Correcting errors and omissions

[Note: this is a slightly edited version of a post on another blog:

https://www.ldshistoricalnarratives.com/2025/10/making-adjustments-and-improvements.html]

The easiest (and most academically honest) way to correct the errors that have "crept in" because scholars have sought to promote M2C and SITH would be to revise/edit the various materials that have been published to promote M2C and SITH.

This would promote the values of clarity, charity and understanding, and would lead to "no more contention" because once people have access to all the facts, they can apply the FAITH model and separate facts from the assumptions, inferences, and theories that lead to the various hypotheses, including M2C and SITH. The FAITH model provides transparency for both scholars and their students (and anyone else interested), empowering people to make informed decisions. But the first element is facts, and at present, many Latter-day Saints do not have access to all the relevant facts.

Now the Church has shown the way. I encourage all LDS scholars to carefully review their publications and consider ways to correct errors and omissions.

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The Church announced adjustments and improvements to the scripture study aids.

Minor Adjustments Made to Select Study Helps in Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Mormon

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/minor-adjustments-to-select-study-helps-in-doctrine-and-covenants-and-book-of-mormon-announced

“These adjustments bring the section introductions in line with what we have learned from more than twenty years of careful study of Joseph Smith’s documents. The minor changes to dates and places reflect the careful attention with which we believe this remarkable legacy of divine revelation ought to be treated,” Elder Kyle S. McKay, General Authority Seventy and Church Historian, said. “We hope the contextual additions help readers better understand why and how the Lord communicated with the Church through His Prophet.”

It is wonderful to see such adjustments, improvements and clarifications.

This is good precedent for making similar improvements to correct errors in the commentary in: 

- the Joseph Smith Papers

- the Gospel Topics Essays

- the Saints books

- curriculum, and 

- Church websites.

- All the M2C and SITH materials published by LDS scholars, including Opening the Heavens. 

We have noted many such improvements on this blog.

The announcement explains how the adjustments are being rolled out:

The adjustments are available now on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and the Gospel Library

mobile app for most languages, with additional languages to follow.

Printed copies will begin reflecting these adjustments in the coming months.

Members are not expected to obtain new scriptures as a result of these updates.

This is the model that could (and should) be followed to make adjustments, improvements and corrections.

Let's hope that happens!