One argument sometimes raised by critics makes use of what is, on its own, a fascinating scholarly appraisal. The argument interprets that scholarship in a way that creates the appearance of authorship problems for the Book of Mormon.
However, upon investigation of the facts themselves, this actually turns into remarkable evidence of Joseph Smith's authenticity as translator. The facts center on the location and frequency with which some words appear in the Book of Mormon. For instance, a shift between the interchangeable words
“wherefore” and “therefore” occurs in the Book of Mormon [1] (and at the same time in the Doctrine and Covenants, which bolsters my point although I don’t dive into it here). The books of Ether, Moroni , 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, Jacob, Enos,
Jarom, Omni and Words of Mormon display a strong preference for the word
“wherefore,” while the books of Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, 3 Nephi, 4 Nephi and
Mormon display a strong preference for the word “therefore.”
Here are the books, in the most likely order of translation:
Wherefore |
Therefore |
|||||
Mosiah
|
1
|
1%
|
123
|
99%
|
||
3
|
1%
|
291
|
99%
|
|||
Helaman
|
0
|
0%
|
63
|
100%
|
||
3 Nephi
|
3
|
3%
|
97
|
97%
|
||
4 Nephi
|
0
|
0%
|
5
|
100%
|
||
Mormon
|
0
|
0%
|
22
|
100%
|
||
Ether
|
63
|
70%
|
24
|
30%
|
||
38
|
100%
|
0
|
0%
|
|||
1 Nephi
|
97
|
88%
|
13
|
12%
|
||
2 Nephi
|
137
|
83%
|
28
|
17%
|
||
Jacob
|
52
|
98%
|
1
|
2%
|
||
Enos
|
6
|
100%
|
0
|
0%
|
||
Jarom
|
3
|
100%
|
0
|
0%
|
||
Omni
|
6
|
100%
|
0
|
0%
|
||
Words of Mormon
|
4
|
100%
|
0
|
0%
|
||
Essentially, some critics cite this
as evidence against Joseph’s claim to have translated the Book of Mormon,
saying it shows evidence of multiple English authors.
I can understand
why it would look that way. I don’t expect to see sudden shifts in people’s use
of words. It’s not as though Joseph suddenly discovered the word “wherefore”
and decided to start using it.
But let’s look
deeper, for hidden evidence.
The argument
against Joseph implies that the shift in wording began at the very beginning of
the Book of Ether. This creates the illusion that the shift corresponds with a
new book starting, and not with the substance of anything being said in the
text.
In reality, the
first few chapters of Ether show a preference for the word “therefore.” The
shift doesn’t happen until after some very significant verses at the end of
chapter 4 and through chapter 5.
To understand the
significance of these verses, let’s back up for a moment and treat Joseph’s
story of the plates as objectively true. The reason for doing this is to help
us ascertain the implications of his story if it is indeed true.
Joseph says he was
introduced to the Book of Mormon by Moroni , who had lived on the earth
hundreds of years ago. It was Moroni who instructed Joseph in the
specifics regarding the work he was to perform. Before Joseph ever began
translation of the plates, he went through a process of preparation which we
don’t know much about. Moroni was Joseph’s friend and mentor.
Now imagine when
Joseph was translating and reached Mormon chapter 8 and finally began the part
written by his mentor. If I was in Joseph’s shoes, I would have thought that
was pretty neat. But it gets even more significant, because Moroni was writing directly to us in
our day. He wasn’t keeping a record to be handed down, he was writing something
to be hid away and saved for us.
Now consider
Ether 4:17-18, which is a message from God being quoted by Moroni from memory. These verses state
that because we have received the record we may know the work of the Lord has
commenced in our day and we are thus commanded to repent and be baptized.
Unlike the previous times when baptism was mentioned in the Book of Mormon,
this is not merely a record of other people in a past age being commanded to be
baptized, but is a commandment being issued directly to us in our day.
If there was any
doubt in Joseph’s mind that this commandment was being issued to him, that
doubt should have been wiped away by the time he finished the next few verses.
In them, Moroni speaks directly to Joseph
himself about what he can translate and who he can show the plates to.
Prior to the
commandment to be baptized, Ether contains 13 instances of the word “therefore”
and 7 instances of the word “wherefore.” After the commandment, Ether contains
only 11 instances of “therefore” but has 54 instances of “wherefore.”
Now consider the
words of Joseph’s mother:
One morning … they sat down to their usual
work when the first thing that presented itself to Joseph was a commandment
from God that he and Oliver should repair to the water and each of them be
baptized.
(From The Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith By His Mother, Chapter
27)
The only verse in
the Book of Mormon which directly fits this description is Ether 4:18, and that
fits the timeline of where Joseph would have been in translation at the time of
his baptism.[2]
Now consider the
impact Joseph says his baptism had on him:
Immediately on our coming up out of the
water after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious blessings …
Our minds now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our
understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious
passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously,
nor ever before had thought of.
(From Joseph Smith History, 1:73-74)
Joseph explains
his eyes were opened. He had a new reverence and understanding.
This is key: before Moroni commanded Joseph to be baptized, in Ether, each time Joseph used the word “wherefore,” sacred subject matter was being addressed in the Book of Mormon. In particular, God speaking to man. But after that commandment to be baptized, Joseph expands the use of “wherefore” dramatically, as if he now realizes that it is unnecessary.This matches the claim that he saw the scriptures in a totally new light after being baptized.
Thus we see that
the shift from “therefore” to “wherefore” is not at all problematic for the
Book of Mormon, and actually lends powerful credibility to Joseph’s story.
Especially since the evidence was hidden and obviously not intended as
subterfuge.
[1] The distribution of the words is a scholarly appraisal made by Brent Metcalfe, which is not in itself anti-Mormon, of course. There are two instances in the Book of
Mormon where “wherefore” is used to pose a question. Other than those
instances, the words are interchangeable in meaning.
[2] Elden Watson constructed a thorough
timeline, in which he readily admits he wanted Joseph’s baptism to correspond
with a verse in 3 Nephi after Christ visited America
– thus Watson adjusted the estimated number of pages translated per day in
order to make that fit. Removing Watsons’ adjustment places Joseph in Ether.
Watson's timeline is available on the internet at eldenwatson.net/BoM.htm
