Of course, Nibley had to add this parenthetical statement, because he knows of the thousands of changes made in the so-called sacred dictation since the 1830 edition. Listen, if this was a letter for letter or word for word dictation, why all the changes?
I mean the LDS History of the Church claims that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon into English through the gift and power of God. He said that it is "the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book" So why does "the most correct of any book on earth" need 4,000+ changes, even if most of them are spelling and grammatical changes?
According to the Institute of Religious Research:
Changes in Doctrine. Key Passages on Deity in the original 1830 text of the Book of Mormon were changed in the 1837 edition to reflect Joseph Smith’s changing doctrine of Deity. Joseph originally taught that Jesus and the Father were the same person and that God had always been God, but later developed the idea that the Father and Son were separate Gods, each with a tangible body. Smith taught that both God the Father and Jesus had been mortal men. What follows are specific examples from the original 1830 first edition Book of Mormon (which did not have verse divisions) compared with the altered text of recent versions.
Original 1830 Text vs. Current, Altered Text Anything that is italicized in ALL CAPS is text NOT in the original 1830 version and has been added "to the most correct of any book on earth."
Compare 1830 1 Nephi 3 vs. current 1 Nephi 11 (* is included to indicate that the 1830 text did not have verse divisions):
1830 version: 1 Nephi 3, p. 25*: And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of God, after the manner of the flesh vs. current 1 Nephi 11:18: And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of THE SON OF God.
1830 version: 1 Nephi 3, p. 25: And the angel said unto me, behold the Lamb of God, even the Eternal Father! vs. current 1 Nephi 11:21: And the angel said unto me, behold the Lamb of God, even THE SON OF the Eternal Father!
1830 version: 1 Nephi 3, p. 26: And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Everlasting God, was judged of the world. vs. current 1 Nephi 11:32: And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea,THE SON OF the Everlasting God, was judged of the world.
1830 version 1 Nephi 3, p. 32: These last records ... shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world. vs. current 1 Nephi 13:40: These last records ... shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is THE SON OF the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world.
Other Changes to the Book of Mormon. A variety of other changes have been made that also alter the meaning of the text.
Original 1830 Text vs. Altered Text
1830 version Alma 15, p. 303: yea, I know that he alloteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable,, according to their wills vs. current Alma 29:4: yea, I know that he alloteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills
As explained by the IRR: NOTE: Later editions from at least 1840 to 1980 deleted without explanation these eight words. LDS leaders re-inserted the omitted words into all editions since 1981. It is possible Joseph Smith deleted this portion of the verse because it conflicted with a revelation he claimed to receive in 1831 found in Doctrine & Covenants 56:4,5 "Wherefore I, the Lord, command and revoke, as it seemeth me good; and all of this upon the heads of the rebellious, saith the Lord. Wherefore, I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants …"
Orginal 1830 version: Mosiah 9, p. 200: … King Benjamin had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings … vs. current Mosiah 21:28 … King MOSIAH [Benjamin deleted] had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings …
1830 version Ether 1, p. 546 … and for this cause did King Benjamin keep them … vs. current Ether 4:1 … and for this cause did King MOSIAH [Benjamin deleted] keep them …
NOTE: According to Book of Mormon chronology, King Benjamin was already dead when these events took place. Apparently LDS leaders changed the name to Mosiah to eliminate the mistake.
1830 version 2 Nephi 8, p. 87 … and the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself not vs. current 2 Nephi 12:9 … and the mean man boweth NOT down, and the great man humbleth himself not … [NOT was added]
1830 version 1 Nephi 5, p. 52 … O house of Jacob, which are called out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord … vs. 1 Nephi 20:1 … O house of Jacob, which are called out of the waters of Judah, OR OUT OF THE WATERS OF BAPTISM, which swear by the name of the Lord …
"White" changed to "Pure" 1830 version 2 Nephi 12, p. 117 … and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people. vs. 2 Nephi 30:6 (1840 edition) … and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a PURE and a delightsome people...
(Later editions until 1981) … WHITE and delightsome (1981 to current edition) PURE and delightsome
NOTE: Before 1978 dark-skinned males were not allowed to hold positions of priesthood authority within the Mormon church. Today Mormon scriptures continue to teach that dark skin is a curse from God and a sign of His displeasure (See 1 Nephi 12:23; 2 Nephi 5:21; Alma 3:6). Brigham Young, second president and prophet of the LDS church referred to those with dark skin as being "cursed with a s[k]in of blackness" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 11, p. 272).
The LDS church changed the text to correspond to their change in doctrine in 1978.
so!