1981 changes to book of mormon white and delightsomes

Jul 01, 2011 however, there are numerous other changes which affect the doctrinal teachings of the book of mormon. Im curious what you guys think about how the bom was written if it wasnt translated by the gift of god. The book of mormon contains many religious themes, most notably those of faith and doubt. We heard a voice from out of the bright light above us. To understand why some words were altered, reference will be made to the original and the printers manuscripts. Mormons, why were the words white and delightsome in 2. That is, if you believe the book of mormon is inspired fiction or jusst plain, made up, then you can attribute the color change to 19th century racial ideas. An archive of our own, a project of the organization for transformative works. The book of mormon also promised that in the last days the lamanitesi. The claim is often heard that there are more than 4000 changes to the book of mormon text. Why was the phrase white and delightsome changed to pure and. 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. Criticism of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Although the musical satirizes organized religion and the literal credibility of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, the mormons in the book of mormon are portrayed as.

In a new edition of the book of mormon, a prophecy that had said indians would become white and delightsome has been altered to read that they will become pure. In the 1981 edition, the editors reverted to the 1840 editions pure and delightsome. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon into english through the gift and power of. In 1981, the lds church decided to change what joseph smith called the most. Book of mormon editions 18301981 book of mormon central. Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of god. More importantly, why dont lamanites turn white and delightsome within one year after accepting the gospel, as they did in 3 nephi 2. Initially, when i was requested to answer this question i hit the pass link and ignored it.

The book of mormon, the pearl of great price, and the doctrine and covenants are accepted as scripture without any qualifications whatsoever. What does it mean to be a white and delightsome people. Work on the book of mormon index continued through april 1980. The arguments are rather weak but need to be dealt with thats the purpose of this page.

The various mormon missionary enterprises to the indians cannot be considered very successful if measured by the sheer number of converts or their retention in the faith. Jul 06, 20 chapter and verse notation systems the original 1830 publication did not have chapter and verse markers. Mormonism must stand or fall on the story of joseph smith. Smith is full of bluff and bluster, and is a fraud. Church removes racial references in book of mormon headings. Mormon president, questioned on mormon teaching of the. Changes in the book of mormon book of mormon central. Gerald and sandra tanner have counted 39 changes in the book of mormon. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. The lamanites are one of the four ancient peoples described as having settled in the ancient. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. 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 most troubling changes at the very least, the book of mormon is untrustworthy as an historical document. The following graphic is a list of major changes in the book of mormon and was compiled by scott faulring and printed in the seventh east press, october 21, 1981, provo, utah. Church removes racial references in book of mormon. Mormon president, questione d on m ormon teaching of the curse of cain black skin. White and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome jump to subtopic. The book of mormon drills the point home that the fall of mankind was an essential part of gods plan. Joseph fielding smith, the tenth president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, proclaimed.

Changes to the book of mormon there are 39 changes that have been made to the book of mormon, some of which are significant doctrinal changes. Mormons altering indian prophecy the new york times. According to royal skousen, the 1840 change of white to pure. Chapter summaries were added in the 1920s, then rewritten by the late lds apostle bruce r. Book of mormontextual changeswhite changed to pure.

Book of mormon controversies wikipedia book of mormon stories. Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the son god. In preparing the 1981 lds edition, the church scriptures committee considered the 1840 reading and decided to change the standard text from white to pure based on the reasonable assumption that the 1840 change was made by joseph smith. See book of mormon central article on ancient context of white and delightsome regarding 2 nephi 30. With the 1981 book of mormon, a different reason for the change of 2 nephi 30. Video this change was originally made in the 1840 edition, lost, and then restored again in the 1981 edition. Elder davis book of mormon musical works archive of our own. Referring to native americans the book of mormon says. 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. Since its first publication in 1830, the book of moron has undergone thousands of changes. According to royal skousen, the 1840 change of white to.

Many mormon church members, including church leaders, stumbled across the changes them selves, and noticed the doctrinal significance. The original text betrays its new england origin in many ways, from inconsistent spelling to incorrect use of tenses and number, as well as incorrect usage of jacobean english. In this article, we will provide some background on this issue focusing on the book of mormon itself, followed by a point by point response to various statements made in the essay about the book of mormon. Changes in the book of mormon, by jeff lindsay changes to the book of mormon articles by w. If the book of mormon is true, why do indians fail to turn white when they become mormons. 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. The book of mormon records that the nephites constructed houses of cement, 34 as well as temples, synagogues and sanctuaries 35 throughout their territories. Mormons are normally asked at church conferences to vote on changes in doctrines. When the church of jesus christ of latterday saints issued a new edition of the book of mormon in 1981, a change was made to the text of 2 nephi 30. The text of this version is of the lds 1981 edition.

