Here is an example of the historical present-tense saith that Joseph Smith, in his editing for the 1837 edition, changed to the past-tense said in 𝓟 yet the change was never made in the 1837 edition. Joseph’s editing practice was to remove the historical present tense from the text, although in some instances he failed to make the change (as noted in the discussion regarding 3 Nephi 26:1–2). Here in 3 Nephi 27:2, modern editions have made the change to said (namely, the 1908 RLDS edition and the 1920 LDS edition). The RLDS change was likely based on the change that Joseph marked in 𝓟. The critical text (as explained under 1 Nephi 2:1) will restore all original instances of the historical present tense, thus “and saith unto them” here in 3 Nephi 27:2.
Summary: Restore the historical present-tense saith in 3 Nephi 27:2, the reading of the earliest textual sources.