The Book of Moses
The Book of Moses is an excerpt from Joseph Smith's
inspired revision of the Holy Bible, intended to correct things that have
been lost through translation errors or deliberate changes made throughout the
centuries. The Book of Moses covers the period from Adam through Noah, including
the ministry of Enoch and the building up of Zion. It is widely used in The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—sometimes called the Mormon
Church—as part of the Church's Standard Works of scripture and makes many
doctrinal contributions.
Found in the Pearl of Great Price, one of Mormonism’s
standard works. Mormon scholars claim the Book of Moses was given to Joseph
Smith by direct revelation in June of 1830. Its purpose was to restore many
“lost truths” that are not included in the Pentateuch. Mormon Apostle Bruce
McConkie claimed the Book of Moses “is one of the most important documents the
Lord has ever revealed” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 564).
The Joseph Smith Papers website gives readers access to the
original manuscripts of this “revelation”. The Book of Moses is described as
“a commentary on an expansion of the King James Version of Genesis,”
chapters 1–6. This revelation received by Joseph Smith contributes material,
such as Moses learning of Jesus Christ, Adam and Eve understanding the purpose
of the Fall, and Enoch receiving and obeying his call to prepare his people for
heaven. It
can be viewed here.
Joseph
Smith's Translation
OR
The Inspired Version
Joseph’s work on the Bible began like many of his
“revelations”. It bore the simple title “A Revelation given to Joseph the
Revelator June 1830.” As the work progressed, however, Joseph began to realize
how grand this endeavor would prove. While reviewing the Whitmers’ family
Bible, he continued to seek revelation about revising portions of the Old
Testament. Eventually, his “inspired” commentary became what is now known as
the Joseph Smith Translation.
Joseph Smith Translation (JST) is a revision or translation
of the King James Version of the Bible in English, which the Prophet Joseph
Smith began in June 1830. He was commanded by God to make the translation and
regarded it as part of his calling as a prophet.
The book of Moses and Joseph Smith—Matthew, now included
in the Pearl of Great Price, were taken directly from the Joseph Smith
Translation.
The Mormon Church believes the Joseph Smith Translation has
restored some of the plain and precious things that have been lost from the
Bible (1 Ne. 13). Although it is not the official Bible of the Church, the
Church does consider this translation to offer many interesting insights and is
very valuable in understanding the Bible.
Although Joseph completed most of the translation by July
1833, he continued until his death in 1844 to make modifications while preparing
a manuscript for publication. Though he published some parts of the translation
during his lifetime, it is possible that he would have made additional changes
had he lived to publish the entire work. The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints published the first edition of Joseph Smith’s inspired
translation in 1867. They have published several editions since that time.
You can view a comparison online of the Joseph Smith's "New Translation" of the Bible, or as the RLDS/Community of Christ call it, The Inspired Version.
Comparison
of the Inspired Version to the King James Version
Joseph
Smith - Matthew
The book of Moses and Joseph
Smith—Matthew, now included in the Pearl of Great Price, were taken directly
from the Joseph Smith Translation. The Mormon Church believes the Joseph Smith
Translation has restored some of the plain and precious things that have been
lost from the Bible (1 Ne. 13). Although it is not the official Bible of the
Church, the Church does consider this translation to offer many interesting
insights and is very valuable in understanding the Bible.
The
Inspired Version: Why isn’t it officially used today?
by Eric Johnson with
Mormonism Research Ministry
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion, made a
number of changes to the King James Bible that is known today as either the
Inspired Version or Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible. To call this
version a “translation” gives a false impression. Technically, a
“translation” means taking the words from one language (in the case of the
Bible, Hebrew or Aramaic in the Old Testament or Koine Greek in the New
Testament) and putting them into another language, such as English. Since there
is no indication that Smith used biblical manuscripts or even had a fluent
understanding of the three biblical languages, his version is not a
“translation” that was put together like other biblical versions, including
the New International Version or the New Living Translation.
About half of the Old Testament changes were made to the
book Genesis while close to 80% of the New Testament changes were made to the
four Gospels. Scattered changes were made throughout the rest of the Bible. One
insertion made in Genesis chapter 50 added twelve new verses after verse 24a in
the King James Version, including a conveniently placed prophecy about Smith!
According to verse 33 in the Inspired Version, “. . . his name shall be called
Joseph, and it shall be after the name of his father. . .” Needless to say, no
Hebrew manuscript ever discovered supports this addition.
