How could Joseph Smith consistently describe going “up” while moving toward Jerusalem, and going “down” while moving away from Jerusalem (exactly as the Hebrews and Egyptians did)?

If Joseph Smith was dictating the Book of Mormon on the fly we would expect some inconsistencies in the storyline or in the finer details. 

Amazingly, Joseph mentions 26 journeys to and from Jerusalem in 1 Nephi and is consistent in the usage of “up” and “down” each time. Evidence Central lists the 26 consistent instances of going “up” to Jerusalem, and going “down” when moving away:

1. “he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea” (1 Nephi 2:5)
2. “seek the records, and bring them down hither into the wilderness” (1 Nephi 3:4)
3. “I, Nephi, and my brethren took our journey … to go up to the land of Jerusalem” (1 Nephi 3:9)
4. “we had gone up to the land of Jerusalem” (1 Nephi 3:10)
5. “we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness” (1 Nephi 3:15)
6. “let us go down to the land of our father’s inheritance” (1 Nephi 3:16)
7. “we went down to the land of our inheritance” (1 Nephi 3:22)
8. “we went up again unto the house of Laban” (1 Nephi 3:23)
9. “Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again” (1 Nephi 3:29)
10. “Let us go up again unto Jerusalem” (1 Nephi 4:1)
11. “Therefore let us go up [to Jerusalem]” (1 Nephi 4:2)
12. “Let us go up [to Jerusalem]” (1 Nephi 4:3)
13. “they did follow me up until we came without the walls of Jerusalem” (1 Nephi 4:4)
14. “if he would go down in the wilderness with us” (1 Nephi 4:33)
15. “if thou wilt go down into the wilderness to my father” (1 Nephi 4:34)
16. “he promised that he would go down into the wilderness unto our father” (1 Nephi 4:35)
17. “we had come down into the wilderness unto our father” (1 Nephi 5:1)
18. “bring them down again unto us in the wilderness” (1 Nephi 5:5)
19. “we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem” (1 Nephi 5:6)
20. “bring down Ishmael and his family into the wilderness” (1 Nephi 7:2)
21. “I, Nephi, did again … go up to Jerusalem” (1 Nephi 7:3)
22. “we went up unto the house of Ishmael” (1 Nephi 7:4)
23. “they took their journey with us down into the wilderness” (1 Nephi 7:5)
24. “if ye have choice, go up to the land [of Jerusalem]” (1 Nephi 7:15)
25. “we did come down unto the tent of our father” (1 Nephi 7:22)
26. “I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down unto the tent (1 Nephi 7:22)

What are the odds that Joseph wouldn’t slip up once during dictation? Why are there no signs in the manuscript that he corrected himself? 

See:

• Evidence Central – Book of Mormon Evidence: Jerusalem’s Elevation

© 2025 Showyourshelf.com

Show Your Shelf is not in any way sponsored or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For official information from the Church please see churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org