Brother, How should members of the Church view errors in the Book of Mormon?
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints generally acknowledge the presence of human errors in the Book of Mormon, but we distinguish these from doctrinal or revelatory mistakes. Our understanding is shaped by several theological principles and official statements, including those found within the Book of Mormon itself.
The Book of Mormon explicitly acknowledges the potential for human error in its transmission. In the Title Page, which Joseph Smith stated was a translation from the final leaf of the gold plates, it reads: “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.”
This acknowledgement helps establish our understanding that, while the book is divinely inspired and revealed, the process of translation and transcription was carried out by fallible human beings.
We maintain that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon “by the gift and power of God” (Preface to the Book of Mormon, 1830 edition). However, most members do not claim that the translation is infallible in a mechanical or inerrant sense. Joseph Smith himself supported this view. In a sermon delivered in 1831, he said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion,” but he added, “a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book” (History of the Church 4:461). This statement does not claim that the book is flawless in its grammar or historical detail, but rather that its teachings are reliable for spiritual guidance.
Much like our approach to the Bible—as reflected in Article of Faith 8: “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly”—we believe that scripture may contain errors in translation or transmission. The Book of Mormon is therefore not regarded as inerrant in its spelling, grammar, or minor historical particulars, though it is considered sound in doctrine and revelatory in nature.
The Church has made grammatical, punctuation, and minor wording revisions to the Book of Mormon since its initial publication in 1830. These changes, which are publicly recorded, are not viewed by most members as a threat to the truthfulness of the text, but as reasonable clarifications or improvements. The Church itself openly acknowledges such adjustments, and faithful members typically regard them as refinements that do not detract from the book’s divine origin.
Our theology recognises that prophets are fallible mortals. The imperfections of Nephi, Alma, and even Mormon are integrated into the narrative. The editorial tone of Words of Mormon 1:6–7 and 3 Nephi 5:18–19 clearly indicates that Mormon made spiritually guided editorial decisions regarding what to include—based not on personal preference, but on what he believed would fulfil the will of God. Similarly, Moroni writes: “And if there be faults they be the faults of a man. But behold, we know no fault…” (Mormon 8:17).
We therefore accept the idea that the prophetic authors, and later Joseph Smith, may have committed minor errors in wording or expression, without this undermining the authority or sanctity of the book.
For most faithful Latter-day Saints, such “errors” in the Book of Mormon are not interpreted as deceit or falsehood. Rather, they are understood to be incidental flaws that naturally arise in any human form of communication. The spiritual message, however, is believed to have been preserved by divine oversight.
We are encouraged to rely upon spiritual confirmation, not historical or textual scrutiny alone, as the ultimate means of affirming the truth of the Book of Mormon. Moroni 10:3–5 is frequently cited in this regard, wherein readers are invited to “ask God… if these things are not true”, with the promise that “by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
In summary, we hold the Book of Mormon to be divinely inspired scripture—doctrinally reliable and spiritually authoritative—though not exempt from minor human imperfections in its language or editing. Such flaws are to be expected in a world wherein God works through mortal instruments. Our approach is not to deny the presence of these imperfections, but to affirm that the divine message remains clearly discernible through them.
