Zosimus wrote: ↑Fri Feb 24, 2023 2:23 pmSure, but let's go direct to John Whitmer's writings in 1828, instead of the narrative that came after the publication of the Book of Mormon.
"Nevertheless, my work shall go forth, for inasmuch as the knowledge of a Savior has come unto the world, through the testimony of the Jews, even so shall the knowledge of a Savior come unto my people−"
Was originally:
"for as the knowledge of a Saveiour hath come to the world so shall the knowledge of my People the Nephities & the Jacobites & the Josephites & the Lamanites"
Zosimus, understanding the original writings and manuscripts and how they were processed and transcribed is complicated. The one in question (in particular p. 2) is featured at Joseph Smith Papers in two separate presentations:
The following scholarly source and historical notations found therein are helpful:
Joseph Smith Papers wrote:
- This is the first Joseph Smith revelation for which a text has survived. According to Joseph Smith’s history, it was obtained using the Urim and Thummim after Martin Harris lost the earliest Book of Mormon manuscript.
- Revelation, Harmony Township, Susquehanna Co., PA, to Joseph Smith, July 1828. Featured version copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 1–2; handwriting of John Whitmer; CHL. Includes redactions.
- Revelation Book 1, also known as “Book of Commandments and Revelations,” is a manuscript book of revelations and other items that was begun less than a year after Joseph Smith organized the Church of Christ in April 1830. John Whitmer was the principal scribe, although Oliver Cowdery also wrote a few pages. The book may have originated in New York in summer 1830 when Joseph Smith and John Whitmer began to “arrange and copy the revelations” previously received. More likely, however, Whitmer began inscribing material in Revelation Book 1 in Ohio, circa March 1831, following his appointment to keep church records and history. Textual evidence indicates that Whitmer and Cowdery copied revelations and other items into Revelation Book 1 from even earlier manuscripts that are no longer extant.
Zosimus, what you thought was original writings of Whitmer in 1828 was copied and written after the publication of the Book of Mormon! Whitmer’s writings supported the very narrative that came after the Book of Mormon! His transcriptions are copies of other writings which are no longer extant. So we are unable to see the ORIGINAL and compare exactly what may have been penned by the prophet himself as attested in the Joseph Smith Papers!
Regarding Section 3:
Joseph Smith Papers wrote:It is not known when or how the text was committed to paper. Although Joseph Smith may have written it himself, he dictated later revelations to scribes and may have dictated this one to either Emma or her brother Reuben Hale, both of whom served as scribes to Joseph Smith during this time. The earliest extant version of the revelation, featured here, was copied into Revelation Book 1 by John Whitmer, likely in early 1831.
Let’s peek at the statement in question and I’ll make my own redactions to support redactions made later for publication:
Whitmer wrote:for as the knowledge of a Saveiour hath come to the world (WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS CAME FROM THE JEWS VIA THE FIRST CHRISTIANS) so shall the knowledge of my People the Nephities & the Jacobites & the Josephites & the Lamanites (COME TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE SAVIOR VIA JOSEPH SMITH IN AMERICA)
The gospel was first delivered to the Jews through Christ *in* Jerusalem. The gospel would later be restored through Joseph Smith for the Lamanites *in* America.
Now, with regard to the redactions:
Joseph Smith Papers wrote:
- Editorial redactions in Revelation Book 1 demonstrate that it was used as a source for publishing the Book of Commandments in 1833.
- These redactions show an effort to clarify wording in the revelations and other items on the part of those selecting, arranging, and preparing them for publication.
- Many redactions were made before selected items were published in Missouri, while others were made in Ohio before the 1835 publication of the Doctrine and Covenants.
- Oliver Cowdery could have made redactions in either Ohio or Missouri as early as 1831 or as late as 1835, though the majority of redactions they made first appear in print in 1833 or earlier.
- The extent to which Joseph Smith influenced the redactions made by other individuals is unknown.
more later...