The Bible: Restored and Revised
by Sharon Lindbloom

Bruce McConkie, an Apostle in the LDS Church, wrote: "Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…believe the Bible. Indeed, so literally and completely do their beliefs and practices conform to the teachings of the Bible that it is not uncommon to hear informed persons say: 'If all men believed the Bible, all would be Mormons.' Bible doctrine is Mormon doctrine, and Mormon doctrine is Bible doctrine. They are one and the same."1

This Church's 8th Article of Faith states, "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."

These statements are meant for the world to see in order to present an orthodox Christian front to investigators of the LDS Church. The true LDS view of the Bible can be found in authoritative writings intended specifically for Church members.

Joseph Smith taught that while preserving the Bible, "Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors."2

In 1850, LDS Apostle Orson Pratt taught: "If it be admitted that the apostles and evangelists did write the books of the New Testament, that does not prove of itself that they were divinely inspired at the time they wrote…Add all this imperfection to the uncertainty of the translation, and who, in his right mind could for one moment suppose the Bible in its present form to be a perfect guide? Who knows that even one verse of the Bible has escaped pollution, so as to convey the same sense now that it did in the original?"3

This official opinion of the Bible is not confined to century-old teachings. In 1966 an Authority in the LDS Church wrote concerning this Book: "Many insertions were made, some of them 'slanted' for selfish purposes, while at times deliberate falsifications and fabrications were perpetrated."4

The tenth Prophet of the Mormon Church explained how faithful members can, in spite of all the supposed problems with our present Bible, still use it in an edifying way: "Guided by the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Spirit of the Lord, it is not difficult for one to discern the errors in the Bible."5

The LDS Church recognizes the King James Version above all other translations and uses it exclusively. However, because of the purported unreliability of the KJV, Joseph Smith rewrote the Bible in the early 1830's. He accomplished this feat without benefit of Hebrew or Greek manuscripts, claiming that he was 'restoring' precious truths which had formerly been lost; and this by the gift and power of God. This 'restoration' is known today as the Joseph Smith Translation (JST).

For over 100 years the existence of the JST was little known among Mormons, and the use of it was severely discouraged. The Church maintained that Joseph never completed the translation (despite evidence to the contrary), therefore rendering the JST just as dubious as the KJV.

In recent years the leadership of the Church has changed its tune. In 1979 the LDS Church published a new edition of the King James Bible which includes extensive footnotes as well as a seventeen-page section of excerpts from the JST. All told, this LDS Bible contains nearly seven hundred noted alterations of the King James text. The complete manuscripts of the JST embodies around 1,150 passages or verses added or changed by Joseph Smith.

Not only are the Mormon people now encouraged to be aware of and use the changes Joseph Smith made to the Bible, but they are taught, "There is so much beauty and depth of doctrine and insight to be had within the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible that it is foolish to study and teach without it…Those who love and revere the name and labors of Joseph Smith should be pleased and enthusiastic to receive whatever God has chosen to reveal through his modern seer and lawgiver."6

There is not enough space here to outline many of the important changes made to the KJV, but to give an idea of what the JST includes, the book of Genesis (JST) contains among its 200 alterations: a prophecy regarding the coming of Joseph Smith; god telling Adam and Eve they could choose for themselves whether or not to eat the 'forbidden' fruit; the fact that instead of being ashamed, "…when they comprehended the implications of the Fall, Adam and Eve sort of jumped up and clicked their heels"7; and that it was Noah, not the Lord, who was sorry that God made man.

Throughout the Bible, scripture that did not fit Joseph Smith's doctrine was changed so that it now conforms easily with Mormonism. For example, Joseph Smith claimed to have seen and spoken to God when he had his First Vision in 1820. This vision is the bedrock of the Mormon Church. However, the Bible makes it clear that men cannot see God in the manner in which Joseph claims to have done. This problem is erased in the JST as we see the words Joseph added to the KJV text (italicized): Exodus 33:20 says, "Thou canst not see my face at this time." John 1:19 says, "…and no man hath seen God at any time, except he hath borne record of the Son." 1 John 4:12 says, "No man hath seen God at any time except them who believe." The reader might ask if the JST 'corrections' can in any way be supported by the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. An LDS scholar answers: "…if the JST offered no more than the biblical manuscripts or if it were completely supported by them, there would have been no need for a JST. Of course it is not supported by the manuscripts…The JST is a witness for Jesus Christ. It is a witness for the divine calling of Joseph Smith as a prophet and apostle of Jesus Christ. Many people seem to go about it backwards.

They want to test Joseph Smith by the content of the inadequate [biblical] manuscripts…The Book of Mormon and the JST are the proper standards by which to measure the accuracy of the ancient Bible."8

An associate professor at LDS Church owned Brigham Young University summed it up nicely: "When it came to the Bible, Joseph Smith spoke as one having authority, and rightly so, for save Jesus only, no man ever walked the face of the earth that had greater knowledge of the Bible than he had…Joseph Smith was a living Bible, and he has done more to enhance the world's understanding of that great book than any other man who lived in it."9

Tragically, the LDS people are left with a Holy Bible which promises: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" while their spiritual leaders insist that it cannot be trusted. Instead of having confidence in God's Word, they must put their faith in the words of a man who, after giving a prophecy which failed, explained: "Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of man: and some revelations are of the devil."10

  1. Bruce R. McConkie, What the Mormons Think of Christ, p. 2
  2. Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.327
  3. Orson Pratt, Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, pp. 45, 47
  4. Mark E. Petersen, As Translated Correctly, p.4
  5. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p. 191
  6. Robert L. Millet, Ibid., p.46
  7. George A. Horton, Jr., Ibid., p. 58
  8. Robert J. Matthews, Ibid., pp. 286, 289
  9. Joseph F. McConkie, Ibid. pp.,118,119
  10. David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, p. 31