The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible

[Trout]

As most LDS folk know, Joseph Smith, claiming Divine guidance, took upon the task of correcting the Bible, the result, The Joseph Smith Translation.(JST) Yet the LDS church has never made the JST it's official translation. They continue to use the King James Version of the Bible as the officially recognized translation of the Bible.

Apostle Bruce R McConkie made the following statement:

"In consequence, at the command of the Lord and while acting under the spirit of revelation, the Prophet corrected, revised, altered, added to, and deleted from the King James Version of the Bible to form what is now commonly referred to as the Inspired Version of Bible. . . The first 151 verses of the Old Testament, down to Genesis 6:13, are published as the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price. But as restored by the Prophet the true rendition contains about 400 verses and a wealth of new doctrinal knowledge and historical data.... the marvelous flood of light and knowledge revealed through the Inspired Version of the Bible is one of the great evidences of the divine mission of Joseph Smith." (Mormon Doctrine, 1979, p. 383-84)

If indeed Joseph Smith was given this task by God, and made a great many changes and additions to the text of the Bible, why hasn't the LDS church adopted it as their official Bible?

I have a Bible published by the LDS church, and it has the text of the King James version, but in an appendix at the back of the book I find the JST. Why would the LDS church continue to use a corrupted version of the Bible when they have a corrected version?

[Xmansmommy]

Trout, as far as my memory serves, I believe the JST was never finished b/c he was killed before he could finish the work...but I could be wrong.

[Bill the Cat]

The LDS members believe the JST is a paraphrase, in the fashion of "The Message."

[John Powell]

TROUT:
Why would the LDS church continue to use a corrupted version of the Bible when they have a corrected version?

JOHN MORMON:
The prophet Joseph did not finish his revisions of the Bible and because that's what we're told to do by God's mouthpieces on Earth and we try to obey God's instructions.

POWELL:
Because conversions occurred more frequently using the KJV. It was more effective to say to a KJV-believer "We believe your Bible, but we have more, namely the Book of Mormon" than to say "Your Bible is wrong. Here, use ours and check out our other scriptures like the Book of Mormon."

JW's use the other method.

John Powell

[Trout]

JOHN MORMON:
The prophet Joseph did not finish his revisions of the Bible and because that's what we're told to do by God's mouthpieces on Earth and we try to obey God's instructions.

God has corrected missing and faulty sections of the Bible, yet the LDS church hasn't declared them it's official version? That seems odd.

In D&C 73, aren't Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon commanded to finish the translation?

It would seem as though God has spoken and the LDS church is in disobedience.

POWELL:
Because conversions occurred more frequently using the KJV. It was more effective to say to a KJV-believer "We believe your Bible, but we have more, namely the Book of Mormon" than to say "Your Bible is wrong. Here, use ours and check out our other scriptures like the Book of Mormon."

JW's use the other method.

John Powell

It's my understanding that the JST was originally published by the RLDS, much to the chagrin of the LDS, but maybe I'm mistaken.

Article

In 1867, after considerable effort and expense, the RLDS Church published a copyrighted edition of the Bible, under the title Holy Scriptures, which incorporated the Prophet's translation into the format of a King James text. This was followed by many subsequent printings, all from the same stereotype plates. In 1936 a teacher's edition containing study helps was published by the RLDS Church. At that time a subtitle, "Inspired Version," was added, although the text remained the same as the 1867 edition. In 1944 a "New Corrected Edition" was published by the RLDS Church in which at least 352 verses were amended to correct typographical and judgment errors in the 1867 edition. These corrections were matters of detail, although in a few instances they significantly affected the meaning of the passages and brought the printed text into closer harmony with the manuscript. In 1970 a parallel column edition consisting of the Inspired Version and the King James Version was issued by the RLDS Church publishing house.

The edition I have is a 1979. The JST is footnoted, and appendixed, but Joseph Smith's corrections aren't included within the text itself.

[John Powell]

TROUT:
God has corrected missing and faulty sections of the Bible, yet the LDS church hasn't declared them it's official version? That seems odd.

JOHN MORMON:
That shouldn't surprise you since "it's" means "it is" rather than the possessive "its" so if they declared in writing what you suggest then they wouldn't be writing properly.

The Bible revision wasn't finished.

POWELL:
Apparently, it was better to use the Book of Mormon and other scriptures to get Gospel "truths" than to rely on a partially complete revision of the Bible. The Bible was more of a tool to show that Mormonism was Biblically-based than as the source of the clearest exposition of Mormon doctrine.

