In 1 Nephi 19:6, Nephi comments about his writing on the plates:
Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself.
Some have used this and other passages (for example, see the last sentence of the Title Page, Testimony of the Three Witnesses; Mormon 8:12-17; 9:31-34; and Ether 12:23-28). as evidence that the Book of Mormon is not always doctrinally or historically sound. Therefore, they have said it should be submitted to the test of reason. The idea seems to be that the prophets of an earlier time, being less learned than we, can be corrected when their teachings disagree with the present thinking of the learned world. A careful examination of these passages, however, shows that the writers were referring to things other than their theology.
In this case Nephi was apologizing for the fact that someone else might not think the items he selected for inclusion in the record were sacred items. He acknowledged the possibility of a better selection, but he explained that he was using the criteria of men of “old.” If his selections were improper, so were theirs. Then he apologized for suggesting that perhaps the ancients had erred. In other cases, the writers were concerned lest the reader might see the imperfections of the writers and reject the book on that account. The writers frankly confessed their weaknesses and inadequacies at times. In still other cases--probably the majority--the only concern was grammar and other technical faults. They didn’t apologize for the doctrines they taught. Also, we have the word of God in the testimony of the Three Witnesses and in D&C 17:6 that the book is true. And all the care the Lord took in producing, preserving, and translating the record is a witness of the Lord’s high regard for the Book of Mormon. Note the Lord’s warning to those who may mock what is written by these men. (See Ether 12:23-26) [Church Educational System, Book of Mormon Student Manual, Religion 121-122, 1981, pp. 51-52] [See the commentary on the Title Page, Testimony of the Three Witnesses; Mormon 8:12-17; 9:31-34; and Ether 12:23-28]