1 Nephi 10:6 Textual Variants

Royal Skousen
wherefore all mankind [was 0A|was >js were 1|were BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] in a lost and in a fallen state and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer

Here Joseph Smith edited “all mankind was” to “all mankind were”. The singular works as long as mankind is considered a collective whole, but the use later on in the verse of the plural pronoun they suggests that “all mankind” should be treated as a plurality of separate individuals (“save they should rely on this Redeemer”).

Elsewhere the text has consistently preferred the plural were with “all mankind”:

Nonetheless, the critical text will restore the singular was in 1 Nephi 10:6 since its use there appears to be intentional. For complete discussion, see subject-verb agreement in volume 3.

Summary: Restore the singular was in “all mankind was in a lost and in a fallen state” (1 Nephi 10:6).

Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon, Part. 1

References