Conjectural Emendation and the Text of the Book of Mormon

Title

Conjectural Emendation and the Text of the Book of Mormon

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

1978

Authors

Larsen, Stan (Primary)

Journal

BYU Studies Quarterly

Pagination

563-569

Volume

18

Issue

4

Terms of use

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Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

The process of studying early manuscripts and recommending corrections is called conjectural emendation. It is conjectural because it is based on circumstantial evidence and by its nature is unverifiable since it attempts to go beyond the earliest extant manuscript.A possible need for conjectural emendation in the Book of Mormon arises from its unique origin as a dictated translation. Phonetic similarity may account for Oliver Cowdery’s mishearing of some words. Examples of possible errors found in the Book of Mormon manuscripts that were due to either misspelling, miscopying, and/or mishearing are explicated in this article, under the assumption that such faults are always the failings of men.

Critical Text
Textual History
Book of Mormon Translation
Original Manuscript of the Book of Mormon
Printer's Manuscript of the Book of Mormon
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Cowdery, Oliver

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