The current text of D&C 111:9 reads, “This place you may obtain by hire. And inquire . . .” However, a copy made between September 1836 and early 1840s in W. W. Phelps's journal reads: “This place you may obtain by hire &c . . . And inquire . . . “
Commenting on
this and other like terms in the revelation, Alan C. Miner wrote that:
The use of certain modifiers like “etc,” and “in due time.” The
“etc.,” seems out of place in a revelation from an all-knowing Lord who would
know exactly what to say. In reviewing the early revelations contained in the
Revelations Book, I found numerous instances of the symbol “&” use d for
the word “and.” The symbol “&c.” (etc.) was used, but only in descriptive
headings. The phrase “in due time” is apparently not found in the Book of
Mormon, nor in any other place in the D&C. (Bible? – CHECK) the use of the
phrase “in due time” makes the fulfillment of any promise of the revelation so
vague that some LDS authors extend the realization of what is said in this
revelation into the Millennium. In doing so they surely know that no one can
refute such an argument, no matter whether it is correct or not. This
illustrates the point that such use of an open-ended prophetic modifier such as
“in due time” can retrospectively be used to cover failure. For example, in
regards to the promises of “gold and silver” or “power over the city,” by
including the phrase “in due time,” Joseph could still validate his original
treasure-quest inspiration, even in the face of failure to recover any “gold
and silver” while there at Salem in August 1836. With the same phrase (“in due
time”) Joseph could continue to hold out the hope of someday recovering the
treasure—thus preserving his role as a prophet. It might be well to comment
here that this is the same manner of language a stone-seer directing
treasure-diggers might use. When the band of treasure-diggers failed to recover
the promised “gold & silver” at the precise spot designated, the
treasure-seer had to cover himself for what he had said & done in order to
preserve his reputation as a seer, while at the same time keeping his band of
followers’ hopes alive for future digs. In his explanation the treasure-seer
had to modify what had happened (for example they hadn’t followed correct
procedure or the guardian spirits were too strong) or postpone the recovery to
a future time (For example: the treasure had sunk back into the earth or moved
to another location). (Alan C. Miner, “Joseph’s Treasure Hunting Trip to Salem
and The Kirtland Bank Failure,” February 19, 2010, p. 264; Box 399, Folder 12, H. Michael Marquardt papers, 1800-2017, Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott
Library, University of Utah, copy in my possession)
Such issues about
the language used in prophecy can be explained through Open Theism or some
other form of “dynamic omniscience,” and not “simple foreknowledge” or other
popular models many Latter-day Saints hold to.
Further
Reading:
