which gives a brief overview of its contents, was added in 1981 when the lds church released a revised text of the book of mormon. 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. When joseph smith began the book of mormon translation, he acted in his capacity as a treasure seer and used the tools of that trade. The first critical text of the book of mormon was published by the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, or farms, in 198486.
The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of. For example, critics of mormonism have shown convincing proof that the book of mormon is a synthesis of earlier works written by other men, of the vivid imaginings of joseph smith, and of plagiarisms from the king james bible. In making this study we obtained photocopies of an original 1830 edition of the book of mormon from the university of utah library. Royal skousen, changes in the book of mormon royal skousen, restoring the original text of the book of mormon benjamin was changed to mosiah in later editions of the book of mormon jump to subtopic. Those words were uttered for the first time by none other than joseph smith himself on sunday, october 28, 1841.
Yet, the book which joseph smith declared was the most correct of any book on earth history of the church, vol. As they attempt to bring the church of jesus christ of latter day saints to a community ravaged by war lords and disease, the pair find their friendship and faith tested by the extreme. Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the son god. In the original text of the book of mormon, there were at least fourteen occurrences of this nonenglish expression. Mar 17, 20 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints released this week the most significant changes to its scripture since 1981. Jul 06, 20 book of mormon wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the church of jesus christ of latterday saints salt lake city the book of mormon. Help childrenyouth have a change of mind and heart like the people of ammon alma 24, who called themselves antinephilehies and buried their swords.
The first printed edition compared to the manuscripts and to the subsequent major lds english printed editions and. I have a copy of the original book of mormon and all the changes in it next to it. The original book of mormon made some startling claims for the divinity of jesus christ, much closer to sabellianism than trinitarianism. Some of the revelations that appear in the doctrine and covenants have had hundreds of words added to them. The quickchange artistry of the young missionaries in the book of mormon is a happy, gaudy metaphor for the way musicals give extravagant color and rhythm to gray, chaotic reality. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints released this week the most significant changes to its scripture since 1981.
Thats what this show is about, finally the alchemical power of the religion that is theater, and specifically, the american musical. This symbolized their repenting of their sins and not wanting to take up their swords again. The mormon church has bragged the book of mormon is the most correct book on the face of the earth. Some are mere spelling corrections, but others are significant changes. Why was the phrase white and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome in the 1840 edition of the book of mormon. Im first going to describe the critical text project, some of its major findings. 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.
Their article reminded me once again of the arbitrary nature of the church when it comes to the. Book of mormon changes the fall of mormonism rich kelsey. 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. Utah was buzzing with people trying to determine what had been changed and why. Book of mormon quickchange question the data lounge. 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. 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. There is no mention of temple endowments in ancient scripture resembling what is done today in the mormon church. For example, consider the word sins, which had been spelled synnes and became sinnes in the 1611 king james version. The book of mormon these converts developed faith through reading the book of mormon. Book of mormon quickchange question how do they do the quick change with the pink vests in turn it off.
Changes to latterday scripture lds leaders have made. Well, the book of mormon is a migration story, similar to the idea of the book of exodus in the old testament, except there are three migrations involved in this. Book of mormon changes since 1830 book of mormon facts. The printing and binding of the book of mormon were finished and the book was offered for sale to the public on march 26, 1830, just eleven days before the. The first printed edition compared to the manuscripts and to the subsequent major lds english printed. Smith is full of bluff and bluster, and is a fraud. If he translated it the door is open to view it as a work of nonfiction, and possibly even an accurate account of history. With the second edition of the book of mormon, published in 1837, some words were changed to present a more modern writing style. When adding biographies, be sure to add a category link seen at bottom of this edit page so that it will be added. Many mormon church members, including church leaders, stumbled across the changes them selves, and noticed the doctrinal significance. Jan 24, 20 mormon temples are not biblical duration. Some of the many changes in the book of mormon by matt slick 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. In hebrew this same clause is expressed as if you come and i will come.
The book of mormon agrees with the textus receptus not the original text and includes the later phrase by them of old time. Interestingly, the spelling problems in the book of mormon paralleled earlier kinds of spelling changes in the english bible. How the book of mormon translation story changed over time. Second, the changes to the book of mormon that critics point to are defined almost entirely by eversoslight punctuation or grammatical changes to correct for these mistakes. Changes were made to the book of mormon after joseph smith changed his doctrine from monotheism to polytheism.
The copying of the printers manuscript, which was used by the typesetter, had been started in july 1829. Ive seen the show twice and im dying for a definitive answer. When reading the book of mormon, it must be determined whether joseph smith authored or translated it. That subtitle led me to learn more about the church. If he was the author then the book is purely fiction, it takes place long before smiths life. Book of mormon characters mormonism, the mormon church. The book of mormon follows a pair of mismatched mormon boys sent on a mission to a place thats about as far from salt lake city as you can get uganda. Martin harris acted as joseph smiths scribe from 12 april to 14 june 1828, and at the end of this period they had written out 116 pages. Joseph smith and his successor, brigham young, presided over the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church as prophet, president of the church, and spiritual king until christs assumption of world kingship at his second coming. Joseph originally taught that jesus and the father were the same. The earliest text, the definitive scholarly edition of the book of mormon, published in 2009 by yale university press.
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