TROUT:
In D&C 73, aren't Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon commanded to finish the translation?

JOHN MORMON:
No. That was just an answer to a question or a call to repentence (just kidding). It says they are to continue with the translation until it's done [see how I used the contraction?]. Joseph died before it was finished. Maybe Joseph has now finished it in the afterlife. You still don't understand the conditional nature of things like this, Trout. You don't seem to understand what free will entails.

TROUT:
It would seem as though God has spoken and the LDS church is in disobedience.

JOHN MORMON:
The command was to Joseph and Sydney, not to Brigham Young or those who followed. God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle and Solomon to build a temple. Does your church have temples? If no, then apparently your church is in disobedience, based on your reasoning.

Besides, Trout, even if God did command us to do something that we didn't do that would not mean we weren't the true church, just not individually perfect. Jesus commanded us all to be perfect like the Father is perfect (Matt 5:48), and we aren't. God commands perfection of us. That doesn't mean He thinks we'll do it. He encourages us to be all we can be.

TROUT:
It's my understanding that the JST was originally published by the RLDS, much to the chagrin of the LDS, but maybe I'm mistaken.

JOHN MORMON:
Maybe you're right.

TROUT:
Article

In 1867, after considerable effort and expense, the RLDS Church published a copyrighted edition of the Bible, under the title Holy Scriptures, which incorporated the Prophet's translation into the format of a King James text. This was followed by many subsequent printings, all from the same stereotype plates. In 1936 a teacher's edition containing study helps was published by the RLDS Church. At that time a subtitle, "Inspired Version," was added, although the text remained the same as the 1867 edition. In 1944 a "New Corrected Edition" was published by the RLDS Church in which at least 352 verses were amended to correct typographical and judgment errors in the 1867 edition. These corrections were matters of detail, although in a few instances they significantly affected the meaning of the passages and brought the printed text into closer harmony with the manuscript. In 1970 a parallel column edition consisting of the Inspired Version and the King James Version was issued by the RLDS Church publishing house.

The edition I have is a 1979. The JST is footnoted, and appendixed, but Joseph Smith's corrections aren't included within the text itself.

JOHN MORMON:
You seem to have an LDS/Mormon edition rather than an RLDS/Community of Christ edition.

John Powell

[Trout]

JOHN MORMON:
That shouldn't surprise you since "it's" means "it is" rather than the possessive "its" so if they declared in writing what you suggest then they wouldn't be writing properly.

Oopsy. . .my bad. (Does your friend JP actually have a sense of humor?)

JM:
The Bible revision wasn't finished.

Hmm, Joseph Smith said, "We this day finished the translating of the scriptures. . ." (Page 802)

JOHN MORMON:
No. That was just an answer to a question or a call to repentence (just kidding). It says they are to continue with the translation until it's done [see how I used the contraction?]. Joseph died before it was finished. Maybe Joseph has now finished it in the afterlife. You still don't understand the conditional nature of things like this, Trout. You don't seem to understand what free will entails.

Joseph said it was finished.

So it seems that the church just hasn't adopted it for some strange reason yet unknown. (But not unknown to an omniscient God)



John Powell,

I heard in conversation with an LDS co-worker that the reason the LDS church hasn't published the JST as their official version, is that the RLDS own the copyright to it.

Have you ever heard that?

Trout

[John Powell]

JOHN MORMON:
That shouldn't surprise you since "it's" means "it is" rather than the possessive "its" so if they declared in writing what you suggest then they wouldn't be writing properly.

TROUT:
Oopsy. . .my bad. (Does your friend JP actually have a sense of humor?)

JOHN MORMON:
Yes, but slightly out of the norm.

JOHN MORMON:
The Bible revision wasn't finished.

TROUT:
Hmm, Joseph Smith said, "We this day finished the translating of the scriptures. . ." (Page 802)

JOHN MORMON:
I was going on what I have been taught, so I had to investigate your claim.

Technically that was Sydney who said it, but apparently Joseph signed his name to the letter. Apparently, this was a finishing of the FIRST DRAFT of the revision since Joseph continued to make revisions after this date and intended to COMPLETELY finish it and have it published, but did not succeed before his death.

If the Prophet Joseph really was finished in 1833 then it's surprising he didn't have it published before his death in 1844.

