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. 4, p. 461). Allegedly it was translated by the power of God. Nevertheless, it has some 4,000 changes in it. Some are mere spelling corrections, but others are significant changes. Why is this so if the book of Mormon was translated accurately by the hand of God? Why would the Mormon Church continue to change the work even after Joseph Smith’s death?
Following is a very small sample of the changes in the Book of Mormon.
Check them out for yourself.
| 1830 Edition of the Book of Mormon | 1981 Edition of the Book of Mormon | |
| 1 Nephi 11:18 | “And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of [ . . . ] God, after the manner of the flesh | “And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.” |
| 1 Nephi 11:21 | “And the angel said unto me, behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the [ . . . ] Eternal Father! . . . “ | “And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! . . . “ |
| 1 Nephi 11:32 | ” . . . And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, [ . . . ] the Everlasting God, was judged of the world . . . “ | ” . . . And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world . . . “ |
| 1 Nephi 13:40 | ” . . . and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is [ . . . ] the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world . . . “ | ” . . . and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the World . . . “ |
| 1 Nephi 19:20 | ” . . . for had not the Lord been merciful, to shew unto me concerning them, even as he had prophets of old; [ . . . ] for he surely . . . “ | ” . . . for had not the Lord been merciful, to show unto me concerning them, even as he had prophets of old, I should have perished also.” |
| 1 Nephi 20:1 changed in 1964 ed. |
“Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, [ . . . ] which swear . . . “ | “Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear . . . “ |
| Mosiah 21:28 changed in 1964 ed. |
” . . . king Benjamin had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; . . . “ | ” . . . king Mosiah had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; . . . “ |
| Alma 46:40 | ” . . . because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared, to remove the cause of diseases which was subsequent to man by the nature of the climate.” | ” . . . because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to removed the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate.” |
| 3 Nephi 3:23 | “And the land which was appointed was the land of Zarahemla, and the land which was between the land of Zarahemla and the land Bountiful.” | “And the land which was appointed was the land of Zarahemla [ . . . ] and the land Bountiful . . . “ |
| 3 Nephi 10:4 | “O ye people of these great cities which have fallen which are a descendant of Jacob; yea which are of the house of Israel; O ye people of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you . . . “ | “O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, [ . . . ] how oft have I gathered you . . . “ |
| 3 Nephi 16:10 | “and thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you at that day, When the Gentiles shall sin against my Gospel, and shall subject the fulness of my Gospel, and shall be lifted up . . . “ | “And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel,[ . . . ] and shall be lifted up . . . “ |
| 3 Nephi 22:4 | ” . . . for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, [ . . . ] and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.” | ” . . . for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.” |
| Ether 9:2 | ” . . . nevertheless, the Lord was merciful unto Omer, and also to his sons and to his daughters, which were not, or which did not seek his destruction.” | “Nevertheless, the Lord was merciful unto Omer, and also to his sons, and to his daughters [ . . . ] who did not seek his destruction.” |
As you can see, the Book of Mormon is a changing document. Where will the Mormon Church change it next?
The primary research for this information was taken from the book 3913 Changes in the Book of Mormon by Jerald and Sandra Tanner. To obtain copies of their work please write to Utah Lighthouse Ministry P.O. Box 1884 Salt Lake City, Utah 84110, or visit their website.
