I have completed uploading and annotating the first 11 chapters of 2 Nephi. Since I do not plan on rendering the Isaiah chapters in plain English, the next batch will consist of 2 Nephi 25-33. That might not happen for a while, however, as I have other projects to work on for a while. In the meantime, feel free to add your contributions to the wiki project. I will be monitoring it during my hiatus.

The use of the word “church” in the Book of Mormon is a bit anachronistic. The word does not appear in the Old Testament, but (in most cases) its use in the Book of Mormon is either in the context of a prophecy, or in reference to a proto-Christian religious organization. Neither need be linked to an Old Testament concept. In one case, however (1 Nephi 4:26), Nephi uses the word to refer to a presumably religious body of which Laban might have been an “elder.” For purposes of my Plain English project, I render that usage of “church” as “congregation,” the most relevant KJV term I could identify.

One challenge in producing a plain-English version of the Book of Mormon is dealing with terms that are both nonstandard and ambiguous. One such term is “seed,” which, with a few obvious exceptions, means “progeny” throughout 1 Nephi, not “the ripened ovule of a plant”. That usage of “seed” is largely absent from modern English, but substituting “progeny”—which remains in current use—hardly advances the cause of plain English. Furthermore, investigating the definitions of “progeny” yields yet more ambiguity. According to Websters, it can refer to either biological descendants or to “a body of followers, disciples, or successors.”

The former definition of “progeny,” which seems consistent with Lehi and Nephi’s own interpretation, would imply—as was generally believed by Mormons for over 100 years—that the Native Americans found in the New World by Europeans were literal descendants of Nephi’s brothers. The fluid definitions of “Nephite” and “Lamanite” later in the book, however, make it impossible to identify the biological heritage of those surviving the final battle. Furthermore, DNA evidence has failed to link any present-day Native Americans to Lehi. Hence, the latter definition of “progeny” seems more appropriate. Of the three possible synonyms, “followers” and “disciples” both imply a particular ideology, but none is consistently maintained by either group throughout the book. Thus, “successors” seems the most appropriate interpretation, and that only in nominal, not legal, form.

Back in 2005, when President Hinckley issued his challenge to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, there was some discussion in the Bloggernacle about whether a version of the Book of Mormon existed in plain English. Well it turns out that versions do exist, but I undertook to create a new one, mostly for my own edification. The exercise requires one to consider the ramifications of every word and punctuation mark, and I have learned a great deal in the process.

But it is also exceedingly slow, and I do have other projects to work on. It took me over a year to finish 1 Nephi. (2007 was mostly spent polishing it, but I have since moved on through 2 Nephi 6). Since we are studying the Book of Mormon in Sunday School this year, I thought it might be helpful to share what I have so far. KC’s website seemed like a compatible venue, and he has kindly agreed to host it.