After 1981, the term white and delightsome was changed to read pure an unusual action for a book considered to be inspired by god in its original version. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted. Understanding textual changes in the book of mormon. This textual discrepancy understandably raises concerns. Understanding the nature of the thousands of small changes in the book of mormon may be helpful and interesting. The changes in the book of mormon substantial changes to the book of mormon in subsequent editions. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year ad 400. Whiteness in the mormon archive harvard divinity bulletin. The 1830 edition of the book of mormon had nephi prophesy that his descendants. Did joseph smiths doctrine of god change over time.

The publication history of the book of mormon bruce satterfield department of religious education, brigham young university idaho this article appeared in the church news, jan. Until a few decades ago, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints taught that they shall be a white and a delightsome people, a phrase taken from the book of mormon. The 1981 change was made in conformity with the 1840 edition the only one personally revised by joseph smith where the. Posted in book of mormon changes, tagged changes to book of mormon headings 2010, false gospel, joseph smith false prophet, racist headings in book of mormon on 03012017 leave a comment. But since the use of white does have metaphorical value and because the reading goes back to joseph smith i am not bothered by the change. The new explanation was that the word white should have been pure all along, and that by changing the word white to pure actually corrected an error. Joseph originally taught that jesus and the father were the same. I can see why it was popular back in the 1800s since christians in that time were wondering who the indians ie, native americans were and how their bible did not mention them and how they fit into christian belief. In a new edition of the book of mormon, a prophecy that had said indians would become white and delightsome has been altered to read that they will become pure and delightsome. First gabon baptisms, photo by the church of jesus christ.

The introduction to the book of mormon contains one noteworthy change. How did they each react to the latest on utah utes defensive back nephi sewell including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on espn mountain views are available in all simply furnished guest rooms at. An original first edition book of mormon has been photographed and is available for viewing at. What could cause such a miraculous change in eric you might ask. And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the nephites. The other possibility, if you dont hold to the historicity of the book of mormon, is what jared anderson responded on the ms fb group. Jun 18, 2019 the text of this version is of the lds 1981 edition. Yet, with all of the digs and research ferguson and his team undertook, they failed to find one artifact to prove that book of mormon nephite cities, villages, or territories ever existed. In 1981, the first presidency approved a change that adopted. Scales of darkness stuff you missed in sunday school. Why all the changes in the different book of mormon printings. The purpose of this article is to analyse some of the word changes made in the book of mormon during the three major editions printed during the lifetime of the prophet joseph smith. Book of mormon changes the fall of mormonism rich kelsey.

This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. Original 1830 book of mormon page numbers with corresponding 1981 verses. Two major goals of each published edition of the book of mormon have been 1 to faithfully reproduce the text. Just as the bibles chapter and verse notation system is a later addition of bible publishers to books that were originally solid blocks of undivided text, the chapters and verse markers within the books of the book of mormon are mere conventions, not part of the original text. Changes to latterday scripture lds leaders have made. The change does not appear to be an accidental error based on any visual or phonetic resemblance between the two words 2. The question was flawed from the outset because the book of mormon has absolutely zero to do either with the civil rights movemen. There was a passage in 2nd nephi that stated when the lamanites repented of their sins, they became white and delightsome. The change in the 1981 edition seems to be an attempt to bring the book of mormon up to speed with the 1978 revelation that allowed black members of the church to hold the priesthood. If the book of mormon is true, then why has the mormon church changed it. In 1840, the white and delightsome of the original book of mormon text was changed by joseph smith to pure and delightsome in the third edition. Dingers book begins with a foreword by stan larson that provides some historical background to larsons own earlier work on the book of mormon text, plus a list of significant textual changes that come, for the most part, from the current book of mormon critical text project. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon. Book of mormon 1981 wikisource, the free online library.

