Item Detail
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5407
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4
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2
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English
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A Study of the Text of Joseph Smith's Inspired Version of the Bible
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BYU Studies
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Autumn 1968
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9
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3-16
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"This is the first of two discussions that report the results of a critical study of the text of what is popularly known as Joseph Smith's Inspired Version of the Bible. In this first discussion attention is given particularly to such matters as the historical importance of Joseph Smith's work with the Bible in relation to his larger mission as the first prophet of this dispensation, the extent of the textual changes effected by the Prophet, his procedure, the time involved, the question of completeness, and especially to the reliability of the printed editions published by the Reorganized Church. Although the Book of Mormon probably has little, if any, direct relationship to the revision of the Bible, the imperfect condition of our present Bibles is discussed therein. 1 Nephi 13 and 14 state that the Bible (or record of the Jews and of the twelve apostles, although originally correct and in a form that contained the plainness of the gospel of the Lamb) would become corrupted and thereafter be handed down through the generations in an imperfect condition with many "plain and precious things" removed from it. It is further stated that these plain and precious things would be available again through other records incident to the restoration of the gospel. (1 Nephi 13:39-40.) The "other records" referred to probably mean the standard works of the Church, and as shown above, these are closely associated with the Inspired Version of the Bible. The Prophet Joseph makes frequent mention in his journal (now popularly called the Documentary History of the Church) of his special work with the Bible, and he particularly names it "a branch of his calling." It is impossible to separate Joseph Smith's work of revising the Bible from the other aspects of his mission in the dispensation of the fulness of times. Records and reports left us by Joseph Smith and by others associated with him indicate that he was prepared by spiritual experience and by divine appointment to do the revision work with the Bible. They also suggest that the work constituted a learning experience for him. By this experience and process many new things were to be made known to him, and this it seems was a basic purpose of the work." [Publisher's abstract]