Finally Breaking Up With King James: The End Of The Church's 200 Year Monogamous Relationship With The KJV

[Shulem]

First Presidency Statement on the King James Version of the Bible

The First Presidency has released the following letter regarding the King James Version of the Bible.

Since the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has used the King James Version of the Bible for English-speaking members.

The Bible, as it has been transmitted over the centuries, has suffered the loss of many plain and precious parts. ‘We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.’ (A of F 1:8.)

Many versions of the Bible are available today. Unfortunately, no original manuscripts of any portion of the Bible are available for comparison to determine the most accurate version. However, the Lord has revealed clearly the doctrines of the gospel in these latter-days. The most reliable way to measure the accuracy of any biblical passage is not by comparing different texts, but by comparison with the Book of Mormon and modern-day revelations.

While other Bible versions may be easier to read than the King James Version, in doctrinal matters latter-day revelation supports the King James Version in preference to other English translations. All of the Presidents of the Church, beginning with the Prophet Joseph Smith, have supported the King James Version by encouraging its continued use in the Church. In light of all the above, it is the English language Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The LDS edition of the Bible (1979) contains the King James Version supplemented and clarified by footnotes, study aids, and cross-references to the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. These four books are the standard works of the Church. We encourage all members to have their own copies of the complete standard works and to use them prayerfully in regular personal and family study, and in Church meetings and assignments.

Sincerely your brethren,

Ezra Taft Benson

Gordon B. Hinckley

Thomas S. Monson

[malkie]

[messed up quotes ]

[malkie]

First Presidency Statement on the King James Version of the Bible

The First Presidency has released the following letter regarding the King James Version of the Bible.

Since the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has used the King James Version of the Bible for English-speaking members.

The Bible, as it has been transmitted over the centuries, has suffered the loss of many plain and precious parts. ‘We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.’ (A of F 1:8.)

Many versions of the Bible are available today. Unfortunately, no original manuscripts of any portion of the Bible are available for comparison to determine the most accurate version. However, the Lord has revealed clearly the doctrines of the gospel in these latter-days. The most reliable way to measure the accuracy of any biblical passage is not by comparing different texts, but by comparison with the Book of Mormon and modern-day revelations.

While other Bible versions may be easier to read than the King James Version, in doctrinal matters latter-day revelation supports the King James Version in preference to other English translations. All of the Presidents of the Church, beginning with the Prophet Joseph Smith, have supported the King James Version by encouraging its continued use in the Church. In light of all the above, it is the English language Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The LDS edition of the Bible (1979) contains the King James Version supplemented and clarified by footnotes, study aids, and cross-references to the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. These four books are the standard works of the Church. We encourage all members to have their own copies of the complete standard works and to use them prayerfully in regular personal and family study, and in Church meetings and assignments.

Sincerely your brethren,

Ezra Taft Benson

Gordon B. Hinckley

Thomas S. Monson

In other words, in 1992, the counsel was to disregard the "Inspired Version" of the Bible - Joseph Smith Translation, a.k.a. JST.

The Joseph Smith Translation (JST), also called the Inspired Version of the Holy Scriptures (IV), is a revision of the Bible by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, who said that the JST/IV was intended to restore what he described as "many important points touching the salvation of men, [that] had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled".

The Joseph Smith Translation

In 2021, the counsel was to disregard the Joseph Smith Translation.

And in 2026, the counsel is still to disregard the Joseph Smith Translation?

Poor Joseph - all that effort to restore many important points touching the salvation of men.

[Chap]

Many versions of the Bible are available today. Unfortunately, no original manuscripts of any portion of the Bible are available for comparison to determine the most accurate version. However, the Lord has revealed clearly the doctrines of the gospel in these latter-days. The most reliable way to measure the accuracy of any biblical passage is not by comparing different texts, but by comparison with the Book of Mormon and modern-day revelations.

Oh dear. so:

1. Joseph Smith based his understanding of God's Word on the King James translation. He tried (not always successfully) to make the content and wording of the Book of Mormon and of the 'revelations' he recorded appear consistent with that text.
2. Mormon prophets have adopted the same attitude in their pronouncements,

But now we are being told to settle problems about the KJV (such as its mistranslations and use of imperfect texts) on the basis that we have to interpret the KJV in the light of the Book of Mormon and the pronouncements of Mormon prophets.

Is there a fatal circularity here? Why, I think there is!

[malkie]

Many versions of the Bible are available today. Unfortunately, no original manuscripts of any portion of the Bible are available for comparison to determine the most accurate version. However, the Lord has revealed clearly the doctrines of the gospel in these latter-days. The most reliable way to measure the accuracy of any biblical passage is not by comparing different texts, but by comparison with the Book of Mormon and modern-day revelations.

Oh dear. so:

1. Joseph Smith based his understanding of God's Word on the King James translation. He tried (not always successfully) to make the content and wording of the Book of Mormon and of the 'revelations' he recorded appear consistent with that text.
2. Mormon prophets have adopted the same attitude in their pronouncements,

But now we are being told to settle problems about the KJV (such as its mistranslations and use of imperfect texts) on the basis that we have to interpret the KJV in the light of the Book of Mormon and the pronouncements of Mormon prophets.

Is there a fatal circularity here? Why, I think there is!

Perhaps they just don't want members to be lazy?

So, yes, it's like they are saying that it doesn't matter that the Prophet Joseph Smith put all of this time and effort, from his all-too-short life, into "improving" the KJV for you: we recommend that you try to figure it out for yourself, thereby making it almost certain that there will be multiple interpretations generated in areas that Joseph had already resolved.

[Dr. Sunstoned]

In other words, in 1992, the counsel was to disregard the "Inspired Version" of the Bible - Joseph Smith Translation, a.k.a. JST.

The Joseph Smith Translation (JST), also called the Inspired Version of the Holy Scriptures (IV), is a revision of the Bible by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, who said that the JST/IV was intended to restore what he described as "many important points touching the salvation of men, [that] had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled".

The Joseph Smith Translation

In 2021, the counsel was to disregard the Joseph Smith Translation.

And in 2026, the counsel is still to disregard the Joseph Smith Translation?

Poor Joseph - all that effort to restore many important points touching the salvation of men.

Poor Joseph indeed. His plagiarism of Adam Clarke's Bible commentary is not standing up to scrutiny. Just more evidence of his motivation to deceive.

[Brack]

Examples of translations that are published or preferred for use by the Church can be found under the Holy Bible in the Scriptures section of the Gospel Library.

By reading level, these translations are:

Ninth through 11th grades
English Standard Version (ESV)
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Sixth through eighth grades
New International Version (NIV)
New Living Translation (NLT)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Third grade
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
The handbook says, “When members encounter doctrinal discrepancies between Bible translations, they should refer to the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price and teachings of latter-day prophets.”

“As Latter-day Saints, we can confidently gain insights from multiple translations, in part because ‘we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God’ (Articles of Faith 1:8),” Elder Renlund said. “Latter-day scripture, including the teachings of living prophets, is a good standard for evaluating any doctrinal discrepancies that might come up in different Bible translations.”

Why isn't the NASB translation on that list??

The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is a smooth reading literal English Bible translation, which provides increased clarity and readability for greater understanding while maintaining superior accuracy to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Trust, discover, and grow in your faith with the NASB today. Amazon

The NASB relies on recently published critical editions of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. It is known for preferring a literal translation style that generally preserves the structure of the original language when possible (formal equivalence), rather than an idiomatic style that attempts to match natural English usage.[4] Wikipedia

[Shulem]

Oh dear. so:

1. Joseph Smith based his understanding of God's Word on the King James translation. He tried (not always successfully) to make the content and wording of the Book of Mormon and of the 'revelations' he recorded appear consistent with that text.
2. Mormon prophets have adopted the same attitude in their pronouncements,

But now we are being told to settle problems about the KJV (such as its mistranslations and use of imperfect texts) on the basis that we have to interpret the KJV in the light of the Book of Mormon and the pronouncements of Mormon prophets.

Is there a fatal circularity here? Why, I think there is!

My dear Chap,

It's worse than you think, much worse. Please permit me to snip a post from the Celestial forum that failed to receive any attention but perhaps may get some down here.

Before moving forward, I would like to take a moment to highlight my favorite KJV interpretation that carried over into Smith’s Book of Mormon, compliments of the brass plates and inspiration of the Spi®it which I find to be a little spooky at times -- seer stones, rocks, hats, spectacles, treasures, swords, etc.

