Alma 62:19 Textual Variants

Here in 𝓟, we have a momentary perseverance of the present participle knowing, prompted by the knowing in the preceding “the Lamanites knowing of their exceeding great courage”. Elsewhere the text has five passages where a conjoined present-participial clause begins with and knowing, including one where the preceding present-participial clause also begins with knowing:

• 3 Nephi 3:4
  • and I knowing of their unconquerable spirit having proved them in the field of battle and knowing of their everlasting hatred towards you because of the many wrongs which ye have done unto them therefore if they should come down against you they would visit you with utter destruction

Thus the initial text in Alma 62:19 is not impossible, which argues that Oliver Cowdery’s correction from knowing to beholding was not due to editing but was rather the result of him making sure he copied the text correctly from 𝓞 into 𝓟.