Aristotle Smith wrote:lulu wrote:Emma was the first scribe.
Emma admits that Joseph Smith discussed the translation of a passage regarding the walls of Jerusalem with her. This is the only direct evidence we have of anyone other than Joseph Smith having input re the Book of Mormon text. Which is not to say there is not other evidence or that others had input.
I think any discussion of who had input into the Book of Mormon text in addition to Joseph Smith needs to start with Emma. But then I'm a radical.
How much of her scribal activity remains in the current Book of Mormon? Correct me if I'm wrong, but since she is the first, that would mean that what she worked on is completely lost. In any case, I think the debate is mostly academic. Like I said in my first comment, the actual author sheds very little light on the contents in my opinion.lulu wrote:ETA Your "do over" point is interesting. Joseph Smith and Martin conspire to loose the manuscript because it was so bad and then blame it on difficult Lucy Harris?
Just to clarify, I don't think there was a conspiracy there. It was more fortuitous for Joseph.
If Emma was involved in writting the Book of Mormon it would be a big damned deal. Why weren't her extant holographs included in the Criddle study?