1830 Book of Mormon

"...there was not one thing in the Book of Mormon or in the second edition or in any other edition since that in any way contradicts the first edition, and such changes as were made were made by the prophet Joseph Smith because under those adverse conditions the Book of Mormon was published. But there was no change of doctrine. Now, these sons of Belial who circulate these reports evidently know better. I will not use the word that is in my mind."

Joseph Fielding Smith, from the The Improvement Era, Dec. 1961, pp.924-925, published approximately eight years before Smith became the President of the Mormon church.

The above quote is by an Apostle of the Mormon church who later became leader of the church in 1970. Both before and since that quote was published in 1961, it has be shown irrefutably that approximately 4,000 changes were made to the BOOK OF MORMON ("BOM") subsequent to its first printing in 1830.

For most of the history of the Mormon church, to this day, its leaders and members have maintained that no changes in meaning were made from the first edition to later editions of the BOM, or that changes made were insignificant: all were typos, or caused by the poor printing resources available to the early Mormons.

While the majority of the changes made between the first edition (1830) and subsequent editions were minor -- spelling and grammar corrections -- there are significant changes in doctrine, correction of narrative errors, and removal of major internal inconsistencies from the first to later editions.

Joseph Smith's contention was that the BOM was translated "letter-by-letter" and "by the power of God." The conclusion drawn by skeptics from a careful study and comparison of the first edition of the BOM with later editions is that either God was not at all involved in the original translation, or that God is a poor, inconsistent grammarian and speller, who occasionally contradicts himself or makes major literary blunders.

This overview of changes only discusses a selection of significant changes made to the 1830 1st edition of the BOM, and does not attempt to describe archeological, zoological, metallurgic, linguistic, historical, genetic, or other problems and inconsistencies that are alleged to exist in both versions of the BOM. Various sites exist on the World Wide Web that contain personal and scholarly opinions and further information both from believers and agnostics. Two sites below are listed as points of departure for further WWW research and study.

A listing of dozens of factual impossibilities and inconsistencies in the BOM:

http://www.california.com/~rpcman/BOMQUEST.HTM

A page by Jeff Lindsay providing historical and archeological evidence for the BOM,and defending against standard attacks on the Book of Mormon. Includes a list of further reference works:

http://www.athenet.net/~jlindsay/BMEvidences.shtml

Below is an overview of some of the significant changes from the 1830 1st edition of the BOM to the later versions. Commentary is included after some comparisons.

Chapter and Verse Divisions:

The chapter divisions were changed significantly throughout the BOM from the 1830 to later editions, and verse divisions were added. Refer to the full text of 1830 BOM included with this software, which shows the original 1830 chapter divisions in bold, and modern chapter/verse divisions non-bolded at left margin.

Title Page:

1830: "by Joseph Smith, jr., author and proprietor"

Today: "translated by Joseph Smith, jr."

Commentary (1): Much of the evidence that golden plates were seen by anyone other than Joseph Smith, including the testimony of the eleven witnesses, has been reputed or shown to be seriously questionable or flawed. One prominent theory suggests that a manuscript written in the late 1700s or early 1800s by Solomon Spalding came into the hands of Joseph Smith, and was plagiarized.

Preface:

1830: To The Reader--As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by the evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, I would inform you that I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages, the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon; which said account, some person or persons have stolen and kept from me, notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again--and being commanded of the Lord that I should translate the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and caused to be written; and If I should bring forth the same words again, or in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up their hearts of this generation, that they might not receive this work: but behold, the Lord said unto me, I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing: therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi, until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained; and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words. I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil. Wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, I have, through his grace and mercy, accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing. I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New-York. THE AUTHOR.

Today: Not present.

Commentary (2): As the original preface states, a portion of the BOM manuscript (116 pages) was lost or stolen. Joseph Smith opted not to "re-translate" or reproduce the lost portion, and to publish the BOM with these pages missing. Scholars and others who doubt Smith's divine power, and believe he produced the BOM through secular means, have suggested that Smith would have been unable to reproduce more than an approximation of the lost pages and that any redone version of these pages would have been very different from the first "translation"; thus, the BOM and Smith's claim of being able to translate "letter-by-letter" through the power of God could have been discredited by any individual possessing the lost original pages.

Smith's position, and the position of the Mormon believers and leaders to this day, is that although Smith could have reproduced exactly his first "translation" through the power of God, Smith's enemies, influenced by Satan, would have tried to discredit the BOM by publishing a changed, falsified version of the stolen manuscript pages, and this falsified version would have credibility in the eyes of the public because the publishers could claim to possess the originals for the first translation.

While Joseph Smith's preface to the 1830 edition would have been timely when first published, and easily understood by early Mormons who knew firsthand of the lost manuscript pages, later it might have caused confusion or raised questions in the minds of believers; faith among believers may have been best promoted by simply removing the preface and its emphasis on the incident of the lost manuscript pages.

1830, 1 Nephi 11:18: "Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of God, after the manner of the flesh."

Today: 1 Nephi 11:18: "Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh."

Commentary(3): The Mormon church has separated iteself from the Catholic concept of the three-in-one Trinity, to a Trinity composed of completely separate individuals. Thus, apparently, references to Mary as being the Mother of God, rather than the Son, were changed to reflect the newer version of the belief.

