“An Exceedingly Great Many Do Stumble”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet
When precious truths are removed, we are hindered in knowing the verities of scripture in two ways: (1) we do not have access to the materials which are removed; and (2) we are often unable to properly discern the true intents and meanings of that which is left, meanings which frequently are made clear by the missing scripture. In short, the greatest commentary upon scripture is scripture; if we have lost valuable elements of the revealed plan, the “key of knowledge” is not available to open the otherwise mysterious doors of understanding.

“An Exceedingly Great Many Do Stumble”

Through the eyes of Nephi the seer, therefore we become witnesses of the fact that the world has never had a complete Bible, for it was massively corrupted before it was distributed. By extensively searching and studying the available manuscripts today, honest textual critics may succeed in recovering the Bible to the condition it was in after it was tampered with. In that sense, the worldly biblical scholars, lacking the knowledge provided by the Book of Mormon, have frequently confused the oldest extant manuscripts with the original manuscripts. The information contained on the latter documents has been and will be made known not by manuscripts and scholars but rather through modern prophets and revelators as the Lord sees fit to bring back that which had been lost.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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