In section XV of the 1833 A Book of Commandments, we read the following in v. 3:
Wherefore you know that they are true; and if you know that they are true, behold I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written; for in them are all things written, concerning my church, my gospel, and my rock.
In D&C 18:3-4, we read the following (emphasis added):
And if you know that they are true, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the thing which are written. For in them are all things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock.
Writing about this change, David Whitmer wrote the following in 1887:
The next important change I will speak of, is made in a revelation which was given to Brothers Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and myself in Fayette, New York, June, 1829. I was present when Brother Joseph received it through the stone. It is Chapter 15 Book of Commandments, Sec. 16 Doctrine and Convenants. In the Book of Commandments it reads thus:
"Behold I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written; for in them are all things written, concerning my church, my gospel, and my rock. Wherefore if you shall build up my church, and my gospel, and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you."
But in the Book of Doctrine and Convenants it has been changed and reads thus: "Behold I give unto you a commandment, that you rely "upon the things which are written; for in them are all things written, concerning `the foundation of' my church, my gospel, and my rock; wherefore, if you shall build up my church `upon the foundation of' my gospel and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you."
The change in this revelation is of great importance; the word "them" refers to the plates--the Book of Mormon: We were commanded to rely upon it in building up the church; that is, in establishing the doctrine, the order of offices, etc.: "FOR IN THEM ARE ALL THINGS WRITTEN CONCERNING MY CHURCH, my gospel, and my rock." But this revelation has been changed by man to mean as follows: That therein is not all things written concerning the church, but only all things concerning "the foundation of" the church--or the beginning of the church: that you must build up the church, beginning according to the written word, and add new offices, new ordinances, and new doctrines as I (the Lord) reveal them to you from year to year: As a Seer to the Church; High Priests; Three of the First Presidency; Baptism for the Dead; Polygamy, etc., etc. When the Book of Doctrine and Convenants was compiled in 1834, the church had then received many revelations to establish new offices and doctrines that are not even mentioned in the New Convenant of either of the two sacred books. They changed this revelation in order to sustain these new doctrines: If they had not made this change, the plain language of the original revelation would have condemned the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. I want to repeat that I was present when Brother Joseph received this revelation through the stone: I am one of the persons to whom it was given, therefore I know of a surety that it was changed when printed in the Doctrine and Convenants in 1834. Likewise concerning all these changes of which I will speak, I know that these changes were made. I was present when nearly all the early revelations were received. There are several of the old Books of Commandments yet in the land; bring them to light and see for yourselves that these revelations were changed just as I tell you.
These changes were made by the leaders of the church, who had drifted into error and spiritual blindness. Through the influence of Sydney Rigdon, Brother Joseph was led on and on into receiving revelations every year, to establish offices and doctrines which are not even mentioned in the teachings of Christ in the written word. In a few years they had gone away ahead of the written word, so that they had to change these revelations, as you will understand when I have finished. (David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ by a witness to the Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon [Richmond, Miss: Self-Published, 1887], 58-59, emphasis in original)
There are a couple of problems with Whitmer's claims that such a change is problematic.
Firstly, the "them" could refer, not only just to the Book of Mormon, but the revelations that were received up to this point. Indeed, Oliver Cowdery was involved in the reception and recording of the early revelations, especially as D&C 18:2 refers to the "many" revelations, not a singular revelation (Book of Mormon):
Behold, I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances that the things which you have written are true; wherefore you know that they are true.
The use of the plural "are" would support that the Book of Mormon merely is not in view, contra Whitmer.
Secondly, Whitmer is assuming a belief in the exhaustive nature, or formal sufficiency, of Scripture (in this instance, the Book of Mormon), notwithstanding the text actually refutes such a concept. The Book of Mormon itself is explicit that it contains only the lesser things (i.e., basic teachings) in 3 Nephi 26:1-12:
And now it came to pass that when Jesus had told these things he expounded them unto the multitude; and he did expound all things unto them, both great and small. And he saith: These scriptures, which ye had not with you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you; for it was wisdom in him that they should be given unto future generations. And he did expound all things, even from the beginning until the time that he should come in his glory-- yea, even all things which should come upon the face of the earth, even until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should be wrapt together as a scroll, and the heavens and the earth should pass away; and even unto the great and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil--If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation; being on a parallel, the one on the one hand and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ, who was before the world began. And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people; But behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people. And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken. And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them. And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation. Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people. Therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord. And now I, Mormon, make an end of my sayings, and proceed to write the things which have been commanded me.
Thirdly, and related to the above, is that the revelation was received during a time of special revelation. Scripture cannot be formally sufficient, even if one holds to such a view of Scripture (when one finally has access to the totality of Scripture [tota scriptura]). For those wishing to delve into this issue, see the section, "Falling at the first hurdle: Why Sola Scriptura is an Exegetical Impossibility" on pp. 3-8 of my book, Not by Scripture Alone: A Latter-day Saint Refutation of Sola Scriptura (online version is here). Trying to read Protestantism back into Latter-day Saint epistemology and theology is going to fail, especially as the former is not only false—it falls under the divine curse of Gal 1:6-9.
Fourthly, there are many passages in the Doctrine and Covenants/1833 A Book of Commandments that explicitly teach that there would be binding, authoritative revelation/records after the Book of Mormon. For instance, in Section V verse 12 (corresponding to D&C 5:26) of the 1833 A Book of Commandments, we read the following from a revelation received April 1829:
Fourthly, there are many passages in the Doctrine and Covenants/1833 A Book of Commandments that explicitly teach that there would be binding, authoritative revelation/records after the Book of Mormon. For instance, in Section V verse 12 (corresponding to D&C 5:26) of the 1833 A Book of Commandments, we read the following from a revelation received April 1829:
Verily, verily I say unto you, that there are records which contain much of my gospel, which have been kept back because of the wickedness of the people; and now I command you, that if you have good desires, a desire to lay up treasures for yourself in heaven, then shall you assist in bringing to light, with your gift, those parts of my scriptures which have been hidden because of iniquity.
Elsewhere in his book, Whitmer raised a number of "problems" he perceived in the Church has evidence of his claims. For a volume refuting much of Whitmer's claims, both directly and indirectly, see John A. Tvedtnes, Organize my Kingdom: A History of Restored Priesthood (Bountiful, Utah: Cornerstone Publishing & Distribution, Inc., 2000)
