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Here is the first half of Chapter Six.

Chapter Six:


             THE BIBLE
                         ...and THE BOOK of MORMON

                                                                      
“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.”
Our 8th Article of Faith

“How could the Mormons even suggest that the Bible could have errors!”

Oh wouldn’t things be simple for the Mormons if it were not for this article of faith?
Why surely, this is the proof to the world that the Mormons don’t believe in the Bible!

In this investigation, we look at the controversies over the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The anti-Mormon world tries desperately to prove to any and all who will listen, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not believe in the Bible. And that instead, we believe in the Book of Mormon only. When people don’t accept that line, they then will follow with “Well, they only believe in selected portions of the Bible, tossing out anything that doesn’t agree with Mormonism!” That simply isn’t the case. So why the 8th Article of Faith? Let’s look at history! Joseph Smith is the author of the Articles of Faith. He is also the author of this statement:

“I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers!”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints probably studies out of the Bible as much or more than most other Christian religions. The LDS Church has four, year long, study classes that are the same for the adults as they are for the youth. They rotate each year. One year it will be the Old Testament, the next year the New Testament, the third year the Book of Mormon and the fourth year will be Church History and Doctrine and Covenants. Half of our study is from the Bible.  The Bible is very dear to the members of the LDS Church. I have as heirlooms, my mother’s and father’s Bibles. They are on display in my home behind a glass case. When I started working for the City of Mesa Police Department in 1978, my mother gave me a new Bible and new Book of Mormon. In the cover of my Bible she wrote, “Search, pray, and study diligently the contents of these truly great and marvelous Books. I pray that they may become your constant companion for knowledge of the Laws of God, and a great and powerful source of strength to you throughout your life.” Anti-Mormons state that the Mormons do not believe in the Bible. They feel their proof is that we believe the Bible contains some errors. So let’s take a look at The Book we all love and revere. Like all the information in this book, to maintain impartiality, the information in this chapter, where possible, is from non-LDS sources. Let’s start with The Encyclopedia Americana, V2 p647-713.

The Bible we have today comes from the Hebrew Bible. The 24 books of the Old Testament that the Christians divided into 39 books. The Old Testament was originally written in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. Christ was crucified in 33 AD. Pointing out that dating things in that era is difficult, The Encyclopedia Americana, (p702) said that originally, the scriptures were “oral” for several years. The book of Mark is the oldest of the Gospels, written in about 68 AD. Luke was written in about 85-95 AD, Matthew in about 100 AD and John between 100-125 AD.

On p.713, the encyclopedia talks about the “reinterpretation” of the Gospel of Mark by later
evangelists, and it says, “The reinterpretation of Paul’s letters is criticized in II Peter 3:16, where we read of those who are ‘twisting’ Pauline passages as well as the other scriptures.”

James E. Talmage (LDS) wrote a book called, Articles of Faith. On pages 214 to 217, he gives some historical information about the Bible. Information that is available to any investigator. Talmage, through research, points out the same things that Biblical researchers already know. That the Bibles we use today have their accompanying errors. (See also the book, The Bible Translation Controversy, by Wayne Jackson, and The Bible, Fact or Fiction by John Drane, and Saints and Scientists by Richard Wootton.)

He says that, “In the case of erroneous translation, which may occur as a result of human incapacity, and even in this measure of caution we are not alone.” He said that, “Biblical scholars generally admit the presence of errors of this kind--both of translation and of transcription of the text...The English Bible professes to be a translation made through the wisdom of man, in the preparation the most scholarly men have been enlisted, yet not a version has been published in which errors are not admitted. However, an impartial investigator has cause to wonder more at the paucity of errors than that mistakes are to be found at all.” Thought provoking isn’t it?

To all Christians, the name Bible means the single book we all carry around, called the Bible.
However, in the Greek language, the word Bible (Biblia) is a fourth century word that signifies
plurality. The literal translation is books. In the thirteenth century, taking the word from Greek
to Latin, the word was changed to Bible, and the meaning was changed to book.

Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon was the most correct book! Do the words most correct, mean totally correct? It certainly does not. This statement by Joseph Smith means that there are errors in the Book of Mormon as well. From that position, can I ask you to move to the middle of the road and investigate with me the world history of the Bible? (Remember, I’m using non-LDS sources.) I make a point of asking that because most Christians are afraid to look at the world history of the Bible. May I remind you of the words of Joseph Smith,

“I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers.”