1830, 1 Nephi 11:21:."...behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Eternal Father!"

Today: 1 Nephi 11:21: "...behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!"

See Commentary #3 above.

1830, 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 the world..."

Today: 1 Nephi 11:32: "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..."

See Commentary #3 above.

1830, 1 Nephi 12:18: "...yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and Jesus Christ, which is the Lamb of God..."

Today, 1 Nephi 12:18: "...yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah, who is the Lamb of God..."

Commentary(4): Apparently this was changed to avoid a problem of internal consistency. According to 2 Nephi 10:3, in an incident that occurred much later than 1 Nephi 12:18, the narrative states that the name of "Jesus Christ" was revealed to the Nephites for the first time. As an additional note, 2 Nephi 10:3 still remains an error; and may reveal a complete misunderstanding of the word "Christ" by Joseph Smith and other early Mormons. "Christ" is derived from the Greek word "Christos" which is a title meaning "Messiah," and is not a proper name. In other words, "Christ" and "Messiah" are synonyms; that the name "Christ" was revealed to the Nephites is an incorrect usage of the word.

1830, 1 Nephi 13:40: "...that the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Saviour of the world."

Today: 1 Nephi 13:40: "..the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world."

See Commentary #3 above.

1830, 1 Nephi 20:1: "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 by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel; yet they swear not in truth, nor righteousness.--"

Today: 1 Nephi 20:1 "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 by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness."

Commentary (5): The phrase 'or out of the waters of baptism' has been added, perhaps to emphasize the Mormon doctrine of baptism by total immersion.

1830, 2 Nephi 30:6: "and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and delightsome people."

Today: 2 Nephi 30:6: "and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and delightsome people."

1830, Mosiah 21:28: "And now Limhi was again filled with joy, on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Benjamin had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; yea, and Ammon also did rejoice."

Today: Mosiah 21:28: "And now Limhi was again filled with joy, on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Mosiah had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; yea, and Ammon also did rejoice."

Commentary(6): Benjamin has been changed to Mosiah, apparently to correct a glaring error of internal consistency. By this time in the book, king Benjamin was dead (see Mosiah 6:5). A portion of the original "translated" manuscript, 116 pages, was lost, and this portion included the complete story of king Benjamin. Perhaps in the original, lost version king Benjamin lived longer. Smith may have been confused between the two versions of the narrative.

1830, Mosiah 27:29: "My soul was wrecked with eternal torment..."

Today: Mosiah 27:29: "My soul was racked with eternal torment..."

1830, Alma 5:48: "I know that Jesus Christ shall come; yea the Son of the only begotten of the Father..."

Today: Alma 5:48: "I know that Jesus Christ shall come; yea the Son, the only begotten of the Father..."

1830, Alma 32:30: "But behold, as the seed swelleth and sprouteth and beginneth to grow, and then ye must needs say, That seed is good; for behold, it swelleth and sprouteth and beginneth to grow."

Today: Alma 32:30: "But behold, as the seed swelleth and sprouteth and beginneth to grow, and then ye must needs say, That seed is good; for behold, it swelleth and sprouteth and beginneth to grow. And now behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say that I know that this is a good seed; for behold, it sprouteth and beginneth to grow."

1830, Alma 37:21: "yea, and that ye preserve these directors."

Today: Alma 37:21: "yea, and that ye preserve these interpreters."

See Commentary #1 above.

1830, Alma 37:24: "And now my son, these directors were prepared that the word of God might be fulfilled..."

Today: Alma 37:24: "And now my son, these interpreters were prepared that the word of God might be fulfilled..."

See Commentary #1 above.

1830, Alma 13:20: "Behold, the Scriptures are before you; if ye will arrest them, it shall be to your own destruction." (also p.336)

Today: Alma 13:20: "Behold, the Scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them, it shall be to your own destruction."

1830, Alma: 17:13; (1830): "And it came to pass, when they had arriven in the borders of the land..."

Today: Alma: 17:13: "And it came to pass, when they had arrived in the borders of the land..."

1830, Alma 19:24: "the multitude beheld that the man had fell dead..."

Today: Alma 19:24: "the multitude beheld that the man had fallen dead..."

1830, Alma 27:4: "Now when Ammon and his brethren saw this work of destruction among those who they so dearly beloved, and among those who had so dearly beloved them..."

Today: Alma 27:4: "Now when Ammon and his brethren saw this work of destruction among those whom they so dearly beloved, and among those who had so dearly beloved them..."

1830, Alma 46:19: "...he went forth among the people, waving the rent of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had wrote upon the rent..."

Today: Alma 46:19: "...he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part..."

1830, Alma 46:40: "to remove the cause of diseases which was subsequent to men by the nature of the climate"

Today: Alma 46:40: "to remove the cause of diseases to which men were subject by the nature of the climate"

1830, Alma 57:17: "For behold, Ammon had sent to their support..."

Today: Alma 57:17: "For behold, Ammoron had sent to their support..."

1830, Ether 4:1: "...and for this cause did king Benjamin keep them, that they should not come unto the world until after Christ shew himself unto his people."

Today: Ether 4:1: "...and for this cause did king Mosiah keep them, that they should not come unto the world until after Christ shew himself unto his people."

See Commentary #6 above.