Plain and Precious Things Lost: The Small Plates of Nephi

The failure of the Book of Mormon prophets to exhibit consistent degrees of doctrinal and prophetic understanding may cause some readers to question the credibility of the text. Upon observing doctrinal and prophetic variation within the Book of Mormon, some dismiss the book's divinity. Conversely, others deny inconsistencies exist at all and attempt to interpret passages to support the book's unchanging truth, defending its authenticity. Through examining the text of the Book of Mormon, Roesler intends to establish that scriptural texts can indeed exhibit variation in spiritual understanding and second, that such variation does not devalue sacred texts but can rather be insightful and, in the case of the Book of Mormon, align with and enrich the narrative.