JOHN MORMON:
No. That was just an answer to a question or a call to repentence (just kidding). It says they are to continue with the translation until it's done [see how I used the contraction?]. Joseph died before it was finished. Maybe Joseph has now finished it in the afterlife. You still don't understand the conditional nature of things like this, Trout. You don't seem to understand what free will entails.

TROUT:
Joseph said it was finished.

So it seems that the church just hasn't adopted it for some strange reason yet unknown. (But not unknown to an omniscient God)

JOHN MORMON:
Sure, Trout, and Jesus said "it is finished" when it still wasn't. Jesus still needed to give up the ghost and go to the spirit world and be resurrected and return a glorious Second time and . . .

TROUT:
John Powell,

I heard in conversation with an LDS co-worker that the reason the LDS church hasn't published the JST as their official version, is that the RLDS own the copyright to it.

Have you ever heard that?

Trout

POWELL:
That could be. It sounds familiar, but I haven't thought about these things for a while. That would be an even better reason why Mormons didn't use that translation, not having the copyright to publish it. I wonder if the RLDS had any rights to publish the Book of Mormon.

John Powell.

[Trout]

The following is from an article found here:

The History of the Inspired Version. Now following briefly the history of the work of the Inspired Version: As early as December, 1830, we find the Lord telling Sidney Rigdon, "Thou shalt write for him; and the Scriptures shall be given even as they are in mine own bosom, to the salvation of mine own elect" (Doctrine and Covenants 34:5). This would indicate that these Scriptures were going to be of some benefit to the saints.

Then in February the following year, the Lord said, "Thou shalt ask, and my Scriptures shall be given as I have appointed, and they shall be preserved in safety; and it is expedient that thou shouldst hold thy peace concerning them, and not teach them until thou hast received them in full. And I give unto you a commandment, that then ye shall teach them unto all men; for they shall be taught unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.

"Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my Scriptures for a law, to be my law, to govern my church; and he that doeth according to these things, shall be saved, and he that doeth them not shall be damned, if he continues."

Doctrine and Covenants 42:15-16

Today we are teaching the Inspired Version with the changes made by Joseph Smith. Members of the Utah Church apologized for not publishing it. They tried to rationalize that inasmuch as Joseph Smith had not completed all that was to be done, they should not use any of it. In March, 1831, the Church was told to "Keep these things from going abroad . . . until it is expedient in me, that ye may accomplish this work in the eyes of the people and in the eyes of your enemies" (Doctrine and Covenants 45:15a). And in January, 1832, they were commanded to "translate again, and, inasmuch as it is practicable, to preach in the regions round about until Conference, and after that it is expedient to continue the work of translation until it be finished" (Doctrine and Covenants 73:2a).

In May, 1833, they were told to hasten the work of translation. And a place was indicated for the location [in Kirtland] of a "house . . . for the work of the printing of the translation of my Scriptures" (Doctrine and Covenants 91:3a), which would indicate to me that the Lord considered the work of Joseph Smith as having been completed.

In January, 1841, a revelation was directed to William Law which says, "If he will do my will, let him from henceforth hearken to the counsel of my servant Joseph, and with his interest [money] support the cause of the poor, and publish the new translation of my holy word unto the inhabitants of the earth" (Doctrine and Covenants 107:28). It is peculiar that the Lord would direct the publication unless the work had been completed. On the second day of February, 1833, they finished the work of correcting the New Testament record. Six months to a day, on July 2, 1833, the Old Testament was finished according to a letter which was written by Joseph Smith from Far West back to Kirtland to the saints there. So much for the history and record of the production of the Inspired Version!

[John Powell]

POWELL:
Thanks, Trout.

John Powell

[Trout]

POWELL:
That could be. It sounds familiar, but I haven't thought about these things for a while. That would be an even better reason why Mormons didn't use that translation, not having the copyright to publish it. I wonder if the RLDS had any rights to publish the Book of Mormon.

John Powell.

I found this title page here:

THE
BOOK OF MORMON

Translated by
JOSEPH SMITH, JR.

Compared with the orginal manuscript and the
Kirtland edition of 1837, which was care-
fully reexamined and compared with
the original manuscript by Joseph
Smith and Oliver Cowdery.

1908 Authorized Edition

Published by the Board of Publication of the Reorganized
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI

So it would seem, the RLDS do have the right to publish the BOM, however the RLDS version differs from the LDS version, the differences are outlined in the site mentioned above.

