John Tvedtnes explains that in Biblical Hebrew, the prepositions that are translated in and to in English are often interchangeable. This would not usually work in English. In at least two Book of Mormon passages, the 1830 edition used to and in in ways that reflect the Hebrew usage, although later editions were changed to reflect the normal English use (1 Nephi 7:12 and 1 Nephi 17:14). In 1 Nephi 17:14, the 1830 edition read "after ye have arrived to the promised land." Both in and to are possible in biblical Hebrew, but arrive to is much more common. English prefers arrive at. [John A. Tvedtnes, "The Hebrew Background of the Book of Mormon" in Rediscovering the Book of Mormon, F.A.R.M.S., p. 88]
“After Ye Have Arrived in the Promised Land”
When did Laman and Lemuel know about the destruction of Jerusalem? According to the chronological theory of Randall Spackman, 1 Nephi 17:14 may be understood more easily if its parallel structure is depicted. Chronologically speaking, the emphasis in this verse comes after the phrase "after ye have arrived" and reads, "ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God." It is one thing to experience and know firsthand of life's hardships and struggles (including the destruction of Jerusalem). It is quite another thing to feel the spirit of the Lord watching over you during these times and to know that He will be there for you in the future and that He cares. Here in Bountiful, Laman and Lemuel could well have known of the actual destruction of Jerusalem, and could even have acknowledged that Lehi might have "guessed right"; however, after having their families suffer so terribly before reaching Bountiful, it would be quite another giant step to convince them to make an almost unimaginable trip into the unknown world of the oceans. In these verses, this might be what Nephi is trying to do. [Randall Spackman, "Introduction to Book of Mormon Chronology," F.A.R.M.S., pp. 12-14]