FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Doctrine and Covenants/Textual changes
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Criticism
Joseph Smith made revisions, additions, and deletions to his early revelations when preparing them for publication. Later editions of the Book of Mormon also included changes to punctuation and certain words. Critics claim that revelations from God should never be changed, and this proves that Joseph Smith did not receive revelation.
Source(s) of the Criticism
- Tanners
Response
Responses include:
- An exploration of the revelation process as understood by Latter-day Saints.
- Examples from the Bible where revelations were changed.
- Analysis of some of the changes.
Conclusion
The words were Joseph's, and he could change them as he received additional insight.
Further reading
FAIR web site
- FAIR Topical Guide: Changes in the D&C
External links
- Stephen R. Gibson, "Why Did Joseph Smith Make Changes In the Doctrine & Covenants?," One-Minute Answers to Anti-Mormon Questions (Bountiful, Utah: Horizon Publishers)
- Melvin J. Petersen, "Preparing Early Revelations for Publication", Ensign, February 1985, p. 14.
- Robert J. Woodford, "How the Revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants Were Received and Compiled", Ensign, January 1985, p. 27.
- Melvin J. Petersen, A Study of the Nature of and the Significance of the Changes in the Revelations as Found in a Comparison of the Book of Commandments and Subsequent Editions of the Doctrine and Covenants, master's thesis, Brigham Young University, 1955.
Printed material
- Robert J. Woodford, The Historical Development of the Doctrine and Covenants, Ph.D. dissertation (3 volumes), Brigham Young University, 1974. (Available from UMI Dissertation Express; order number 8027231.)