2 Nephi 25:11 Textual Variants

In the original text of the Book of Mormon, there is some variation with respect to whether notwithstanding should be immediately followed by the subordinate conjunction that whenever a finite clause follows. In most cases (11 out of 13 occurrences involving finite clauses), there is no that in the earliest textual sources:

• 1 Nephi 17:6 and notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions
• 1 Nephi 20:22 and notwithstanding he hath done all this
• 2 Nephi 25:24 and notwithstanding we believe in Christ
• 2 Nephi 28:32 for notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them
• Alma 2:35 notwithstanding they were so numerous that …
• Alma 5:37 notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you
• Alma 18:5 notwithstanding they believed in a Great Spirit
• Helaman 15:12 and notwithstanding they shall be driven to and fro
• 3 Nephi 7:11 notwithstanding they were not a righteous people
• 3 Nephi 8:4 notwithstanding so many signs had been given
• Ether 9:10 notwithstanding they had sworn unto him to do all manner of iniquity

But in two cases, the original text had the subordinate conjunction that before the finite clause. In addition to the example here in 2 Nephi 25:11, we have this example later on in the text:

• 3 Nephi 16:8
  • for notwithstanding [that 1A| BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] they have come forth upon the face of this land and have scattered my people which are of the house of Israel …

In the 1837 edition, these two instances of that following notwithstanding were removed. The first of these (in 2 Nephi 25:11) was marked by Joseph Smith in his editing of 𝓟 for the 1837 edition. The critical text will, of course, restore both these original occurrences of that. For further discussion regarding the optionality of the subordinate conjunction that after adverbial connectors, see under that in volume 3.