Critics of the Book of Mormon frequently point to changes made since its initial 1830 publication, arguing that a divinely inspired work should not require later corrections, particularly to grammar, spelling, or punctuation. This criticism, however, rests on an unrealistic assumption about how revelation and publishing functioned in the early 19th century. The original Book of Mormon manuscript contained little to no punctuation, and the task of adding punctuation and formatting was handled by the printer’s typesetter—who was not a member of the Church and made editorial decisions based on his own understanding of the text. As a result, many early “errors” reflected printing conventions and human judgment rather than flaws in the revealed content itself.

Subsequent editions of the Book of Mormon have focused primarily on correcting these minor grammatical and punctuation issues to improve clarity and readability, not altering doctrine or narrative. Importantly, the Book of Mormon itself anticipates such imperfections. Its title page openly acknowledges the presence of human error, stating that any faults are “the mistakes of men” and cautions readers not to confuse those imperfections with the things of God. Rather than undermining the Book of Mormon’s credibility, the transparency of this admission strengthens it, demonstrating that the text has always distinguished between divine revelation and the human process of recording, transmitting, and printing sacred scripture.