Abstract

This thesis is a study of textual variations in the two manuscripts and the first three editions of the Book of Mormon. Successive collations of each of these were made against the text of the first edition. From these collations some 427 specific textual variations were selected for inclusion in the thesis.

The research disclosed that some genuine corrections as well as editorial revisions were made by Joseph Smith in 1837 and 1840. However, it was also concluded that some alterations of the text arose from accidental causes.

The most significant contribution of this study was that both the Original Manuscript and the Printer's Manuscript contain valuable new manuscript readings which were unfortunately corrupted by scribal or printer's errors. These readings from the manuscripts eliminate inconsistencies, clarify meanings, correct errors, restore lost words, or otherwise present a super text. Because these genuine readings went unnoticed in 1837 and 1840, the process of restoring them to the text has not been completed.

Degree

MA

College and Department

Religious Education; Ancient Scripture

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

1974

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etdm411

Keywords

Book of Mormon, Criticism, Textual

Language

English

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