Wild Beasts of the Islands and Dragons (KJV Isaiah 13:22)

Smith copied errors from the KJV and pasted them into his Book of Mormon manuscript -- CUT & PASTE! Although he claimed to translate ancient history from plates that were said to contain the very writings of Isaiah, whole chapters of KJV Isaiah were copied into the Mormon manuscript when the only thing that should have been translated is genuine original content from Mormon’s gold plates via Laban’s brass plates. Nephite historians could have only given a genuine version (140 years old at the time of Lehi) of Isaiah but Joseph Smith ignorantly gave us the English version of 1611 AD. There are no excuses for that! None! I don’t care what apologists say; it’s just wrong, wrong, wrong. I so testify:

Compare the Book of Mormon to modern various versions that reflect accuracy from the Bible and it becomes glaringly obvious that Smith was in fact guilty of cutting and pasting Isaiah from the KJV into his own manuscript.

And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in [their] pleasant palaces: and her time [is] near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces; and her time is near to come, and her day shall not be prolonged.

Modern biblical versions show a marked difference between the KJV/Book of Mormon and what Isaiah originally wrote. Note that there are no beasts living on coastal islands and no dragons either. Those things are Book of Mormon fiction taken from KJV errors.

• Hyenas will howl in its fortresses, and jackals will make their dens in its palaces. Babylon's days are numbered; its time of destruction will soon arrive.

• Hyenas will howl in her strongholds, jackals in her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.

• Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged.

Adam Clarke did not provide an easy answer in which Smith might have taken to correct a KJV gaffe that everyone originally assumed was on the gold plates and neither did he correct desolate to pleasant. Joseph Smith goofed up by copying from the KJV!

Verse 22

Verse Isaiah 13:22. In their pleasant palaces - "In their palaces"] באלמנותיו bealmenothaiv; a plain mistake, I presume, for בארמנתיו bearmenothaiv. It is so corrected in two MSS., the Syriac, Chaldee, and Vulgate.

Πουλυποδες δ' εν εμοι θαλαμας φωκαι τε μελαιναι

Οικα ποιησονται ακηδεα, χητεΐ λαων.

[Fence Sitter]

In other words, in 1992, the counsel was to disregard the "Inspired Version" of the Bible - Joseph Smith Translation, a.k.a. JST.

In 2021, the counsel was to disregard the Joseph Smith Translation.

And in 2026, the counsel is still to disregard the Joseph Smith Translation?

Poor Joseph - all that effort to restore many important points touching the salvation of men.

It has been my understanding that because the translation was never published by Joseph Smith, was never assembled into a finalized form, and because the extant translation manuscripts—as well as the Phinney Bible used in the translation—were, until recently, in the possession of the Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS Church), the Salt Lake–based church declined to publish or fully use it. That situation has now changed. Salt Lake is in possession of all known translation manuscripts, as well as the Phinney Bible used by Smith and Rigdon (valued at a cool $20,000,000), following the recent $195.2 million transaction with the Community of Christ. Given that the church is led by a living prophet, I would expect them to complete the translation and publish it as the definitive version of the Bible..

[malkie]

In other words, in 1992, the counsel was to disregard the "Inspired Version" of the Bible - Joseph Smith Translation, a.k.a. JST.

In 2021, the counsel was to disregard the Joseph Smith Translation.

And in 2026, the counsel is still to disregard the Joseph Smith Translation?

Poor Joseph - all that effort to restore many important points touching the salvation of men.

It has been my understanding that because the translation was never published by Joseph Smith, was never assembled into a finalized form, and because the extant translation manuscripts—as well as the Phinney Bible used in the translation—were, until recently, in the possession of the Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS Church), the Salt Lake–based church declined to publish or fully use it. That situation has now changed. Salt Lake is in possession of all known translation manuscripts, as well as the Phinney Bible used by Smith and Rigdon (valued at a cool $20,000,000), following the recent $195.2 million transaction with the Community of Christ. Given that the church is led by a living prophet, I would expect them to complete the translation and publish it as the definitive version of the Bible..

I love your sense of humour - or should I say sense of the ridiculous?