By Jerald and Sandra Tanner
The Mormon Historian Joseph Fielding Smith has claimed that there is no truth in the statement that there have been thousands of changes in the Book of Mormon. He was reported as saying the following at the fall conference of 1961:
During the past week or two I have received a number of letters from different parts of the United States written by people, some of whom at least are a little concerned because they have been approached by enemies of the Church and enemies of the Book of Mormon, who had made the statement that there have been one or two or more thousand changes in the Book of Mormon since the first edition was published. Well, of course, there is no truth in that statement.
. . . there was not one thing in the Book of Mormon or in the second edition or any other edition since that in any way contradicts the first edition, . . .
Now, these Sons of Belial who circulate these reports evidently know better. I will not use the word that is in my mind. (Improvement Era, December 1961, pages 924-925)
[Bold in quotations is added for emphasis and does not appear in originals.]
In the book, Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 2, Joseph Fielding Smith made the following statement:
It is astonishing to what length the enemies of the Church will go in order to attempt to prove the Book of Mormon false.
. . . There were bound to be some typographical errors in the first edition, and perhaps an omission of a word or two. . . . A careful check of the list of changes submitted by these critics shows there is not one change or addition that is not in full harmony with the original text. Changes have been make in punctuation and a few other matters that needed correction, but never has any alteration or addition changed a single original thought. (Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 2, pages 199-200)
In a new book which we have just finished printing, 3,913 Changes in the Book of Mormon, we prove that Joseph Fielding Smith is the man who is not telling the truth. There have been thousands of changes made in the Book of Mormon, and they are not in harmony with the original text. For example, on page 303 of the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon this statement appears:
. . . yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, . . .
In the 1964 edition [Alma 29:4] 8 words have been deleted:
. . . yea, I know that he allotteth unto men according to their wills, . . .
In the first edition, page 87, this statement appears:
. . . the mean man boweth down, . . .
In later editions [2 Nephi 12:9] this has been changed to read as follows:
. . . the mean man boweth not down, . . .
On page 200 of the first edition of the Book of Mormon we read as follows:
. . . king Benjamin had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; . . .
In modern editions this has been changed to read:
. . . king Mosiah had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; . . . (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 21:28)
A change has been made in the First Book of Nephi, evidently in an attempt to strengthen the Mormon claim that baptism was practiced by the people in the Old Testament. This verse is taken from Isaiah 48, and appears as follows in the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon:
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, . . . (Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., page 52)
In modern editions seven words have been added:
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, . . . (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 20:1)
Four important changes were made in the second edition of the Book of Mormon concerning the Godhead. One of the most significant changes was made in 1 Nephi 13:40. It was stated in this verse that the purpose of the Nephite records was to make known that Christ is the Eternal Father. In the first edition we read as follows:
. . . These last records, . . . shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Savior . . . (Book of Mormon, 1830 edition, page 32)
In later editions the words “the Son of” have been added:
. . . These last records, . . . shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior . . . (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 13:40)
On page 26 of the first edition of the Book of Mormon these words appear: “. . . by the people; yea, the Everlasting God, was . . .” In modern editions of the Book of Mormon this has been changed to read: “. . . by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was . . .” (Book of Mormon, 1964 ed., 1 Nephi 11:32). Notice that the words “the Son of” have been added into the middle of this verse.
The photograph above is taken from the original handwritten manuscript of the Book of Mormon, which is in the Church Historian’s Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. The arrow to the side points to the line in which the words in question appear. These words read as follows: “. . . By the people yea the ever lasting god was . . .” Notice that the words “the Son of” do not appear. The arrow above points to the place where the words “the Son of” would have to be inserted to bring the manuscript into conformity with the 1964 edition of the Book of Mormon. Since these words do not appear in the manuscript, this proves that the Mormon leaders have deliberately changed the Book of Mormon.
This photograph also proves that the Church Historian, Joseph Fielding Smith has deceived his people concerning the changes in the Book of Mormon, for in his book, Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 2, he made the following statement:
A careful check of the list of changes submitted by these critics shows there is not one change or addition that is not in full harmony with the original text. Changes have been made in punctuation and a few other matters that needed correction, but never has any alteration or addition changed a single original thought
(Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 2, page 200).
The photograph above proves that Joseph Fielding Smith’s statement is absolutely untrue.
[For further views of the original handwritten manuscript of the Book of Mormon, visit the Joseph Smith Papers.]
It is interesting to note that even the signed statement by the eight witnesses to the Book of Mormon has been altered. In the 1830 edition (last page) it read:
. . . that Joseph Smith, Jr. the author and proprietor of this work, has shewn unto us the plates. . .
In the 1964 edition it reads:
. . . That Joseph Smith, Jun. the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates . . .
In the first edition of the Book of Mormon, page 31, the following appears:
. . . neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in that state of awful woundedness . . .
In later editions, [1 Nephi 13:32], this has been changed to read:
Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in the awful state of blindness . . .
On page 260 of the first edition the following statement appears:
Behold, the Scriptures are before you; if ye will arrest them, it shall be to your own destruction.
In modern editions, [Alma 13:20], this has been changed to read:
Behold, the scriptures are before you, if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction.
A similar mistake is found on page 336 of the first edition:
. . . some have arrested the scriptures, . . .
In modern editions, [Alma 41:1], this has been changed to read:
. . . some have wrested the scriptures, . . .
We could go on listing the changes, but this should be sufficient to give the reader an idea of what will be found in the book, 3,913 Changes in the Book of Mormon. This is a book we have spent months in preparing, and we consider it to be one of our largest and most important projects. We feel that this book will of great interest to our readers.
On page 26 of the first edition of the Book of Mormon these words appear: “. . . by the people; yea, the Everlasting God, was . . .” In modern editions of the Book of Mormon this has been changed to read: “. . . by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was . . .” (Book of Mormon, 1964 ed., 1 Nephi 11:32). Notice that the words “the Son of” have been added into the middle of this verse.
The photograph above is taken from the original handwritten manuscript of the Book of Mormon, which is in the Church Historian’s Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. The arrow to the side points to the line in which the words in question appear. These words read as follows: “. . . By the people yea the ever lasting god was . . .” Notice that the words “the Son of” do not appear. The arrow above points to the place where the words “the Son of” would have to be inserted to bring the manuscript into conformity with the 1964 edition of the Book of Mormon. Since these words do not appear in the manuscript, this proves that the Mormon leaders have deliberately changed the Book of Mormon.
This photograph also proves that the Church Historian, Joseph Fielding Smith has deceived his people concerning the changes in the Book of Mormon, for in his book, Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 2, he made the following statement: “A careful check of the list of changes submitted by these critics shows there is not one change or addition that is not in full harmony with the original text. Changes have been made in punctuation and a few other matters that needed correction, but never has any alteration or addition changed a single original thought” (Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 2, page 200). The photograph above proves that Joseph Fielding Smith’s statement is absolutely untrue.
For further views of the original handwritten manuscript of the Book of Mormon, visit the Joseph Smith Papers.
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