In 1982 or thereabouts it was changed to pure and delightsome. Book of mormon 1981mormon wikisource, the free online. The approach will be to discuss the type of change. Pure and delightsome use to be found only in the 1840 edition of the book of mormon. The book of mormon explains that death is not simply the transition from mortality to the eternal heavenhell. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from. The earliest text, the definitive scholarly edition of the book of mormon, published in 2009 by yale university press.

In 1981, the lds church decided to change what joseph smith called the most correct of any book on earth by reverting to the wording of the lone 1840 edition. Joseph smith clarified the word, white, to mean pure for the 1840 edition of the book. That dark skin as a curse from god upon bad, people. A photo reprint of the original 1830 edition of the book of mormon with all the changes marked compared to a 1964 edition. That same year, a verse that used white and delightsome to.

Several days ago i came across an archived salt lake trib article outlining significant changes in two chapter headings for the bom. Their article reminded me once again of the arbitrary nature of the church when it comes to the. By far the majority of changes between the 1830 and subsequent versions of the book of mormon are spelling or grammar corrections. Also because of lds leaders and prophets, that have stated the the curse was the black skin, flat nose, on some people.

Contains a 16page introduction by jerald and sandra tanner which shows that the changes are not in harmony with the original text. Their redemption from sin would be marked, that is, by a literal change. Another testament of jesus christ an account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The original reading of white and delightsome was retained in the lds textual tradition until the 1981 edition of the book of mormon, where it substituted white with the pure for the 1840 edition 3. Few mormons are aware of the thousands of word changes and nature of the changes that have been made in the book of mormon, doctrine and covenants, and the pearl of great price since the first editions. A popular charge of antimormons is that the church is guilty of fraud because of changes in the book of mormon, or that the book of mormon cant be true and divine because corrections have been made. Before 1978 darkskinned males were not allowed to hold positions of priesthood authority within the mormon church. Today mormon scriptures continue to teach that dark skin is a curse. There are many positions on which century the book of mormon originated in, but most seem to fall into two general camps.

Many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people 2 nephi 30. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. Im also curious if we have other samples of josephs writing, particularly fiction, aside from whats contained in the standard works. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. 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. Here are some statements by the prophets about a book of mormon passage found in 2 nephi 30. In the book of mormons narrative, the lamanites began as wicked rivals to the.

Changes to latterday scripture institute for religous research mormon. But it is deeply troubling for me to read passages in the book of mormon and wonder how the term white is meant to be understood if it is not about skin color. Until this month, the 1981 headings remained in the churchs online version at. The change was made despite the fact that the latterday church claims that. In my mind, it is quite clear that there was no political motivation for the 1981 change. In reality, though, the kind of stylistic accuracy achieved by these changes has little to do with what joseph meant when he called the book of mormon the most correct of any book on earth. The book of mormon reference companion deseret book. That same year, a verse that used white and delightsome to describe what will happen. Perhaps, this is why the phrase has been changed in the 1981 edition of the book of mormon to read a pure and delightsome people. Most, but not all, mormons hold the book s connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. The original reading of white and delightsome was retained in the lds textual tradition until the 1981 edition of the book of mormon, where it substituted white with the pure for the 1840 edition. The second change appears in the summary of mormon 5. Why was the phrase white and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome in the 1840 edition of the book of mormon.

Royal skousen, changes in the book of mormon royal skousen, restoring the original text of the book of mormon. Except the 1840 edition of the book of mormon, in all editions prior to 1981 this verse read a white and delightsome people. There have been numerous changes over the years i once had quite the collection of books of mormon, and it was my favorite pastime to run through them. Sep 08, 2016 on january 31, 2014, the lds church published an essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies in the gospel topics series on its official website. In 1981, a certain passage in the book of mormon was changed back to the original 1840 version, where pure and delightsome was used instead of white and delightsome to describe. Changes to the book of mormon according to the mormon churchs teaching manual. The church appears to be struggling with its early statements about people with dark skin.

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. If the book of mormon is true and god is at least consistent if not unchanging why dont the disobedient turn black 2 nephi 5. Jul 12, 2017 was the book of mormon a great american novel. They also reset the type thus changing the page numbers from the previous editions. However, all future lds church printings of the book of mormon until 1981 continued from the second edition, saying the lamanites would become a white and delightsome people. The book of mormon is, in steinbergs view, a work of fan fiction, a way to imbue a new world with some of the sanctity of the holy land. Rather than allow the book of mormon to speak for itself, they have altered it to minimize the impact of early church doctrine.