Scribe 2 wrote “the pains of death” in the printer’s manuscript. Later, apparently while proofing against the original manuscript, Oliver Cowdery replaced pains with bands. The phrase “the bands of death” occurs 14 times in the original text, and all refer to death being overcome by Christ’s atonement, as in Alma 10:41: “therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made except it be the loosing of the bands of death”. On the other hand, “the pains of death” refers to actual physical suffering that humans undergo while dying and is found three times in the text:
Clearly, the atonement of Christ does not save us from the pains of death. Oliver Cowdery’s correction in Alma 4:14 is consistent with Book of Mormon usage and doctrine; here he was most probably proofing the text against the original manuscript rather than emending the text.
Summary: Retain in Alma 4:14 Oliver Cowdery’s “the bands of death” since it undoubtedly represents the reading of the original manuscript and is consistent with similar usage in the Book of Mormon.