[freelight]

Hi all,

Surely most of the record-evidence shows that the translation of the Bible was considered as completed. I think ultimately it would be too monumental a task to actually publish the JST as a new inspired version bible - I believe it was more like one of JS's side ventures - where he curiously sought to make corrections...and put in additions that prophesied his own divine calling! (several verses are added that prophesy himself as Gods latter day prophet in the book of Genesis.) Such an inclusion was obviously self serving.

The JST therefore serves no real purpose but a few curious paraphrasings and JS's own personal prophesy - the BoM was the main kicker as establishing him as Gods choice seer. It remains evident that the KJV is more reliable as a whole and the JST is more a novelty item to be used and quoted from when convenient. But its evident that his self-invented prophesy in the book of Genesis could never be proved by ancient bible manuscript evidence....so it would be likely rejected by scholars at large. The BoM and BoA(book of abraham) have already been exposed as 19th cent. productions....so there is nothing to show the JST as being anything less...as well as 'invented'.

p.s. I have been trying to upload an avatar...but cant find that option anywhere - any tips?

Thanks,

paul
www.freelightexpress.com

[Trout]

Hi all,

Surely most of the record-evidence shows that the translation of the Bible was considered as completed. I think ultimately it would be too monumental a task to actually publish the JST as a new inspired version bible - I believe it was more like one of JS's side ventures - where he curiously sought to make corrections...and put in additions that prophesied his own divine calling! (several verses are added that prophesy himself as Gods latter day prophet in the book of Genesis.) Such an inclusion was obviously self serving.

The JST therefore serves no real purpose but a few curious paraphrasings and JS's own personal prophesy - the BoM was the main kicker as establishing him as Gods choice seer. It remains evident that the KJV is more reliable as a whole and the JST is more a novelty item to be used and quoted from when convenient. But its evident that his self-invented prophesy in the book of Genesis could never be proved by ancient bible manuscript evidence....so it would be likely rejected by scholars at large. The BoM and BoA(book of abraham) have already been exposed as 19th cent. productions....so there is nothing to show the JST as being anything less...as well as 'invented'.

p.s. I have been trying to upload an avatar...but cant find that option anywhere - any tips?

Thanks,

paul
www.freelightexpress.com

In order to upload an avatar, you must have 25 posts, so get cracking!

[master_mormon]

As most LDS folk know, Joseph Smith, claiming Divine guidance, took upon the task of correcting the Bible, the result, The Joseph Smith Translation.(JST) Yet the LDS church has never made the JST it's official translation. They continue to use the King James Version of the Bible as the officially recognized translation of the Bible.

Apostle Bruce R McConkie made the following statement:

"In consequence, at the command of the Lord and while acting under the spirit of revelation, the Prophet corrected, revised, altered, added to, and deleted from the King James Version of the Bible to form what is now commonly referred to as the Inspired Version of Bible. . . The first 151 verses of the Old Testament, down to Genesis 6:13, are published as the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price. But as restored by the Prophet the true rendition contains about 400 verses and a wealth of new doctrinal knowledge and historical data.... the marvelous flood of light and knowledge revealed through the Inspired Version of the Bible is one of the great evidences of the divine mission of Joseph Smith." (Mormon Doctrine, 1979, p. 383-84)

If indeed Joseph Smith was given this task by God, and made a great many changes and additions to the text of the Bible, why hasn't the LDS church adopted it as their official Bible?

I have a Bible published by the LDS church, and it has the text of the King James version, but in an appendix at the back of the book I find the JST. Why would the LDS church continue to use a corrupted version of the Bible when they have a corrected version?

The LDS church does not print the full JST I guess for a variety of reasons but the 2 that come to my mind are 1) The "Community of Christ" [RLDS] church holded the copyright of that book and 2) The LDS edition of the KJV has the vast majority of JST changes in the footnotes. If one knows how to use the footnotes, one can see the changes.

I should note that the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price is from the JST. So though the Church does not officially have an entire JST that it prints, practically speaking it endorses the JST. I love the JST footnoting in my KJV and use them often.

[Trout]

The LDS church does not print the full JST I guess for a variety of reasons but the 2 that come to my mind are 1) The "Community of Christ" [RLDS] church holded the copyright of that book and 2) The LDS edition of the KJV has the vast majority of JST changes in the footnotes. If one knows how to use the footnotes, one can see the changes.

I should note that the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price is from the JST. So though the Church does not officially have an entire JST that it prints, practically speaking it endorses the JST. I love the JST footnoting in my KJV and use them often.

Thanks for the info.