To continue on from here, I need to very briefly refresh your memory concerning known world history about the Bible, beginning with Christ. The Romans, at the demand of the Jews, crucified Christ. Afterwards, the Church slowly fell apart. The proof being the Bible stops at the death of the apostles. After the death of Christ, the Jews began a relentless persecution against the infant Church. They convinced the Roman Empire that the Christians were plotting treason against the Roman Government. (They used a tool that was already centuries old called: Propaganda) The persecution spread from Jerusalem throughout Palestine and into the surrounding provinces. (Talmage, The Great Apostasy. p59. See also, Mosheim, Ecclesiastical History C1, P1, 5.)

The Encyclopedia Americana, p702, said that Nero blamed the burning of Rome in 64 AD on the Christians. The anger toward the Christians caused the death of the Apostles, many of the Christians and caused the destruction of many of the scriptures. This persecution would last until the Jews tried to overthrow the Roman Government in their Jewish homeland in about 66-70 A.D. The Romans retaliated, Jerusalem was destroyed, their people scattered. At the attack of the Romans, more of the scriptures were destroyed, some were seized and taken to Rome. Basically, the Bible ends in about 100 to 150 A.D., which brings up two questions. Did the Bible stop because God had no more to say to His children? Or did the Bible stop because the chain of prophets and apostles ceased? The obvious answer? ...The chain of prophets and apostles ceased.

Most of what happened to the apostles is unknown because of the fury of the Romans and the poor record keeping of the time. John Foxe, born in the year, 1516, in England, wrote a book in about 1550, called, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. It was published in 1563. There is no proof on how accurate it is, but it’s probably the best information available about the fate of the apostles. Here is his list.

“In these days the whole state of religion was depraved and corrupted: the name
only of Christ remained amongst Christians, but His true and lively doctrine was
as far unknown to the most part as His name was common to all men.”
                                         John Foxe

For the next 225 years after Christ’s death, the scriptures for the most part, lay dormant. Many were kept safe. Many were destroyed. Possession of the scriptures changed hands occasionally. Even the Greeks possessed them for a while. In 325 A.D., the council of Nicaea, under the direction of Constantine, decided which scriptures were to be accepted and which scriptures were not accepted in the new Christianity. It was during that time that the scriptures were compiled. Before then the books were separate. Those chosen, or selected books were organized and began to be compiled into one book. From about 450 on, the Roman empire began to fall. Many of the scriptures found their way to England. There they stayed, being passed from hand to hand among the Church authorities until King James, in the year 1611, ordered the scriptures to be translated into English so they could be read by the common man. Over 1500 years passed by from the time they were abandoned by the dead and dying apostles, to the time they were translated into English. Most Christians believe that the books in the Bible were placed in chronological order. Bible scholars will tell you that is not the case. Those who compiled the books from the Council of Nicaea chose the order. Other changes were made through the years until it was translated into English. Thus our historical refresher course needed for the remainder of this chapter.

The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints get bashed by other Christians for believing in such a thing as a Book of Mormon or any such thing as additional scripture. Their argument is as Salem Kirban writes in his anti-Mormon book, “Mormonism,” p4-5:

“To the Christian who knows the Word of God, the Book of Mormon is seen as an
unsubstantiated fairy tale, for the Mormon Church both ADDS and SUBTRACTS from
God’s Word, the Bible. We are admonished in Revelation 22:18-19:”

“...if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are
written in this book; And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life...”

“Yet in spite of this and other warnings in Scriptures the Mormon Church, along with other cults, thrives because many people are ignorant of the Word of God. The amazing thing about many of these cults is that the followers of the cults, in many instances, are highly educated people, many leaders of industry and government...who although perhaps astute in their field of endeavor...accept false religious doctrines which cannot stand the test of the Word of God.” Notice how Mr. Kirban calls us a “cult” three times in the same paragraph? At any rate, back to what Kirban was talking about in the Book of Revelation. It might interest you to know that Joseph Smith said this about the Book of Revelation. He said it was, “One of the plainest books God ever caused to be written!” What does the Book of Mormon say
about the Book of Revelation?

