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Official Scripture or not...?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 2:09 pm
by _Drifting
I know the Mormon Church has an official position that the only version of the Bible that it recognises is the King James Version.
But what about the Book of Mormon?
There have been numerous changes since the first published edition so which one is deemed the official one? I know of a Church leader who let slip that they were studying a different version of the Book of Mormon which, reading between the lines, is the original first edition text. This caused a little good natured muttering within the ward and they seemed slightly embarrassed to have let this slip out inadvertently.
Well, which version is right, or can all the versions be right?
Re: Official Scripture or not...?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 2:57 pm
by _subgenius
Drifting wrote:I know the Mormon Church has an official position that the only version of the Bible that it recognises is the King James Version.
But what about the Book of Mormon?
There have been numerous changes since the first published edition so which one is deemed the official one? I know of a Church leader who let slip that they were studying a different version of the Book of Mormon which, reading between the lines, is the original first edition text. This caused a little good natured muttering within the ward and they seemed slightly embarrassed to have let this slip out inadvertently.
Well, which version is right, or can all the versions be right?
http://www.LDS.org/manual/scripture-stu ... scriptures
Re: Official Scripture or not...?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 3:08 pm
by _Drifting
subgenius wrote:Drifting wrote:I know the Mormon Church has an official position that the only version of the Bible that it recognises is the King James Version.
But what about the Book of Mormon?
There have been numerous changes since the first published edition so which one is deemed the official one? I know of a Church leader who let slip that they were studying a different version of the Book of Mormon which, reading between the lines, is the original first edition text. This caused a little good natured muttering within the ward and they seemed slightly embarrassed to have let this slip out inadvertently.
Well, which version is right, or can all the versions be right?
http://www.LDS.org/manual/scripture-stu ... scriptures
I'm not sure how that clarifies which version of the Book of Mormon is the one to be officially used?
Re: Official Scripture or not...?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:05 pm
by _bcspace
I'm not sure how that clarifies which version of the Book of Mormon is the one to be officially used?
It's the one published by the Church of latest date.
Re: Official Scripture or not...?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:38 pm
by _Tobin
bcspace wrote:I'm not sure how that clarifies which version of the Book of Mormon is the one to be officially used?
It's the one published by the Church of latest date.
Yep, and it sorely needs an update. The Church should go through and remove the KJV english and modernize it. Also, they need to update the reference information and bring it up-to-date (and more robust). While they are at it, they should get a modern version of the Bible (chuck the KJV) that uses modern english. That would make the scriptures much more user-friendly today.
Re: Official Scripture or not...?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:01 pm
by _MCB
It needs to be re-written to become a teaching-story, examples of ethical behavior. The characters who repent and die immediately after, because they might go back on their repentance, for example, need to be re-worked into something more positive. The prophecies about the fate of a culture which becomes judgmental, racist, bearing inter-generational grudges, glories in material wealth, and has no compassion for the poor and unfortunate should be emphasized. The war stories need to portray people on both sides who want to do what is right. The stories of Nephites who are angry because they have to pay rent to Lamanites, and Lamanites who are justly subjugated to Nephites need to be reworked.
Just give it up. It is an impossible task.
Re: Official Scripture or not...?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:59 pm
by _consiglieri
Drifting wrote:Well, which version is right, or can all the versions be right?
I vote for all versions being right.
One of the things I like about Joseph Smith is his willingness to see scripture as fluid and revelation as relative. He was open to new possibilities and didn't let what had been said (or revealed) before limit his vision of new ideas.
He broke the mold, but the LDS Church ended up freezing him in carbonite like Han Solo and putting him on display in Jabba's palace.
All the Best!
--Consiglieri
Re: Official Scripture or not...?
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:30 am
by _MCB
Well, consig, you have the credentials to write a politically corrected version for the twenty-first century. There is some good stuff in there that ought to be emphasized. Go to it. Anything I would write would be regarded as a satire. And I once tried, my puter crashed and I lost it. Maybe God saying "no".
Re: Official Scripture or not...?
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:43 am
by _Dr. Shades
Drifting wrote:There have been numerous changes since the first published edition so which one is deemed the official one? I know of a Church leader who let slip that they were studying a different version of the Book of Mormon which, reading between the lines, is the original first edition text. This caused a little good natured muttering within the ward and they seemed slightly embarrassed to have let this slip out inadvertently.
Well, which version is right, or can all the versions be right?
The official version and the correct version are two very different things.
The official version of the Salt Lake City-based sect is their 1981 version, online at:
http://www.LDS.org/scriptures/Book of Mormon?lang=engThe correct version was published by Royal Skousen, the universally-recognized singular guru of the original manuscripts, after decades of work with them. This one contains, as close as possible, the exact words that fell from Joseph Smith's lips:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Mormon-E ... 899&sr=8-1
Re: Official Scripture or not...?
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:26 am
by _Drifting
Dr. Shades wrote:Drifting wrote:There have been numerous changes since the first published edition so which one is deemed the official one? I know of a Church leader who let slip that they were studying a different version of the Book of Mormon which, reading between the lines, is the original first edition text. This caused a little good natured muttering within the ward and they seemed slightly embarrassed to have let this slip out inadvertently.
Well, which version is right, or can all the versions be right?
The official version and the correct version are two very different things.
The official version of the Salt Lake City-based sect is their 1981 version, online at:
http://www.LDS.org/scriptures/Book of Mormon?lang=engThe correct version was published by Royal Skousen, the universally-recognized singular guru of the original manuscripts, after decades of work with them. This one contains, as close as possible, the exact words that fell from Joseph Smith's lips:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Mormon-E ... 899&sr=8-1
Thanks Shades, so if my Church Leader is studying the original and not the official is that a foot on the rung of the ladder of apostasy?