The KJV of the Holy Bible

[GavelofGod]

I've been studying Mormonism of late and have talked with a small amount of mormons. When I ask "To what extent do you believe in the KJV of the Bible?" I have not received the same answers.

Some say that they believe EVERYTHING that is said in the Bible is true, but the scripture is merely incomplete so all that has been done is merely new revelations added but nothing has been taken away.

Most have said that the Bible is misinterpreted, thus mostly true but not enough to rely 100% upon. Joseph Smith correctly translated the Bible and thus, although the KJV is mostly accurate, it is, in it of itself, unreliable

One mormon told me that the KJV shouldn't even be considered scripture since he believed that it is not the Word of God but misinterpreted and that Joseph Smith's translation is the only one to be relied upon.

These are the only views that I have read about and heard from, if there are more let me know, but I am interested in the actual mormon doctrine and what the top leaders say about the KJV of the Bible and if it is truth or fallicy.

And if you believe it to be 100% truth, then what would you say if I could find a contradiction between the KJV and a mormon scripture?

[John Powell]

GAVELOFGOD:
I've been studying Mormonism of late and have talked with a small amount of mormons. When I ask "To what extent do you believe in the KJV of the Bible?" I have not received the same answers.

Some say that they believe EVERYTHING that is said in the Bible is true, but the scripture is merely incomplete so all that has been done is merely new revelations added but nothing has been taken away.

Most have said that the Bible is misinterpreted, thus mostly true but not enough to rely 100% upon. Joseph Smith correctly translated the Bible and thus, although the KJV is mostly accurate, it is, in it of itself, unreliable

One mormon told me that the KJV shouldn't even be considered scripture since he believed that it is not the Word of God but misinterpreted and that Joseph Smith's translation is the only one to be relied upon.

These are the only views that I have read about and heard from, if there are more let me know, but I am interested in the actual mormon doctrine and what the top leaders say about the KJV of the Bible and if it is truth or fallicy.


JOHN MORMON (My former believing self):
Official Mormon doctrine on this issue is contained in The Articles of Faith written by Joseph Smith.

http://scriptures.lds.org/a_of_f/1

Articles of Faith
8 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.


POWELL (My current atheist self):
What this means in practice is that Mormons are more willing to allow for errors in the Bible than Biblical inerrantists are. If a Mormon can harmonize the Biblical problem without too much difficulty, she will do so. But if that's too hard she will fall back to the position that it's a mistranslation or a scribal error.

GAVELOFGOD:
And if you believe it to be 100% truth, then what would you say if I could find a contradiction between the KJV and a mormon scripture?


JOHN MORMON (My former believing self):
Then either the Bible or the Mormon scripture or both are false. That's a big IF, however. Is there a particular pair of passages you're thinking of?

POWELL (My current atheist self):
If I can't find two Biblical scriptures that you'll agree contradict, GavelofGod, such as the two accounts of the death of Judas, then why do imagine Mormons will agree with you that any two Mormon / Biblical passages contradict?

John Powell
A former believer in Mormonism.
Now, an athe-ist a strong atheist.

[Ric]

I've been studying Mormonism of late and have talked with a small amount of mormons. When I ask "To what extent do you believe in the KJV of the Bible?" I have not received the same answers.

Some say that they believe EVERYTHING that is said in the Bible is true, but the scripture is merely incomplete so all that has been done is merely new revelations added but nothing has been taken away.

Most have said that the Bible is misinterpreted, thus mostly true but not enough to rely 100% upon. Joseph Smith correctly translated the Bible and thus, although the KJV is mostly accurate, it is, in it of itself, unreliable

One mormon told me that the KJV shouldn't even be considered scripture since he believed that it is not the Word of God but misinterpreted and that Joseph Smith's translation is the only one to be relied upon.

These are the only views that I have read about and heard from, if there are more let me know, but I am interested in the actual mormon doctrine and what the top leaders say about the KJV of the Bible and if it is truth or fallicy.

And if you believe it to be 100% truth, then what would you say if I could find a contradiction between the KJV and a mormon scripture?


They must think the Bible is reliable in some way for they give out free Bibles which are the KJV. http://www.mormon.org/freeoffers/0,17785,3708-1-2-USA,00.html

[just Johnna]

...And if you believe it to be 100% truth, then what would you say if I could find a contradiction between the KJV and a mormon scripture?

Do you mean a contradiction between the Bible and my beliefs and practice? I'm curious to know what that might be.

Just Johnna

[Amazing Rando]

Do you mean a contradiction between the Bible and my beliefs and practice? I'm curious to know what that might be.

Just Johnna

I must confess that I know almost nothing about the Book of Mormon. But I think he's referring to places in which the BoM contradicts what the bible has to say. In LDS doctrine, which takes priority?

[just Johnna]

I must confess that I know almost nothing about the Book of Mormon. But I think he's referring to places in which the BoM contradicts what the bible has to say. In LDS doctrine, which takes priority?

It's not an absolute priority situation, but if I have to chose I'd say confirmation by the Holy Spirit. Freedom of conscience is very important. But as a practical matter, it wouldn't contradict the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or generally received counsel from priesthood leaders.
There's a breadth to how saints negotiate that.


Just Johnna

[freelight]

I've been studying Mormonism of late and have talked with a small amount of mormons. When I ask "To what extent do you believe in the KJV of the Bible?" I have not received the same answers.

Some say that they believe EVERYTHING that is said in the Bible is true, but the scripture is merely incomplete so all that has been done is merely new revelations added but nothing has been taken away.

Most have said that the Bible is misinterpreted, thus mostly true but not enough to rely 100% upon. Joseph Smith correctly translated the Bible and thus, although the KJV is mostly accurate, it is, in it of itself, unreliable

One mormon told me that the KJV shouldn't even be considered scripture since he believed that it is not the Word of God but misinterpreted and that Joseph Smith's translation is the only one to be relied upon.

These are the only views that I have read about and heard from, if there are more let me know, but I am interested in the actual mormon doctrine and what the top leaders say about the KJV of the Bible and if it is truth or fallicy.

And if you believe it to be 100% truth, then what would you say if I could find a contradiction between the KJV and a mormon scripture?

Greetings Gavel,

In the original 13 articles of faith.....it said (paraphrase) 'We believe the Bible to the word of God. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God....' - the 'as far as it is translated correctly' was inserted at a later period.

The KJV is standardly accepted as the best Bible version traditionally among the lds. The 'inspired version' of JS is not much different than the KJV except for a few phrasal alterations, additions of words, sentence structure (in a few instances where JS deemed them necessary) and most notably where he inserted several passages(in Genesis) about himself being a latter day prophet who would come in the last day by the name of 'Joseph'. So....JS's 'inspired version' was self-inspired indeed.

I think the RLDS have the copyrights to the 'inspired version' and/or for some other reasons....the lds church hasnt officially adopted the 'inspired version' as its primary bible. Go figure.

I personally use a Thomas Nelson center column giant print NKJV. I might add that the KJV was used in much of the production of the BoM ....some passages being copied near verbatim. In a recent study of mine...."Jesus in the BoM" I have been comparing Jesus teaching there with his teachings in the NT. Very interesting.


paul