“And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out...insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth...And it came to
pass that the angel spake unto me saying: Look! And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe. And the angel said unto me: Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Behold he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been. And he shall also write concerning the end of the world...And behold they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew. And I Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John...”
(1st Ne 14:15-27)

Perhaps if those who feel as Mr. Kirban feels were a little more familiar with the Bible, they would better understand Revelation 22:18-19! Here are ten points to consider.

One:      John the Revelator did not write the Bible! He wrote the Book of Revelation! (Also
              known as the Apocalypse) on the island of Patmos, off the coast of Asia during
              about 85 AD.

Two:      John the Revelator did not compile the Bible, the council of Nicea did in the year 325,
              over 250 years after John wrote Revelation. The Council of Nicea decided what was
              pertinent scripture and what was not. Everything that didn’t coincide with their beliefs
              was disregarded.

Three:   John the Revelator did not put his book at the end of the Bible, the council of Nicea
             did!

Four:    There was no such thing as a Bible when John the Revelator wrote his book,
              The Book of Revelation! The scriptures as we know them today did not receive
              that name until after the smaller books were compiled into one big book after
             325 A.D.

Five:    The word Bible, a Greek word for books-plural, didn’t take on the singular meaning
             it has today until the thirteenth century. Over 1200 years after John wrote the book
             of Revelation.

Six:      John very specifically directs his admonishment to his own book! ...Not to any other
             records! Reread Revelation 22:19. He says: “And if any man shall take away from
             the words of the book of this prophecy...”

Seven:  John’s same admonishment in Revelation 22:18-19 is also found in Deuteronomy
            4:2 and Deuteronomy 12:32, when Moses says,

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”

Eight:  Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament. Sixty-one books of the Bible
             come after this book and after this scripture. This scripture in Deuteronomy is the
Jews’ reason for diminishing anything beyond Deuteronomy, or The Torah. The scripture in Revelation is the reason the rest of the Christian world uses for not accepting anything beyond Revelation. What if the council of Nicea decided that the Bible should stop at Deuteronomy and therefore, never added the rest of the Bible scriptures? Then what if the remainder of the scriptures that comprise our Bible were later found? What would be your argument? How would you explain to the rest of the Christian world that you not only believe in the five books of the Bible, but you also believe in everything from The Book of Joshua to The Book of Revelation?

Nine:    Moses is the one who wrote the first five books of the Bible. Why? Where are the
             writings of the prophets for 2400 years before Moses? Were they illiterate? Or are
             they missing?

Ten:     In the book, ABC’s of the Bible by Readers Digest, it says that none of the apostles
             knew that their books would someday be compiled in a singular book. According to Grolier Electronic Publishing Inc., the collection of the Canon (Greek for list of books) of the New Testament, began in the second century, “probably with a collection of the ten letters of Paul.” Later that same century, Irenaeus wanted the four Gosples (Greek, for good news) added. From there, one by one, more and more were added until there were twenty-seven books “with the church in Egypt using more than the twenty-seven” in our New Testament. (Where are the “more” books the Egyptians used?)

In determining when scriptures were written, things talked about are matched up with known
historical events of that day. Like reading an old newspaper. By reading about the things talked about, you can tell when that paper was written. In determining when the Gospels were written, GEP and other sources say that Mark was written about 68-72 AD. Luke and Matthew about 85 AD and John, the last book written, was written about 95-100 AD. (The Encyclopedia Americana, V2 p702, gave us the date of 100-125 for the book of John.) The book of Revelation was given a date of 81-96, making the book of John written after the book of Revelation. In the ABC’s of the Bible, p278, it says, “The most recent book in the New Testament is difficult to identify. Some scholars believe the Second Letter of Peter was written in honor of the Apostle Peter, not by him, and may have been written as late as A.D. 130. This would make 2nd Peter the last completed New Testament work.” Or about 40 years older than the Book of Revelation. For my LDS friend, it might interest you to know that on July 24th, 1853 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, President Brigham Young said, “John’s Gospel and his epistle to his brethren were written after he wrote his revelation on the Isle of Patmos.” The above sources have concluded the same thing. That makes the Book of Revelation, John’s first book. Which means that even John’s other books came after his own admonishment.

