Alma 34:15 Textual Variants

The original manuscript is only partially extant for the preposition unto/to. Only part of the last letter, o, is extant. Spacing between extant fragments provides room for the un, but it is possible that the un was crossed out. The printer’s manuscript reads to. It should also be noted that we cannot be sure that there wasn’t some other correction in the lacuna in 𝓞 and that 𝓞 actually read to without any correction.

Elsewhere in the text there are three occurrences of “bring salvation (un)to X”, and all three have the preposition unto:

• 2 Nephi 2:3 that in the fullness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men
• 2 Nephi 29:4 in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles
• 3 Nephi 18:32 and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them

The use of unto is also supported by two occurrences of “bring salvation unto X” in the King James Bible:

• Isaiah 59:16 therefore his arm brought salvation unto him
• Isaiah 63:5 therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me

Based on usage in the King James text and elsewhere in the Book of Mormon text, the most probable preposition in the original manuscript would be unto, but to cannot be ruled out.

Unique readings do occur in the Book of Mormon text (as with any text). In fact, in a revelation through Joseph Smith in February 1829, we have an example of “bring salvation to X”:

• Book of Commandments 3:1 (Doctrine and Covenants 4:1)
  • the same layeth up in store that he perish not but bringeth salvation to his soul

There is clear evidence that the scribes mixed up unto and to. For instance, there are at least 17 cases in the manuscripts where Oliver Cowdery wrote unto as to, including the following four cases where 𝓞 is extant and reads unto while the change to to is found in 𝓟 (if only momentarily):

• 1 Nephi 17:22
  • because we would hearken [ 0ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST|to > NULL 1] unto his word
• Alma 24:7
  • that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren the Nephites [unto 0ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST|to > unto 1] us to preach unto us
• Alma 52:12
  • and had made known [unto 0ABCEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST|to > unto 1|uuto D] the queen concerning the death of his brother
• Alma 53:17
  • yea to protect the land [unto 0ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST|to > unto 1] the laying down of their lives

But it should also be noted that in all these cases Oliver caught his initial error in 𝓟 and corrected the preposition from to to unto.

More generally, there is textual variability between unto and to in the text. For instance, consider a phrase which is semantically related to “bring salvation (un)to X”, namely, “salvation comes (un)to X”. For this phrase, we get examples of both unto and to:

• Mosiah 3:9 that salvation might come unto the children of men
• Mosiah 3:12 for salvation cometh to none such except …
• Mosiah 3:17 nor no other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men
• Mosiah 4:6 that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord
• Mosiah 15:27 for salvation cometh to none such
• Alma 11:40 and salvation cometh to none else
• Alma 39:16 or rather that salvation might come unto them
• Helaman 15:4 but behold salvation hath come unto them

For another instance that shows the textual competition between unto and to, see the discussion under 1 Nephi 15:33 regarding the phrase “pertaining un(to) righteousness”: in the earliest text there are five instances of “pertaining unto righteousness” and five of “pertaining to righteousness”, so either preposition is possible. Even though all three other instances of “bring salvation (un)to X” read unto, the preposition to is still possible. Ultimately, 𝓞 provides no conclusive evidence in favor of unto in Alma 34:15; the earliest extant reading, 𝓟, reads to. Since to is possible, the critical text will accept it here in Alma 34:15.