Here the typesetter for the 1841 British edition accidentally omitted the subordinate conjunction that. The 1849 LDS edition restored the that. Elsewhere the text consistently
uses the subordinate conjunction that in introducing finite clauses complementing an expletive it in a wh-question:
- 1 Nephi 7:8 and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts
- 1 Nephi 7:9 how is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord
- 1 Nephi 7:10 how is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord
- 1 Nephi 7:11 yea and how is it that ye have forgotten how great things the Lord hath done for us
- 1 Nephi 7:12 yea and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things
- 1 Nephi 15:10 how is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord
- 1 Nephi 15:10 how is it that ye will perish because of the hardness of your hearts 1 Nephi 17:46 O then why is it that ye can be so hard in your hearts
- 1 Nephi 17:51 how is it that he cannot instruct me that I should build a ship
- Alma 18:17 what is it that thy marvelings are so great
- Mormon 6:19 how is it that ye could have fallen
- Moroni 7:40 how is it that ye can attain unto faith save ye shall have hope
The critical text will maintain the occurrence of that here in 3 Nephi 27:4.
