2 Nephi 10:15 Textual Variants

The 1907 LDS vest-pocket edition accidentally dropped the modal verb may. Since that edition was never used as a copy-text, this error was never transmitted into any later LDS edition.

The loss of the modal led to an awkward subjunctive construction (“that my covenants be fulfilled”). Elsewhere, whenever we have “for this cause” (or “for the very cause”), the following that-clause always takes a modal auxiliary verb:

• 1 Nephi 4:17 for this cause that I might obtain the records
• 1 Nephi 4:36 for this cause that the Jews might not know
• 1 Nephi 15:17 for the very cause that he shall be rejected
• Alma 9:25 and now for this cause that ye may not be destroyed
• Helaman 12:22 therefore for this cause that men might be saved
• 3 Nephi 21:6 for this cause … that they may repent

Note that in two instances the modal auxiliary is may, just as here in 2 Nephi 10:15.