Alma 26:30 Textual Variants

Sirkku Skousen (personal communication) has raised the possibility that the text here should read in the plural, as “some souls”. Later on in the verse we have a use of the single word some where the meaning is plural:

• Alma 26:30
  • and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some

In English, the determiner some can occur with the plural souls, but the only example in the Book of Mormon reads “some few of their souls”:

• Alma 26:26
  • but behold my beloved brethren we came into the wilderness not with the intent to destroy our brethren but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls

Of course, this is not some souls.

Elsewhere there is evidence that the singular some soul is possible. Later on, Alma refers to his own desire to save his fellow beings (just like Ammon does in Alma 26:30):

• Alma 29:9
  • yea and this is my glory that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance

Both Alma 26:30 and Alma 29:9 are extant in 𝓞 for the phrase some soul, so the singular usage appears to be fully intended. The critical text will accept the use of some soul in the Book of Mormon text.