The point is this... We all love the Bible and love reading the words of the ancient apostles and
prophets who walked and talked with Christ. But the apostles and prophets are not the ones who put the Bible in the order it’s in. The Council of Nicaea did. They are the ones who edited the books, chose the order and put the Book of Revelation last. Not the apostles, not the prophets.

Police officers deal in evidence. In police work, each piece of evidence has to have an air tight “chain of custody” or it cannot be presented in court, no matter what the evidence is! In the O. J. Simpson trial, weeks of debate were spent establishing the chain of custody of the bloody glove  and the Bronco. If the defense could show that the chain of custody had been broken, those two pieces of evidence would have been thrown out and unable to be presented to the jury.

A chain of custody is a bullet proof paper trail. In other words, I find a piece of evidence, I collect it, never letting it out of my sight until I give it to the property custodian. He keeps it, never letting anyone into the property room or touching the evidence what-so-ever without signing for the property. At court the evidence is returned to me by the custodian. I keep it in my immediate possession again, never letting it out of my sight until the prosecutor enters it into court as a “court’s exhibit.” That’s how air tight a chain of custody has to be.

What is the chain of custody of the Bible scriptures? Fifteen hundred years of nameless-faceless
people. In fact, books like the book Judges and Ruth, no one even knows who wrote them. Most believe that Samuel did but no one knows. There are several other questioned books as well. Including the Book of Revelation. In the reference book, The Books of The Bible by Bernhard W. Anderson, in V2 p367 it says, “Today, most scholars believe the book was written by a Jewish Christian seer who wrote down ‘the words of the prophecy’ under the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian” between 81-96. Other questions exist like, “Who are the people who translated the Bible in 1611? What were their qualifications and where are the manuscripts they translated from? Were they influenced or prejudiced in their translation by their own religious beliefs? Who were the people at the council of Nicaea in 325 to decide what was scripture and what was not?” As you study, on and on go the questions from the scholars. On and on go their different theories.

                                Do I believe in the Bible? Absolutely!
         Do Mormons believe in the Bible? Absolutely!
                     But the fact that you and I even have a Bible today is an absolute miracle.

“The Most Translated Book in The World”

CNN says that the most translated book in the world is the Bible. There are over 300 different
translations. Most of them are translations into different languages, but there are only 186 countries in the world (depending on whose counting) and less languages. So what’s happening? My friend Rick has eight different English translations. How can there be so many different translations if there is only one God? One Jesus Christ? Who has the right to translate the Bible anyway? Especially when it’s not being translated from the original manuscripts. Think about it. Have you ever taken a photograph in and had it photocopied? The photocopy always loses some of the sharpness and clarity of the original. Well what happens when you copy a photocopy? And then copy that photocopy? Each time, more and more of the original beauty, clarity and detail is lost. The same is true with the Bible. Translators are making copies of photocopies and with each copy, more and more of the original beauty, clarity and detail is getting lost. Here are just two examples.

Example One:   Not long ago, I was in the evidence room, packaging the personal property
                           of an arrestee. She had a new translation of the New Testament called, The Word of God, Alive & Active, ABS. Contemporary English Version. Curious, I opened it up to look at it. I found myself on page thirty and the subtitle that caught my eye was, “Who Is Jesus?” The Bible reference is Matt. 16, 13-20. Jesus is talking to His disciples. This is their account of what happened.

“...What do people say about the Son of Man?” They answer and Christ says,
“But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living
God. Jesus told him: Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn’t discover this on your
own. It was shown to you by my Father in heaven. So I will call you Peter, which means ‘a rock.’ On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything that you don’t allow.”

