1 Nephi 1:16 Textual Variants

The 1840 edition replaced the present perfect “hath written” with the past perfect “had written”. Although Joseph Smith did some editing for the 1840 edition, this particular change appears to be a typo made by the typesetter. There is no motivation for making the change. In fact, the text immediately following continues the use of the present perfect “hath written”:

• 1 Nephi 1:16
  • for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children

The incorrect “had written” was copied into the 1858 Wright edition but then discontinued.