Alma 32:5 Textual Variants

Originally, we have a resultive that-clause here; in other words, the original text is equivalent to “they have cast us out with the result that we have no place to worship our God”. The 1837 edition substituted and for that, perhaps accidentally. One could argue that the resultive nature of the following clause can still be deduced from the context.

It is possible that Joseph Smith actually dictated some other word(s) before the that, such as insomuch or simply so. Nonetheless, there are examples in the current text where the resultive that stands alone:

• Mosiah 5:2
  • and also we know of their surety and truth because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent which hath wrought a mighty change in us or in our hearts that we have no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually
• Alma 24:15
  • let us hide them away that they may be kept bright
• Alma 24:16
  • yea even we will bury them deep in the earth that they may be kept bright
• Alma 44:5
  • and now Zerahemnah I command you in the name of that all-powerful God who hath strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you

So the resultive that originally in Alma 32:5 is consistent with other usage in the text and should be restored. If so, the earlier comma should be restored in the LDS text, replacing the semicolon dating from the 1905 LDS edition.