Here the 1840 edition changed the singular much affliction to the plural much afflictions. The singular form was restored to the RLDS text in the 1908 RLDS edition. As explained under 1 Nephi 16:35, either reading is possible, so we follow here the reading of the earliest textual sources, namely, the singular much affliction (the reading in 𝓟). The 1840 change was probably not the result of editing on the part of Joseph Smith since three other instances of much affliction were otherwise left unchanged in the 1840 edition (see the list under 1 Nephi 16:35). Moreover, the form much afflictions would be considered the more difficult reading, although the original text allowed for the occurrence of “much ” (as discussed under Enos 1:21).
Summary: Maintain in Helaman 3:34 the singular much affliction, the reading of the earliest textual source (𝓟).