When I read that, I was not only shocked at the misquoting of those scriptures, I was also shocked at the misinterpretation of what Christ said. I do not believe that the authors understood what Christ was saying or they wouldn’t have changed His words. Because when they changed His words, they also changed His meaning. In their version of that account, the authors are saying that Christ was so pleased with Simon Peter’s answer, that He called Peter “a rock.” He didn’t. They then infer that Christ made Peter the cornerstone of His religion. He didn’t. They also infer that Christ built His church upon Peter. He didn’t. Christ is the cornerstone of His religion and His religion is built upon the teachings He receives from His Father who is in heaven. They then infer that Christ even gave Peter more power than He Himself had and even gave him power over God, saying, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything that you don’t allow.” Again, He didn’t. Christ said nothing about allowing whatever you allow. He said bind whatsoever you bind. Do you see the difference there? Allowing and binding have two completely different meanings. The inference I drew from their interpretation was that Simon Peter was given a free reign. That he was able to use his own judgment to decide what God will and will not allow. All that for getting the right answer to Christ’s question! Being familiar with that scripture, I quickly looked it up in the King James Version of the Bible. Here it is. Look at the difference and study the inference.

“...Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? ...And Simon Peter answered and said,
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed
are thou, Simon Barjona; For flesh and bone hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

At first, both versions sound similar. But when you study the words and their inference, you see they are not the same at all. The words used in the first example totally misrepresent what Christ meant. The words used in the King James Version make Christ’s meaning more clear. Christ is pleased with Simon Peter, but not to the point that He makes Peter the cornerstone or the soul authoritarian over the church, giving Peter a free hand to use his own judgment and decide what God will and will not allow. Christ is telling Peter, “Blessed art thou Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” In that scripture, Christ is talking about how Peter knew the right answer. Not that he did know the right answer. See the difference? Christ is talking about the Spirit of Revelation that Peter received from His Father in heaven that gave him the right answer. That is the rock Christ is talking about when He says, “...upon this rock I will build my church.” Upon the Spirit of Revelation.

Peter is being called to the front. He’s been given the position to lead the Church on earth and to follow in Christ’s footsteps. He’s been given the keys of the Kingdom to bind on earth and to bind in heaven. Up to this point, Christ was the only one who had the power and authority bind on earth as well as in heaven. But now, Christ is transferring some of that power to Peter, the soon to be head of the church here on earth. The word “whatsoever” is used in the Bible, but that doesn’t mean that Peter can decide that the average height of man should be eight feet tall instead of six feet and that watermelons should be blue instead of green. Christ knows that His time on earth is short. He knows that soon He will be crucified and gone from their midst. Christ is preparing Peter to take over after Christ Himself is gone. Christ’s words to Peter mean that Peter has to follow Christ’s example and continue as Christ has done. It does not mean that Peter has arbitrary decision making power. There are two great points of doctrine in that scripture.

One:    If after Christ, there were to be no more prophets upon the earth, why then is Christ
            preparing Peter to take over the earthly head of the Church?

Two:    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in prophets, eternal marriage,
            eternal families and blessings in our lives that have eternal value, because Peter was
            given the keys of the Kingdom and the power to bind on earth and to bind in heaven.

Other religions don’t know how to explain what Christ meant by what He told Peter. That’s why they don’t mind changing His words. The example above is case in point. That’s also why other religions don’t believe in modern-day prophets or modern-day revelation. That’s why they don’t believe that families can be sealed together forever. That’s why they don’t believe in bonds beyond death except the bond we all have to our God and to His Son, Jesus Christ. Yet Peter was given the power to bind on earth and in heaven. But because they don’t understand, that’s why their marriages are, “till death do us part” instead of “for time and all eternity.” That’s why their blessings are seldom individualized blessings led by the Holy Spirit of Revelation. Instead, they are usually prepared speeches that they read or memorize and don’t change. I’m not trying to offend anyone with what I’m saying. I’m just trying to make a point that you already know is the case. Christ’s words to Peter are very significant. Christ called Peter to the head of the Church and He gave Peter the keys to do those things mentioned. Yet other religions don’t believe (or understand) His words.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are great believers in continuous revelation from God. We believe in the gift that was given to Peter. Because we are true believers, we bless and dedicate buildings before their use for the building up of the Kingdom of God here upon the earth. We bless babies with health and strength and wisdom. We bless people for the healing of illnesses. We are given “Patriarchal Blessings” to help govern our lives and to bless us eternally. These blessings are even recorded with the Church. We give blessings at marriage and at significant times in members’ lives. We bless grave sights for the sacred resting place of our loved ones and much more. We believe that if we follow the Spirit of Revelation granted to us at that moment, for that purpose, that those blessings will come true. They may not come true in the time frame we want them to or in the manner we think they should, but sooner or later and in the wisdom of God, they all come true. That’s what we believe the word “whatsoever” means. Whatsoever, given by the Spirit of Revelation, will in time and in the wisdom of God, ...come true.

