Moroni 8:12 Textual Variants

Here in the printer’s manuscript, Oliver Cowdery initially wrote “& also a changeable being”, a perfectly acceptable reading. In fact, that expression is used a few verses later in this chapter:

• Moroni 8:18
  • for I know that God is not a partial God neither a changeable being

Here in verse 12, Oliver’s correction of being to God was virtually immediate (there is no change in the level of ink flow for the correction). It should be noted, however, that Oliver wrote not only God in the supralinear insertion but also the connecting and (as an ampersand). Apparently, the initial reading in 𝓟 was “and also a changeable being / a respecter to persons”.

Elsewhere the text has eight other instances where the phrase “a being” refers to God:

• Jacob 7:7
  • and ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of God and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence
• Alma 11:22
  • behold here is six onties of silver and all these will I give unto thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being
• Alma 26:35
  • for he has all power all wisdom and all understanding he comprehendeth all things and he is a merciful Being even unto salvation to those who will repent and believe on his name
• Alma 30:28
  • that they should if they did not do according to their words offend some unknown being which they say is God a being which never hath been seen nor known which never was nor never will be
• Alma 54:21 (two instances of “a being”)
  • behold we know not such a being neither do ye but if it so be that there is such a being we know not but that he hath made us as well as you
• Helaman 16:18
  • saying that it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come
• Mormon 9:19
  • then why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being

Although most of these occurrences of “a being” are used in negative contexts, the example in Alma 26:35 is used positively. The initial use of being in Moroni 8:12 is perfectly acceptable; thus the correction to God is definitely not due to editing but is the result of Oliver trying to make his copy as accurate as possible.