This chapter contains a discussion of:

		Joseph Smith as "Author and Proprietor" of the Book of Mormon
		Missing 116 pages from the Book of Mormon
		Changes in doctrinal statements concerning God in the Book of Mormon
		Original "Preface' missing from subsequent editions of the Book of Mormon
		Changes to page 52 of 1st edition of the Book of Mormon
		"Author's" demand that the Book of Mormon be recognized equally with the Bible
		Is the Bible a complete revelation from God to man?
		Revelations 22:18-19
		More changes in the Book of Mormon

CHAPTER XXI

An Answer to Budvarson's Criticisms
of the Book of Mormon (Cont'd)

In the preceding chapter we have seen how Mr. Budvarson has misinterpreted the writings of prominent Mormon leaders relative to the "perfectness" of the First Edition of the Book of Mormon.  Now let us see how he has handled other "evidence" in his attempts to "show the fallacy of their sundry claims to the effect that the Book of Mormon was a God-given, angel-protected book." (p. 17)

On page 8 of his brochure Mr. Budvarson gives a photo reproduction of the title page of the First Edition of the Nephite record, taking pains to underline printed statements thereon to the effect that Joseph Smith was "Author and Proprietor" of the work.  He even underlines "Printed by E. G. Grandin, for the Author."  On page 9 he emphasizes that Joseph Smith is said to be the author and proprietor of the Book of Mormon and reinforces his assertion by showing that the "eight witnesses" also affirm that the prophet was the "author and proprietor of this work."  (Photo reproductions of testimony is given on p. 27.)  Then Mr. Budvarson shows that in later editions of the Book of Mormon the title page was changed to read, "Translated by Joseph Smith, Jun.," and the testimony of the "eight witnesses" was changed to read, "Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work."  It is hard to guess all of Mr. Budvarson's motives in writing the first two paragraphs on page 9, but apparently his intention is to show that in the First and Original Edition of the Book of Mormon Joseph Smith and the "eight witnesses" quite unwittingly betrayed the fact that it was man-made, that God had nothing to do with it, and that the prophet was indeed the "Author and Proprietor."  Then in later editions Joseph

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Smith and the "eight witnesses" attempt to cover up their mistake by changing the reading of the title page and the "testimony" of the witnesses.  And further, if we correctly interpret Mr. Budvarson's intentions, it was a fallacy in logic for the Mormon leaders to change the readings in later editions of the Book of Mormon if it was indeed a "supernaturally translated, angel-protected book."

Now, had Mr. Budvarson known (and he should have) the copyright laws at the time of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon account for Joseph Smith's placing of "Author and Proprietor" on the title page of the work. In the words of B. H. Roberts:

In the first edition, the words "Author and Proprietor" appear instead of the word '`translator."  The reason for this is obvious.  Under the laws then existing the copyright was secured to "authors and proprietors;" and hence on the title page of the first edition, "Joseph Smith, Junior, author and proprietor," takes the place of the line "Translated by Joseph Smith, Jun., in the later editions.  The Prophet merely adopted the phraseology of the law.  Preceding the preface to the first edition appears the following certificate of copyright [read it carefully, Mr. Budvarson], which is interesting not only as explaining the foregoing point, but also as preserving an important date in church history:

Northern District of New York, to wit:  Be It Remembered, That on the eleventh day of June, in the fifty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1829, Joseph Smith, Jun., of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as author in the words following, to wit: [Here follows the title page with the words, "By Joseph Smith, Author and Proprietor, Palmyra: Printed by E. G. Grandin, for the Author. 1830."]

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors [notice! ] of such copies, during the times therein

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Mr. Budvarson may be forgiven for some errors, but on pages 14 to 17 of his brochure he makes mistakes that few scholars would forgive him for.  He exhibits photo reproductions of pages 25 and 32 of the First Edition of the Book of Mormon, underlining "doctrinal statements concerning God" which he contends were changed in later editions of the Nephite record.  Now we grant that the three statements he underlines were changed in later editions, but let us examine the statements and see what possible significance he is entitled to attach to them.  The three statements are as follows:

Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of God, . . . (Cf. 1 Nephi 11:18, current edition.)

Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Eternal Father! (Cf. 1 Nephi 11:21, current edition.)

That the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Saviour of the world; . . . (Cf. 1 Nephi 13:40, current edition. )

These three statements were changed in the Second (1837) Edition to read respectively:

Behold, the virgin whom thou seest, is the mother of the son of God, . . . Italics ours.)

Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! (Italics ours.)

That the Lamb of God is the Son of the eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; . . . Italics ours.)

We have italicized for the reader's convenience the changes that were made in each statement in the Second Edition.  Why were these changes made in the text?  Mr. Budvarson, of course, would have us believe that the Mormon leaders testified to the "perfectness" of the First Edition, "the God-given supernaturally translated, angel-protected book," (p. 13) and that they could not in good conscience make changes in the text thereafter.  But notice what is said in the third paragraph of the Preface of the Second Edition:

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Individuals acquainted with book printing, are aware of the numerous typographical errors which always occur in manuscript editions.  It is only necessary to say, that the whole [the First Edition] has been carefully reexamined and compared with the original manuscripts, by elder Joseph Smith, Jr., the translator of the book of Mormon, assisted by the present printer, brother O. Cowdery, who formerly wrote the greatest portion of the same, as dictated by brother Smith.

Does this paragraph give the impression that the early leaders of the Church (Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were the two highest) thought the First Edition was perfect in every respect, text and all?  Quite the contrary, Mr. Budvarson.  They knew that typographical errors had crept into the 1830 edition in the course of printing.  So they attempted to correct those errors by comparing the original manuscripts with the 1830 text.  The changes they made in the statements underlined by you on pages 14 and 15 of your brochure are simple corrections of errors in the First Edition.  They are corrections (including grammar) such as might be made in the second edition of any book.  That the italicized words above were, "whom" excepted, accidental omissions in the First Edition is also proved by the fact that the manuscript of the Book of Mormon written by Oliver Cowdery and now in the possession of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints at Independence, Missouri, contains the added words. In the Preface of the 1944 edition (p. vii) of the Reorganized Church edition of the Book of Mormon, we find this statement of the committee that compared their earlier editions with the Oliver Cowdery manuscript:

The committee found errors, including omissions, in the Lamoni [Reorganized] edition; also some matter in the Original Manuscript omitted in the Palmyra [1830] or the Kirtland [1837] edition, or in both those editions; such omissions evidently being overlooked in proof-reading. (Italics ours.)

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This matter is dated at Lamoni, Iowa, July 17, 1908.

We think we have shown that Mr. Budvarson has failed to do his "homework" in connection with the three texts he brings up on pages 14-17 of his brochure.  The charges he makes are inexcusable.  They were made without the investigation expected of a scholar.

There is one more matter on Mr. Budvarson's page 17 that needs just a word of comment.  He notes that the one and one-half page "Preface" in the First Edition of the Book of Mormon is omitted entirely in later editions.  Now, no Mormon leaders have ever held that there was anything especially sacrosanct about this Preface.  Why shouldn't it be omitted in later editions if the intelligence and judgment of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery so dictated?  Joseph Smith never made any claim that either the Lord or the Angel Moroni looked over his shoulder and dictated every word that he should say in the Preface.  The prophet wrote it on his own account in order to inform the prospective reader about matters he thought important at the time.  But Mr. Budvarson's erroneous interpretation of Mormon views about the First Edition lead him to the preposterous view that "all changes regardless of how minor, are disallowed and unauthorized if the 1830 Original Edition of the Book of Mormon is what leaders of Mormonism claimed it to be!"  (pp. 15, 16)  But no reasonable person need believe him in view of the facts that we have presented.

Mr. Budvarson gives a photo reproduction (p. 18) of page 52 of the First Edition, showing that at least fifty-three changes were made on it in succeeding editions.  Most of these changes are in matters of punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and the like.  But the word-changes were made to make the text of the Book of Mormon conform to the readings of the original manuscript.  So, Mr. Budvarson, what we have said already about the photos on