Smith claimed that he received a revelation on January 10,
1832 commanding him “to continue the work of translation until it be
finished” (D&C 73:4b). A year and a half later, Joseph Smith said his
translation was completed. On July 2, 1833, History of the Church 1:368
reported,
“We this day finished the translating of the Scriptures,
for which we return gratitude to our Heavenly Father.”
The corrections made by Smith were lauded by Mormon apostle
Bruce R. McConkie, who wrote:
“The Joseph Smith Translation, or Inspired Version, is a
thousand times over the best Bible now existing on earth. It contains all that
the King James Version does, plus pages of additions and corrections and an
occasional deletion. It was made by the spirit of revelation, and the changes
and additions are the equivalent of the revealed word in the Book of Mormon and
the Doctrine and Covenants. For historical and other reasons, there has been
among some members of the Church in times past some prejudice and
misunderstanding of the place of the Joseph Smith Translation. I hope this has
now all vanished away. Our new Church Bible footnotes many of the major changes
made in the Inspired Version and has a seventeen-page section which sets forth
excerpts that are too lengthy for inclusion in the footnotes. Reference to this
section and to the footnotes themselves will give anyone who has spiritual
insight a deep appreciation of this revelatory work of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
It is one of the great evidences of his prophetic call” (Sermons and Writings
of Bruce R. McConkie, p. 289).
If Joseph Smith truly finished his translation of the Bible
and made corrections to a book that he claimed was true “only as far as it was
translated correctly,” and if these changes are as good as McConkie says they
are, then why doesn’t the LDS Church officially use the Inspired Version
rather than the King James Bible?
In an authorized gospel manual published in the early
1970s, tenth president Joseph Fielding Smith explained the LDS leadership’s
view on this issue:
“The reason
why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not published the entire
manuscript is not due to any lack of confidence in the integrity of Joseph
Smith, or doubt as to the correctness of the numerous additions and changes
which are not in the Authorized Version of the Bible. The members of the Church
do accept fully all of these (changes) as having come by divine revelations of
the Prophet Joseph Smith. The reason that is has not been published by the
Church is due to the fact that this revision was not completed. It was the
intention of Joseph Smith, while at Nauvoo, to take the scriptures up again and
complete his labors, making numerous corrections which had not been made by him
in the earlier revision. Due to persecution and mobbing this opportunity never
came, so that the manuscript was left with only a partial revision” (Joseph
Fielding Smith, Selections from Answers to Gospel Questions: A Course of Study
for the Melchizedek Priesthood Quorum 1972-73, p. 312).
Smith’s reasoning is inadequate for several reasons:
1)
If Smith did not finish the Bible as God supposedly told him to do so
1832 (D&C 73:4b), should Smith’s negligence to do what God commanded be
considered a sin? After all, Smith lived for twelve more years after he was told
to do this. Did he never have the chance to sit down and complete this
reasonable task set forth by God?
2)
If the translation wasn’t finished, then why did Smith say that he
finished it in 1833?
3)
If the Bible was only partially revised, does this mean the words that
were revised or added by Smith are no better than what the King James Version
has to offer?
Finally, why doesn’t the current LDS leadership—whom
members believe possess “keys” and serve as God’s mouthpiece upon the
earth—finish the work themselves? McConkie wrote that “up to the present
time none of his successors have been directed by the Lord to carry the work
forth to its final fruition” (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 383). However, he
promised, “There will be a not too distant day when all necessary changes
shall be made in the Bible, and the Inspired Version — as then perfected —
shall go forth to the world” (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 384).
Just what did McConkie mean when he said there would be a
“not too distant day” when the translation would be complete? This statement
was written five decades ago! More than half of everyone who would have read
McConkie’s words when his book was first published are now deceased.
Instead of hiding behind Article 8 of the Articles of Faith
and claiming that the Bible cannot be fully trusted because it has errors
inserted by “corrupt” translators, we call upon the LDS Church
leadership—if they truly are capable—to once and for all finish the Inspired
Version and include this as an official part of their canon. This would
eliminate the use of the “corrupt” King James Version.
Joseph
Smith's "Inspired" Revisions to the King James Bible
Cover
Page
THE
HOLY
SCRIPTURES
Inspired
Version
Containing
the Old and New Testaments
An
Inspired Revision of the
Authorized
Version
By
Joseph Smith, Jr.
Reorganized
Church
Of
Jesus Christ
Of
Latter Day Saints
1944 Edition