Helaman 8:14 Textual Variants

This passage refers to the future coming of the Savior. Originally the passage consistently used the modal verb should (“the Son of God should come … even so should he be lifted up which should come”). The 1830 typesetter accidentally replaced the second should with shall. For consistency, the original should should be restored.

This use of future should (rather than conditional should ) is found elsewhere in the text, as in the following examples that refer to being lifted up, either to the future crucifixion of Christ or to the coming resurrection of mankind:

• 1 Nephi 16:2
  • and the righteous have I justified and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day
• 3 Nephi 27:14
  • that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father to stand before me to be judged of their works
• Ether 4:1
  • and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men until after that he should be lifted up upon the cross

For additional discussion of the competition between should and shall, see under 2 Nephi 25:19.