Today in the world there are many Bibles, to many to mention. New versions
roll of the press every couple of years. each new version proclaims to be the
definitive Bible, the one we should use to understand God. Today more than ever
men seek greater understanding of the nature of God and many want this to come in
a popular language. Perhaps in light of the new translations of the Scriptures
many Mormons all over the world from all different sects are wondering whether
they ought to give a sacred priority to the Inspired Version. I think they have
every reason to think this was. We as a church have embraced the Inspired
Version and it has led to countless benefits and a wondrous, deeper
understanding of God and his Son Jesus Christ. In understanding the origins of the Inspired Version of
the Bible one gets an deeper, more meaningful love and appreciation of the work
that went in to protecting the manuscript through the years following its
completion until its first printing. In June of 1830, Joseph Smith and Sidney
Rigdon continued the revision of the Scriptures which had begun previously by
Joseph. on his own, knowing he needed greater help in this work he sought out
the help of a man that would stand by him all his life, Sydney Rigdon was
instrumental in helping bring forth this great work. They found a quiet place
to work at Hiram , Ohio Sidney
However in early November the work on the Bible
translation was temporarily halted while Joseph Smith hurriedly tried to
prepare material for the soon to be
published Book of Commandments, this was done by the middle of November,
and the work of translation of the Bible resumed and continued all through the
winter. The task of this great work continued through intervals on and off
until the original manuscript of the Inspired Version of the Bible was completed.
Joseph Smith wrote of this and said:- 'I completed the translation and receiving
of the New Testament, on the 2nd of February, 1833, and sealed it up, no more
to be opened till it arrived in Zion' (Times and Seasons 5:723). Any
one who thinks that the work of the Bible was never finished are sadly
mistaken, we have written proof that it was in a letter sent from Kirtland,
Ohio, to the brethren in Zion and dated July 2,1833, by Sidney Rigdon, Joseph
Smith, Jr., and F. G. Williams, it contains the following statements concerning
the work:- 'We this day finished the translating of the scriptures, for which we
returned gratitude to our Heavenly Father.... Having finished the translation
of the bible, a few hours since...' (Times and Seasons 6:802) As an
interesting side note is interesting to know that the New Testament was
completed first and the Old Testament five months later.
Several years passed, and in 1839 the Saints were driven
from their homes in Far West by mobs and
expelled from the surrounding territory. James Mulholland who was acting as the
secretary for the Prophet Joseph, was in Liberty Jail on spurious charges, and
knowing the value of the translated document entrusted gave them to Ann Scott,
his wife's oldest sister, believing the mob would be less likely to molest her.
However have seen many atrocities committed by the mobs on women she took no
chances, and in turn made two cotton bags large enough to contain the papers of
the Inspired Version of the Bible, once secured she sewed a band around the top
ends, tied them about her waist, and carried them under the folds of her dress
in the daytime and under her pillow by night whenever the mob was present. in
order to preserve these great documents.
My mind reflects upon this story and i ask myslef, if these early saints
looked upon these documents with so much importance how much more important is
it for us, who have the full edition printed today to cherish and use this
great work. The answer is very important. When the time came and the saints
took the perilous journey from Far West to Illinois Ann Scott gave the cotton
bags with their precious contents to the wife of the Prophet Emma Smith, upon
receipt of the precious cargo Emma continued to carry the documents in the same
manner across the state of Missouri and over the icebound Mississippi River,
with two infants in her arms and two small children tugging at her skirts. Emma
knowing how much work went in to bringing us the Inspired Version and knowing
how important it was carefully guarded the work all through the years of her
life. On May 2, William Marks, W. W. Blair, and Israel L. Rogers of the
Reorganised church went to Nauvoo to see Emma Smith with a view to procuring
the manuscript. The only payment Emma wanted for her careful watch of the
precious manuscript over the years was a copy of the book when it came off the
press. The Reorganised
Church
It must not and should not be overlooked that the
Scriptures bear divine evidence of themselves. Possibly the greatest purpose in
scripture is to reveal God to man. We are told, 'Search the scriptures; for in
them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me'
(John 5:40). This would lead any
concerned person to seek for as accurate a translation as possible. If this
were not so, the world would not have seen the biblical and language scholars
of the past and present. Joseph Smith was directed by the Spirit of revelation
when he began the Inspired Translation. Its need was emphasised in a revelation
received in June 1830. In this revelation the Lord said to Moses, 'And
now, Moses, my son, I will speak unto you concerning this earth upon which you
stand; and you shall 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 you shall write, behold I will raise up another like unto you,
and they shall be had again among the children of men, among even as many as
shall believe'. (Revelation to Moses IVB).
The Book of Mormon, which by this time had already been
published, declared that 'many plain and precious parts' had
been removed from the Bible: '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 all this have they done that
they might pervert the right ways of the Lord ... because of these things which
are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceeding great many do
stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them'. (1 Nephi
3:168–170,175) The importance of inspired scripture is emphasized not only in
content, but in the fact that it shall be preserved by the power of God:- 'Thou
shalt ask, and my Scriptures shall be given as I have appointed, and they shall
be preserved in safety; and it is expedient that thou shouldst hold thy peace
concerning them, and not teach them until thou hast received them in full. And
I give unto you a commandment, that then ye shall teach them unto all men; for
they shall be taught unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people'.
(Doctrine and Covenants 42:15–16).
Today there are many fine translations of the Bible,
these include the King James, the New English Translation, the New American
Translation, the Moffatt edition, the Goodspeed New Testament. All of these are
valuable for study and comparison. In them many quotations questioned through
the centuries are given a clearer interpretation. However it must be remembered
that as biblical scholars of the past have declared, early manuscripts written
in Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, and Greek differ somewhat in text, and consequently
obscure any positive interpretation. There are some manuscripts of ancient
origin that have been found that are of either the Old Testament or the New
Testament that have been found today, some we call Gnostic and extreme therefore
the same problems, plus additional problems due to language changes, face the
modern translator to get to the truth Our first and only assurance for the most
accurate revelation of scripture, and most definitely for the fulfilment of the
"precious
parts removed," is in the content of the Inspired Version of the
Bible, which was given through divine providence and not the work of scholarly
man. With this in mid we should never have a problem in using
this great work in our missionary endeavours. Let us never forget that God has seen fit to
restore those lost precious parts that were removed, he would not have done
this unless it was necessary for us to have them restored. In our homes the
Inspired Version of Bible should take the place of the King James Bible or other version, we should
not hesitate to use the Inspired Version over and above all these other works,
as the Lord God has seen fit to give us, so let us not regard this work with
lightness of mind and heart but rather embrace it and use it. As a people we
should have no difficulty accepting the Inspired Version of the bible when we
are in full knowledge of the marvellous manner in which the Bible was brought
forth. In my own case I have found little problem in using the Inspired Version
from the beginning, but rather it has enhanced my love of God the father and
His Son. The Inspired Version has allowed me to more fully understand the
nature of the Gospel as a living entity, Gods relationship with us his children
and our relationship with His Son. I can not stress the importance of this
great work in our lives and because of this at no time should the Inspired
Version be replaced in the pulpit with any other Bible. Others Bibles may be used in making comparison in order to
emphasise the greatness of the Inspired Version and in helping us understanding
of the Inspired Version, but never to replace it in our church meetings.
In closing today can I say again to this church, which is
Gods church. The Lord has emphatically commanded its use among all nations, kindred's,
tongues, and people, this command given as early as February 1831. Let us make no mistake that while other
churches continue to be led astray with other limited versions of the Bible we
stand with God and we substitute nothing and we use only what God has
commanded, and so the Inspired Version takes pride of place in our cannon of
scripture and will remain there until the great and glories day comes. Amen
Prophet Matthew P. Gill
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