Godhead - The CES Letter: A Closer Look

Trinitarian View (Continued)

CES Letter Core Question

The CES Letter lists four verses in the Book of Mormon that were modified to better show a non-trinitarian view. Is this evidence that it originally contained a trinitarian view?

Click to Read the Original CES Letter Claim

ORIGINAL 1830 EDITION TEXT View Online	CURRENT, ALTERED TEXT View Online
1 NEPHI 3 (P.25) And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin whom thou seest, is the mother of God, after the manner of the flesh.	1 NEPHI 11:18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is *the mother of the Son of* God**, after the manner of the flesh.
1 NEPHI 3 (P.25) And the angel said unto me, behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Eternal Father!	1 NEPHI 11:21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father
1 NEPHI 3 (P.26) And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Everlasting God, was judged of the world;	1 NEPHI 11:32 And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world;
1 NEPHI 3 (P.32) These last records...shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world;	1 NEPHI 13:40 These last records...shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world;

Joseph Smith’s teachings have consistently reflected a Godhead that is one in purpose, not one in body. They may each be referred to as “God” and their united purpose allows them to be collectively referred to as “one God” without meaning one entity or personage.

Christ is “God,” but He is also the “Son of God.” These additions were made by Joseph Smith in the 1837 publication of the Book of Mormon to add clarity, not to change meaning.

The addition of "the Son of" to four passages in 1 Nephi does not change the Book of Mormon's teaching that Jesus Christ is the God of Old Testament Israel. This concept is taught in more than a dozen other passages whose readings remain unchanged from the original manuscripts. See 1 Nephi 19:10, Mosiah 7:27, Mosiah 16:15, Alma 11:38-39, 2 Nephi 25:12; Mosiah 3:8; Mosiah 13:28,33-34; Mosiah 15:1; Helaman 8:22-23; Helaman 14:12; Helaman 16:18; 3 Nephi 11:10,14; Mormon 9:12;Ether 3:14; Ether 4:7; Ether 4:12.

It is possible that "the Son of" was introduced into 1 Nephi 11:18 as a response to Alexander Campbell’s criticism regarding the Catholic-sounding phrase "the mother of God" in that verse.

The terms "God," "Everlasting God," and "Eternal Father" are ambiguous since they could properly refer to either the Father or the Son. For example, "Eternal Father" refers to God the Father in Moroni 4:3, Moroni 5:2, and Moroni 10:4, but to God the Son in Mosiah 16:15 and Alma 11:38-39.

There is no unambiguous statement from Joseph Smith stating that he believed in the Trinity as described in Christian dogma in 1829 or at any time thereafter.

Additional resources:

The Doctrine of God the Father in the Book of Mormon by Andrew C. Skinner

The Mormon Concept of God: A Philosophical Analysis – by Blake T. Ostler

The Development of the Mormon Understanding of God: Early Mormon Modalism and Other Myths – by Ari D. Bruening, David L. Paulsen

The “Jevhoah” Doctrine (Part 1) by Elden J. Watson

FairMormon: Did Joseph began his prophetic career with a "trinitarian" idea of God?