The Critical Text Project or Webster’s 1828 Dictionary: An Interesting Comparison – Part X

Continuing with more of our reader’s comments and our responses, and information about Royal Skousen’s Critical Test Project and Webster’s monumental dictionary. 
    18. Nourished. “wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders” (1 Nephi 22:8)
    Skousen claims the word “nourished” is wrong here and should have been “nursed.”

Webster’s 1828 meaning for “nursed” is: “tended in infancy or sickness; nourished from the breast, maintained; cherished; also to tend, suckle, to bring up, to cherish, to foster, to encourage, to take care of”

However, “nourished” means “fed; supplied with nutriment; caused to grow” also “to support, to maintain by feeding; to encourage, nourish the virtues, to cherish, to comfort, to educate, instruct, promote growth
    While a case could be made for both words, the rest of the text is leading more toward the Gentiles raising, education, and helping to grow in the gospel, thus, while “nursed” lends more toward health and recovery, “nourished” is more correct since it tends toward growth and development, education and knowledge.
    Therefore, Joseph Smith used the correct word once again and it was written correctly by the scribe.
    19. Covenanted. “Notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed.” (2 Nephi 1:5).
    Skousen claims the word “covenanted” is wrong here and should have been “consecrated.”
    However, Webster’s definitions shows a different meaning: “consecrated” means “Made sacred by ceremonies or solemn rites; separated from a common to a sacred use; devoted or dedicated to the service and worship of God; made venerable.”

On the other hand, “covenanted” means “pledged or promised by covenant.”
    In this case, the land was not made sacred in this statement by Lehi, for it had already been made sacred after the waters receded from the Flood (Ether 13:2), it was being pledged or promised to Lehi’s and his seed in this statement. The process between God and Lehi may have been some type of consecration, but the act itself, of which Lehi speaks, was a pledge or promise made by covenant.
    Again, Joseph Smith used the correct word and it was recorded correctly by the scribe.
    20. Thee. “I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.” (1 Nephi 7:17)
    Skousen claims that the word “thee” is incorrect and should have been “me.”
    However, Nephi’s faith was not in himself, but his faith was in the Lord, to whom he is speaking. "According to my faith which is in me" suggests that Nephi's faith is in himself--to use Skousen's usage, it would have to be "according ot my faith that is within me..." In addition, Skousen's use of just "me" would be a redundant usage of words, and does not make sense since Nephi already said his faith, so the next part of his statement is who his faith is in (not within) and his faith is not in himself, but his faith is in the Lord.
    Thus, once again, Joseph Smith chose the right word and it was recorded correctly.
    21. Son. “But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall” (3 Nephi 25:2)
    Skousen wants to change the word “Son” for the word “Sun.”
    It is interesting that nowhere in the entire Book of Mormon scriptural record does the phrase “Sun of Righteousness” appear, while “Son of Righteousness” appears three times (2 Nephi 26:9; Ether 9:22 and 3 Nephi 25:2). Not only that, but nowhere in scripture is the physical sun granted the power to heal other than through normal properties of sunlight. However, there is no question that the Son of God has the healing powers of all things and to all extent.

Christ will return to the Mount of Olives to the east of Jerusalem (Acts 1:9-12; Zechariah 14:4-5) and the final battle will center on Jerusalem (Galatians 4:24-26); “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat” (Joel 3:1-2)
    In this passage, the Lord is speaking (3 Nephi 24:6), and condemning Israel and those who have gone away from his ordinances (3 Nephi 25:7), and robbed him (3 Nephi 24:8-9), and that He will spare His own (3 Nephi 24:17), then man will discern between the righteous and the wicked (3 Nephi 24:18), and then says the day cometh that shall burn as an oven and all the proud and wicked shall be stubble (3 Nephi 25:1), “But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and he shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall”, i.e., protected.
    For Skousen to attribute this power and might to the physical sun and not the Son of God, the Son of all righteousness, is beyond comprehension.
    Joseph Smith translated the correct word and the scribe wrote down the correct word. And hopefully, Skousen will not get his way and get the word changed.
    22. Desired. “Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me; therefore, after that ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest” (3 Nephi 28:3).
    Skousen wants to change the term from the past tense into the present tense, from "desired" to "desire."
    However, while in verse 1 the Lord asks the question in the present tense “What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?” In verse 2, the disciples answer in the future tense, “We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.”
    But in verse 3, the Lord answers in the past tense, “Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me (in the future); therefore, after that ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest.”

While the disciples wanted something to take place in the future, which was the point of the Lord’s inquiry (after that I am gone to the Father), the Lord then responds in the past tense, that the disciples desired to come unto the Lord in his Kingdom after their death.
    Thus, “desired” is the correct word and Joseph transcribed in correctly and it was written down correctly.
    23. Revile. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn” (1 Nephi 22:17).
    Skousen wants to replace "revile" with "rise."
    However, "revile" means “to reproach, to censure in contempt or derision, to treat with opprobrious (disgrace) and contemptuous (proud, severe) language, to charge with a fault, while “rise” means to begin to exist, to ascend, to be elevated, to proceed, to be moved, roused, excited, kindled or inflamed; elevated, increase.
    The very nature of the statement suggests a voice that reviles against one, far more than simply a voice that rises against one.
    Again, Joseph Smith used the correct word and the scribe wrote it correctly.
(See the next post, “The Critical Text Project or Webster’s 1828 Dictionary: An Interesting Comparison-PtXI,” for more of the reader’s comments and our responses, and information about Royal Skousen’s project and Webster’s monumental dictionary)