Alma 14:10 Textual Variants

and it came to pass that when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children which were consuming in the fire he [was also 1ABCDEGHKPS|also was FIJLMNOQRT] pained

Here the 1852 LDS edition accidentally switched the order of “was also” to “also was”. Elsewhere in the original text, when there is a following past participle (acting either verbally or adjectivally), there are ten occurrences of “was also” and two of “also was”, so either order is possible, as in the following pair of contrasting examples:

Mosiah 8:8
- having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men and of beasts etc. and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind
Alma 19:14
- and he [also was 01|was also ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] overpowered with joy

Interestingly, in the second example the 1830 typesetter accidentally switched the order from “also was” to “was also”. The critical text will restore the original word order: namely, “was also” in Alma 14:10 and “also was” in Alma 19:14. For a more general discussion regarding the placement of also in verb phrases, see under 2 Nephi 21:13.

Summary: Restore the original order “was also” in Alma 14:10; this order is the dominant order, although the order “also was” also occurs.

Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon, Part. 3

References