The changes made to the text of the Book of Mormon, over the century and a half from its first publication to its modern version, are not from any attempt to hide a non-Divine origin. This is a true book of scripture; almost all changes seem to be easily explained within this context.

Let’s compare the mid-point of the Book of Mormon, 1830 version with the modern version. If I have calculated correctly, the middle is around the end of Chapter 22 of Alma, around verse 32 (recent-version versification). I choose thus, to demonstrate that my choice is random, not from any knowledge of any verse that better proves my point.

1830 Edition

And now it was only the distance of a day and a half’s journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful, and the land Desolation, from the East to the West sea; and thus the land of Nephi, and the land of Zarahemla, was nearly surrounded by water; there being a small neck of land between the land northward, and the land southward.

Modern Version

And now, it was only the distance of a day and a half’s journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea; and thus the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla were nearly surrounded by water, there being a small neck of land between the land northward and the land southward.

Differences

Let’s look at the differences in the wording. Notice “was” is replaced by “were,” after “nearly surrounded by water.” I believe this kind of correction is common, for the farm boy Joseph Smith had little education before the translation of the Book of Mormon. There’s no change here that was intended to hide a non-Divine origin.

Let’s look at the differences in punctuation. One comma was added, another comma replaced a semi-colon, and four commas were subtracted: no change to hide a non-Divine origin.

Let’s look at the differences in capitalization. “East” and “West” are no longer capitalized: no hiding a non-Divine origin.

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Objective Examination of the Book of Mormon

Where is any significant change in the above text [3 Nephi 11:3]? I have compared other verses of the 1830 version with the newest edition of the Book of Mormon and have found mostly similar variations: spelling and capitalization and grammar corrections.

Beginning With the end of the Book of Mormon

“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ . . .”