Lecture 3

Question 1

Article of faith 8
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.

Answer 1

The JST of the Bible brings the Bible into a correct understanding and translation

This verse justifies the JST

Question 2

1 Nephi 13:26, 29

And after they go forth by the ahand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews bunto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that cgreat and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.

And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.

Answer 2

This verse also justified the existence of the JST because it shows that plain and precious things will be taken away

Question 3

D&C 76:15

For while we were doing the work of translation, which the Lord had appointed unto us, we came to the twenty-ninth verse of the fifth chapter of John, which was given us as follows-

Answer 3

This illustrates that many of the D&C sections that we have today came during and because of the translation of the Bible

Question 4

Gen. 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Answer 4

With the JST it becomes obvious that we were created in the image of the Only Begotten (Jesus Christ)

Example of restoration to the original text

Question 5

John 1:18 JST (footnote)

No man hath seen God at any time (except he hath borne record of the Son)

Answer 5

This is an example of one type of change JS made to the Bible. Its a correction

Question 6

Moses 1:40-41
And now, Moses my son, I will speak unto thee concerning this earth upon which thou standest; and thou shalt write the things which I shall speak
And in a day when the children of men shall esteem my words as naught and take many of them from the book which thou shalt write, behold I will raise up another like unto thee; and they shall be had again among the children of men-among as many as shall believe

Answer 6

Prophesy of the forthcoming of the PofG

Question 7

Who were the scribes for the JST?

Answer 7

Joseph Smith; Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, Emma Smith, Sidney Rigdon

Question 8

Joseph Smith Translation, JST

Answer 8

It was a translation in the sense of a divine interpretation, hundreds of changes were made to the KJV of the Bible

Question 9

Urim and Thummim

Answer 9

The Lord gave Joseph Smith the Urim and Thummim while he was yet inexperienced in translation, by the time he got to the JST he had come so far as to not need it

Question 10

translate/translation

Answer 10

Translation as used in JS days:

1. To bear, carry or move from one place to another
2. To remove or convey to heaven without death
3. To transfer
4. To change
5. To interpret

Question 11

“Inspired Version”

Answer 11

This is the version of the Bible produced by former RLDS church “community of Christ”

Question 12

Dates:1830-1833; 1851; 1867; 1878; 1880

Answer 12

1830-1833 translation of Bible
1851; Publication of PofGP
1867; Inspired version published by RLDS church
1878; Text from inpired version included in PofGP
1880

Question 13

1. What is the Book of Moses? (Where does it come from?)

Answer 13

It comes from the JST of Genesis

Question 14

What is the Joseph Smith Translation (JST)?

Answer 14

An inspired version of the Bible, not a return to the original Bible manuscript

Question 15

What was Joseph Smith’s attitude toward the Bible?

Answer 15

He believed that it was correct when it was written, but that many things had been taken from it and that some errors had been introduced

Question 16

What makes transmission of texts difficult? What was a scribe’s work like?

Answer 16

They were written by hand and errors were made, pieces of the page possibly missing, forgot words.

A scribes work was extremely difficult, transmissions were handwritten

Question 17

What does Robert J. Matthews suggest concerning what types of material may be included in the JST?

Answer 17

Restoration of lost things, simplification and modernization, correcting errors

Question 18

What chapters of the Book of Moses are “new” material and not revisions of the biblical text?

Answer 18

Moses 1, 6-7

Question 19

Make sure you can recognize the four different types of changes we find in the JST

Answer 19

1. Restoration of the original text
2. Restoration of what was once said but never recorded in the Bible
3. Simplification and modernization of language
4. Correcting errors

Question 20

hich Old Testament JST manuscript is more complete?

Answer 20

Old Testament Manuscript 2

Question 21

What did Professor Kent P. Jackson publish that is significant in understanding theaccuracy of the JST?

Answer 21

He published that the JST had been finished

Question 22

Who currently owns the JST original manuscripts?

Answer 22

Community of Christ

Question 23

How does Robert J. Matthews explain the nature of “translation” when referring to the JST?

Answer 23

When the Prophet Joseph Smith translated the Bible, he was not limited to what was found on the working page in front of him, whether that page was a sheet from the King James Version or a handwritten draft of his own early revision. The text seems to have been a “starting point,” but the spirit of revelation was always an additional source of information.

Question 24

How long did the “New Translation” take and approximately how many changes were made altogether?

Answer 24

3 Years

3,400 changes

Question 25

What kinds of errors can scribes make?

Answer 25

They can forget to add words, ink may be faded, parts of the manuscript may be missing edges or corners

Question 26

21. Take note of the direct blessings of the JST (see also slide 44) and theindirectblessings (see also slide 45).

Answer 26

Direct- many revised readings of the Bible, The Book of Moses, JS-Matthew

Indirect- Revelation in the D&C (56%) and Joseph Smith’s education

Question 27

How many JST manuscripts were there, and which one became the complete and revised manuscript?

Answer 27

Two, the second

Question 28

Did Joseph Smith consider the JST a completed project? Was it published before Joseph Smith died in 1844?

Answer 28

Yes, no

Question 29

What is the contribution of Robert J. Matthews?

Answer 29

He established the relationship to the Community of Christ that enabled us to have access to the Inspired Version of the Bible. Published definitive study that established the accuracy and correctness of the Inspired Version

Question 30

Make sure you understand the historical sequence for the Book of Moses

Answer 30

“Extracts from the prophesy of Enoch” (Mos 6-7)

“The Words of God, which He spake unto Moses” (Moses 1,4,8 etc)

Question 31

What is the most common type of change Joseph Smith made in the Bible text?

Answer 31

Modernization of the text