But it also goes far beyond the ability to give blessings and to have those blessings “bound” in
Heaven. We also believe it pertains to binding ordinances. Binding ordinances that are requirements for the entrance into the Kingdom of God. Such as Baptism and the laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We believe that we have to be confirmed into the true Church of Jesus Christ and more. We believe that the word “keys” means authority. We believe that authority is the true power of the Priesthood which is what we believe Christ gave to Peter. The Priesthood, the authority, the keys of the Kingdom, the power to act in God’s name. We believe that all these blessings and ordinances require proper Priesthood authority.

The power of the Priesthood is what separates The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from other Christian religions. The authority to act in God’s name. That’s why we don’t read modern day translations of the Holy Scriptures that are translated by the power and wisdom of man. We stick with the King James Version because unless they are translating by the power of God, they are changing words and meanings they have no authority to change. Regardless of how good the intent of the translator is, unless he is inspired by God to do so, when he makes changes, he can lead you away from the truth. That’s also why we believe in prophets. We don’t follow our local leaders just because we like their sermons or just because we think they are wonderful people. We follow them because they follow the words of the prophet. We follow the prophet because he follows the words of Jesus Christ. Therefore, creating unity in the Church, just as the scriptures talk about. In short, we believe in all the things the Bible teaches that other religions ignore or explain away.

Example Two:   On October 14th, 1996 on NPR radio (Phx. Az.) Robert Siegel hosted
                           Stephen Mitchell on the “Bob Siegel Show.” The topic was the Bible. Here are some excerpts from their show. Transcript #2366. Segment 5. Siegel introduces himself saying, “Biblical translations from Hebrew has become a growth industry. Last year, Everett Fox offered a version of the five books of Moses. Now there are some new translations of Genesis and several new books about Genesis.” His guest, Mitchell breaks in and says, “What we have, what we’ve been handed down is a work of a late editor working hundreds of years after the original authors wrote down these stories, which were already ancient...Now, that has certain advantages, but it also can be very confusing because we have two flood stories, two stories of Hagar and Ishmael, etc.”

The show goes on as Mitchell begins reading his translation of the Bible account of Jacob wrestling with an angel. Afterwards, Siegel says, “And you’ve tied the knot there that if indeed the being says to him, ‘you’ve wrestled with God’ and Jacob says, ‘I’ve seen the face of God,’ then..,” (Mitchell) “Yes.” (Siegel) “Then Jacob is wrestling with God.” (Mitchell) “Yes, and not only wrestling, but defeating.” The program continues and even gets more interesting. They follow that story with the Biblical story about Adam and Eve and point out that God tells Adam and Eve that if they eat of the forbidden fruit, they will die. Then the devil tells them they will not die. They conclude with, Mitchell saying, “It’s a very strange story. I think until you look at it with fresh eyes, you don’t understand how very strange it is to have a God who lies and a serpent who’s telling the truth.” There is another story about Abraham and Isaac and then Siegel closes with: “...Stephen Mitchell reading from his new translation...tomorrow we’ll hear from another translator, Robert Alter...”

So tell me! ...Where does the confusion go from here!
Who has the right to be translating and interpreting God’s word except a prophet of God?

“Truly of all the errors mortals could make, God’s plan of salvation is the wrong thing to
be wrong about. No error could be more enormous or everlasting in it’s consequence.”
                                    Unknown LDS Apostle.
                                        Quoted by Keith McMullin

The LDS Church uses the King James Version of the Bible for two reasons.

One:    Joseph Smith said, “It is the Bible of our Fathers.” Meaning most of the early church
            members had English or European background.

Two:   The King James version is one of the oldest, and we believe it to be one of the most
            correct versions. Joseph Smith said that the German translation was the most correct.

Anti-Mormons are quick to point out that Joseph Smith made a translation of the Bible. There are some things you might be interested in knowing about that. The Joseph Smith translation of the Bible belongs to the RLDS Church (Reorganized Church). It does not belong to the LDS Church. Joseph Smith was killed before it was completed and Emma wouldn’t give it to Brigham Young. She felt it was Joseph Smith’s personal property. But let me ask you this!

