D&C Pearls
D&C 24:8
D&C 24:12
“Since it is clear that there were Christians long before there was a New Testament or even an accumulation of the sayings of Jesus, it cannot therefore be maintained that the Bible is what makes one a Christian. In the words of esteemed New Testament scholar N. T. Wright, ‘The risen Jesus, at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, does not say, “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to the books you are all going to write,” but [rather] “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me.”’
“In other words, ‘Scripture itself points . . . away from itself and to the fact that final and true authority belongs to God himself.’ So the scriptures are not the ultimate source of knowledge for Latter-day Saints. They are manifestations of the ultimate source. The ultimate source of knowledge and authority for a Latter-day Saint is the living God.” — Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “My Words . . . Never Cease,” Ensign, May 2008
2 Nephi 29:3 – “And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.”
v. 8 – “Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word?”
“The Joseph Smith Translation, or Inspired Version, is a thousand times over the best Bible now existing on earth.” — Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “The Bible, a Sealed Book”
“I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors.” — Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 327
D&C 35:20-21 – “…and the scriptures shall be given, even as they are in mine own bosom…”
There are about 3410 places where the JST corrects the KJV. Examples include:
- Ex. 7-14 – Pharaoh’s hard heart
- Gen. 19 – Lot’s “offer”
- Moses 5 – Adam’s sacrifice; Gospel known from beginning
- Moses 8 – Noah’s voice of warning
- Ex. 34 – Moses’ second tablets
- Gen. 9 – rainbow’s real meaning
- Gen. 14 – Melchizedek
- Gen. 17 – misunderstanding of Atonement in Abraham’s day
- Gen. 50 – Joseph’s prophecy about Joseph
- Matt. 4 – the Spirit (not) leading to temptation
- Luke 3:4-11 – Messiah’s mission
- Luke 14:26 – gender equality in sacrifice
- Mark 14:36 – disciples’ doubt in Gethsemane
Dr. Robert J. Matthews: “The Joseph Smith Translation is more vivid than any other Bible: the doctrine is stronger, situations are more focused, the disciples struggle more, Jewish leaders are worse, and Jesus is greater. This statement is the result of 50 years of thinking.”