and I do it that I [may 1ABCDEGHKPRST|might FIJLMNOQ] preserve unto myself the natural branches of the tree
Here the 1852 LDS edition accidentally replaced the modal verb may with might. The 1920 edition restored the correct reading to the LDS text; the RLDS text has maintained the
original may, as will the critical text.
There has been a considerable amount of unintended shifting between these two modal verbs elsewhere in the text, six times in the manuscripts and three times in the 1841 British edition:
- 1 Nephi 19:23 (might to may, Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓞)
- but that I [may > might 0|might 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer
- Alma 20:24 (may to might, 1841 edition)
- and also that Lamoni [may 1ABCEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST|might D] retain his kingdom
- Alma 22:15 (may to might, 1841 edition)
- yea I will forsake my kingdom that I [may 1ABCEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST|might D] receive this great joy
- Alma 38:9 (might to may, Oliver Cowdery’s error in copying from 𝓞 into 𝓟)
- and now my son I have told you this that ye [might 0|may 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] learn wisdom
- Alma 52:19 (might to may, Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓞)
- that they [may > NULL 0| 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] might gain advantage over them
- Alma 56:43 (may to might, Oliver Cowdery’s error in copying from 𝓞 into 𝓟)
- behold we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them that they [may 0|might 1ABCDEFGIJLMNOPQRST|should HK] catch us in their
snare
- Alma 58:19 (might to may, Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓞)
- for they were exceedingly desirous to overtake us that they [may > might 0|might 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] slay us
- Helaman 3:11 (might to may, 1841 edition)
- and thus they did enable the people in the land northward that they [might 01ABCEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST|may D] build many cities
- 3 Nephi 27:14 (might to may, initial error by scribe 2 of 𝓟)
- and my Father sent me that I [may > might 1|might ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] be lifted up upon the cross
In six cases, Joseph Smith edited might to may, apparently in order to avoid the conditional sense that might has taken on in English:
- 1 Nephi 3:19
- that we [might 0A|might >js may 1|may BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] preserve unto our children the language of our fathers
- 2 Nephi 2:26
- that he [might >js may 1|might A|may BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] redeem the children of men from the fall
- Alma 13:26
- that the words of our fathers [might >js may 1|might A|may BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] be fulfilled
- Alma 17:26
- that they [might >js may 1|might A|may BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] have water
- Alma 22:7
- that they [might >js may 1|might A|may BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] assemble themselves together to worship him
- Alma 34:17
- that ye [might 0A|might >js may 1|may BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] begin to exercise your faith unto repentance
In each case, we let the earliest textual sources determine which modal is correct. For further discussion, see under modals in volume 3.
