Mormon Handbook

A REFERENCE TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

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Book of Mormon — 5,000 Changes

“I told the brethren 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.”

— Joseph Smith

Mormonism founder
History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 461


Contents

Criticism of the Bible

One of the chief criticisms of the Bible that Mormons, Muslims and Atheists join hands in, is the belief that errors have crept into the text over time.

As the Bible was compiled, organized, translated, and transcribed, many errors entered the text. The existence of such errors becomes apparent when one considers the numerous and often conflicting translations of the Bible in existence today.

lds.org

— Gospel Topics

"Bible, Inerrancy of"
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Changes in the Book of Mormon

Since its first printing in 1830, the Book of Moron has undergone thousands of changes.

Doctrinal Changes


A selection of doctrinal changes in the Book of Mormon.

1830 Original Edition 1837, Forward
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

That the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world.

That the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world.


1920 1981 2013
2 Nephi, Ch. 5

The rebellious cursed with a dark skin.

The Lamanites are cursed, receive a skin of blackness, and become a scourge unto the Nephites.

The Lamanites are cut off from the presence of the Lord, are cursed, receive a skin of blackness, and become a scourge unto the Nephites.

Mormon, Ch. 5

The Lamanites shall be a dark, filthy, and loathsome people.

The Lamanites shall be a dark, filthy, and loathsome people will be scattered, and the Spirit will cease to strive with them.


1830 Original Edition 1837 edition until 1981
Alma 29:4

I had not ought to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desires, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills; whether it be unto salvation or unto destruction.

I had ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills; whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction


Correcting Errors


A selection of changes correcting the human origins of the Book of Mormon.

Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name.

Book of Mormon

— 2 Nephi


10:3

1830 Original Edition 1837, forward
1 Nephi 12:18

Yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and Jesus Christ, which is the Lamb of God.

Yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and Jesus Christ the Messiah, who is the Lamb of God.


1830 Original Edition 1837, forward
Mosiah 21:28

King Benjamin had a gift from God.

King Benjamin Mosiah had a gift from God.

Ether 4:1

And for this cause did king Benjamin keep them

And for this cause did king Benjamin *Mosiah keep them

  • altered in 1879

Conclusion

In the nearly 200 years since its first printing, the same types of transmission errors found in the Bible are also present in the Book of Mormon—and the vast majority of them do not change the message of either book. Therefore, any blanket statement by the LDS church casting doubt on the Bible over the same issues in the Book of Mormon is dishonest.

Contents
Book of Mormon — Errors and Absurdities Get Ebook
Get Print
Book of Mormon — Archaeology
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