            If there is such a thing as a true prophet as we believe there is,
                             then who would have the right to translate another prophet’s
                                        writings except a prophet himself?

Differences, and the Missing Books talked about in the Bible

One thing is for sure! If we all believed that God was organized and He had one true church instead of a smorgasbord of churches, and that God still led His children with prophets and apostles as He did before Christ, there would not be over 300 translations of the Bible and my friend Rick would not have eight different English translations. He would have one! And, there wouldn’t be any confusion. Let me remind you once again of the words of Joseph Smith!

“I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers.”

It’s important that you keep those words in mind because nobody wants to believe that there could be errors or missing scriptures in our Bible. But the evidence that there is, is over-whelming! Let me give you just a few things to think about and why it’s important that you know them.

One:      There has never been a translation of the Bible that the translators didn’t admit to
              error in the translation.
Two:      Where are the 2400 years of scripture from Adam to Moses?
Three:   Why do we have the writings of just five of the twelve Apostles?
Four:    Who was the Council of Nicea to decide what was scripturally pertinent and what
              was not?
Five:     How can the Bible be all of God’s word when there are 25 different scriptural works
              or books that are mentioned in the Bible but are not found in the Bible? For instance:


          Galatians 3:8                                       The “Scriptures” “Preached before the
                                                                     Gospel unto Abraham”
          Exodus 24:7                                        Book of the Covenant
          Numbers 21:14                                   Book of the Wars of the Lord
          1 Samuel 10:25                                   The Book of the Manner of the Kingdom
          1 Kings 4:32-33                                  Books containing 3000 proverbs, 1500 songs,
                                                                     A treatise on natural history by Solomon
          Joshua 10:13                                       Book of Jasher
          1 Kings 11:41                                     Book of the Acts of Solomon
          1 Chronicles 29:29                              The Book of Gad the Seer
          1 Chronicles 29:29                              The Book of Nathan the Prophet
          2 Chronicles 9:29                                The prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite
          2 Chronicles 9:29                                The Visions of Iddo the Seer
          2 Chronicles 13:22                              The Story of prophet Iddo
          2 Chronicles 12:15                              Book of Shemaiah
          2 Chronicles 20:34                              Book of Jehu
          2 Chronicles 26:22                              Acts of Uzziah
          2 Chronicles 33:19                              Sayings of the Seers
          John 21:25                                          Only a part of what Jesus said is in the Bible
          1 Corinthians 5:9                                 An earlier Epistle of Paul to Corinthians
          Ephesians 3:3                                      Another Epistle of Paul to Ephesians
          Jude 1:3                                              A former Epistle of Jude
          Jude 1:14                                            Prophecies of Enoch
          Jude 3                                                Another Epistle of Jude
          Ephesians 3                                        Another Epistle of Ephesians
          Colossians 4:16                                  Another Epistle to the Laodiceans
          1 Corinthians 4:9                                Another Epistle to the Corinthians

In Exodus Chapter 24 (four chapters after Moses was given the ten commandments), Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel were called up by the Lord to return to Him and “worship afar off.” Moses alone was called up to meet the Lord out of that group. Moses was given “The Book of the Covenant.” So important was this book that Moses called all the Israelites together to read from the book. In Exodus 24:7 it says:

“And he (Moses) took the Book of the Covenant, and read in the audience of the people:
and they said; All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.”

The point I want to make is if the Book of the Covenant was so important that Moses was called up by God to come and get it and to read it to the Israelites, so impressive to the Israelites that they said  “All that the Lord said we will do, and be obedient.” Where is that book today? How come it’s not part of the Bible? (Remember, the Ten Commandments had already been given.)

In Exodus Chapter 24:12, The Lord again called Moses and told him to: Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give there tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. Moses is also told to build the Ark of the Covenant. Where are the words of the “tables of stone” Moses received when he was told a third time to come up unto the mount? The words that went into the Ark of the Covenant?

            Where are all the books that are mentioned in the Bible,
                        but not found in the Bible?
                                      How can you say that the Bible contains all of God’s Word?

 

We hope you enjoyed the first half of Chapter Six.
 

Chapter 7 >>>>>

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