Correctness need not refer to the translation, the grammar, or the spelling, only to the content, notably the doctrine (why didn't Joseph say this if that is what he really meant?). No one language can adequately express all the nuances intended by the original. Anyone who knows a foreign language can attest that there is no one-to-one correspondence between words in two different languages (TRUE!  So why not cut the Bible the same slack instead of saying that it has lost "many plain and precious truths" due to translation?  Especially since you never actually cite any verses you object to...). For example, the Hebrew word meaning "to sit" also means "to dwell." Seeing this word in a Hebrew text, a translator would have to decide which of the two English verbs to use in his English language version. In 1 Nephi 1:6, we read that "there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him." In this case, Joseph Smith used the word "dwelt" where another translator might have preferred "sat." (Wait a minute, I thought the plates were written in "reformed Egyptian" hieroglyphics.  What does Hebrew have to do with anything?)

Since Joseph later made corrections to the text of the Book of Mormon, on both copies of the manuscript (the original and the copy prepared for the printer) and in later editions, it seems clear that he did not consider the book to be an infallible translation. The Book of Mormon itself indicates that it may contain errors made by the men who wrote it (Title Page; 1 Nephi 19:6; Jacob 1:2; 7:26; Mormon 8:1, 17; 9:31-33; 3 Nephi 8:2; Ether 5:1) (What if those verses contain errors?  A work that declares that it may contain errors becomes self-defeating). Since Joseph Smith must have known about these statements, his declaration of correctness could not have meant that the book had no failings whatsoever.¹ A closer examination of his declaration supports this idea:

"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." (History of the Church 4:461)

Since the context of the prophet's remarks was "abiding by [the] precepts" found in the Book of Mormon, it is clear that he was speaking about its teachings rather than its language or history.²

“I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man.”

David Whitmer (A witness to the gold plates)

An Address to All Believers in Christ

p.12

Elder Edward Stevenson: "Martin Harris related an instance that occurred during the time that he wrote that portion of the translation of the Book of Mormon, which he was favored to write direct from the mouth of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He said that the Prophet possessed a seer stone, by which he was enabled to translate as well as from the Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone. Martin explained the translation as follows: By aid of the seer stone, sentences would appear and were read by the prophet and written by Martin, and when finished he would say, 'Written,' and if correctly written, that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place, but if not written correctly it remained until corrected, so that the translation was just as it was engraven on the plates, precisely in the language then used.”

Myth of Manuscript Found

p. 91, 1883 edition

Martin Harris, a witness to the gold plates

But at the outset it must be recollected that the translation was accomplished by no common method, by no ordinary means. It was done by divine aid. There were no delays over obscure passages, no difficulties over the choice of words, no stoppages from the ignorance of the translator; no time was wasted in investigation or argument over the value, intent or meaning of certain characters, and there were no references to authorities. These difficulties to human work were removed. All was as simple as when a clerk writes from dictation. The translation of the characters appeared on the Urim and Thummim, sentence by sentence, and as soon as one was correctly transcribed the next would appear.

George Reynolds

(First Council of the Seventy 1890-1909)

Myth of Manuscript Found

p. 71, 1883 edition

This makes perfect sense - it had to be translated this way - unless one studies the language there is no other way one could translate but by miraculous means.

“…we heard a voice from out of the bright light above us, saying, ‘These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God.  The translation of them which you have seen is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear.’”

History of the Church

Vol. 1, pp. 54 -55

Secondly, there were serious changes in doctrine in the years following the initial publication:

1830 Version	Current version
“The virgin which thou seest, is the mother of God…And the angel said unto me, behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Eternal Father!” Page 25	“The virgin which thou seest, is the mother of the Son of God…And the angel said unto me, behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!” I Nephi 11:18
“And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Everlasting God was judged of the world…” Page 26	“And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the Everlasting God was judged of the world…” I Nephi 11:32
“These last records…shall make known…that the lamb of God is the Eternal Father and Savior…” Page 32	“These last records…shall make known…that the lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father and Savior…” I Nephi 13:40
“…king Benjamin had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings…” Page 200 “…for this cause did king Benjamin keep them…” Page 546  Problem:  This is a chronological account and King Benjamin DIED back on page 168	…king Mosiah had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings…”  Mosiah 21:28 “…for this cause did king Mosiah keep them…” Ether 4:1