My grandmother always had a copy of Joseph Smith’s Inspired Version of the Bible and the Book of Mormon (1830 edition) in her house. Her example has stayed with me all these years, and it has stirred in me a desire to reflect on these sacred texts. Back in the early 1980s, Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles referred to the Inspired Version at a symposium highlighting the importance of this version of the Bible. I think a lot of our brothers and sisters have forgotten or are unaware of what this version of the Bible actually is.
Elder McConkie said that the Inspired Version “is a thousand times over the best Bible now existing on earth.” This was quoted and addressed further in the June 1999 copy of the Ensign magazine. Elder McConkie’s words were not simply a casual endorsement but a significant recognition of what Joseph Smith’s translation sought to achieve. The Prophet’s efforts were not just an endeavour to clarify doctrinal matters; they reflected an inspired mission to restore truths lost or obscured over time.
In a blog post I made a few years ago, I answered the question as to why we should use the Inspired Version. Reflecting on that, I think it is crucial to remember that the Inspired Version is not merely a translation or an alternate text. It is an ongoing witness to the Restoration, a testament to the work of God in guiding His people in these latter days. It serves as a key to understanding the fullness of the Gospel, particularly when studied alongside the Book of Mormon.
While some may view the Inspired Version with historical or scholarly interest, it carries a deeper spiritual importance for me and for those who cherish it. The Inspired Version presents truths with greater clarity and completeness, providing corrections, additions, and inspired explanations that align with the Restoration’s mission. We are invited not just to read these passages but to study and ponder them, allowing the Spirit to unfold further understanding in our hearts and minds.
A Witness to the Restoration
As I look back on my grandmother’s faithful adherence to the Inspired Version and the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, I think of the importance of holding fast to our spiritual heritage. These texts are not relics of a bygone era; they are living witnesses to the unfolding Restoration, still relevant and meaningful for us today. They help us see Heavenly Father’s hand at work in the re-establishment of His Church and guide us as we seek to better understand His word.
In the same way, the Scriptures that my grandmother treasured and taught have helped me to centre my faith on the core doctrines of the Restoration. They have become part of my personal and spiritual identity, affirming my testimony in the ongoing work of the Lord in these latter days. For me, this is not a matter of literary interest alone; it is a deeply spiritual matter that calls me to seek and cherish greater light and knowledge as the Lord reveals it.
The Inspired Version is “For the Salvation of Souls”
In an article from the Religious Educator (Vol. 5, no. 2 – 2004) from BYU’s Religious Studies Center, we read:
The Prophet Joseph Smith was commanded by God to undertake the translation of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. Joseph Smith testified that the work of translating the Bible was one “which the Lord had appointed” him to do (see D&C 76:15), and he considered the revision an integral “branch of his calling.” The work of translation occupied much of the Prophet’s time from June 1830 to July 1833. During this time, the Prophet combed through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The Prophet’s translation would, in part, restore lost meaning and material to the sacred record as well as correct erroneous parts of the King James text. Though more could have been done, the Lord was pleased with Joseph Smith’s translation and directed the Prophet and other Church leaders to “publish the new translation of my holy word unto the inhabitants of the earth” (D&C 124:89; see also D&C 104:58–59)
…the JST is significant for several important reasons. The Savior declared that the JST contains the “fulness of my scriptures” (D&C 42:15; 104:58) and has been revealed for the “salvation of mine own elect” (D&C 35:20). Later, the Lord declared to Frederick G. Williams, then a member of the First Presidency, that Joseph Smith was called to “do a great work” and that the “work of translation [was] for the salvation of souls.”
Studying the JST is one of the most rewarding scripture-study experiences that can be had … The Savior pronounced these inspired verses to be “even as they are in mine own bosom” (D&C 35:20). Thus, more than a historical artifact, the JST is divine scripture to be used. As Elder McConkie testified … that “the added truths [the Prophet Joseph] placed in the Bible and the corrections he made raise the resultant work to the same high status as the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.” Thus, when we read the Bible through the lens of the JST, we have, as it were, the Holy Spirit and the Prophet Joseph Smith at our side to guide our study and comprehension.
But many have yet to discover, much less appreciate, this work that was commanded to be taught “unto all men . . . to the salvation of [God’s] own elect” (D&C 42:58; 35:20). More than a reference work, the JST was given “for the purpose of building up my church and kingdom on the earth, and to prepare my people for the time when I shall dwell with them, which is nigh at hand” (D&C 104:59). {Thomas E. Sherry and W. Jeffrey Marsh, “Precious Truths Restored: Joseph Smith Translation Changes Not Included in Our Bible,” Religious Educator 5, no. 2 (2004): 57–74.}
We have been given the Inspired Version as an essential resource, and it is incumbent upon us to approach it with reverence, gratitude, and a willingness to learn. I believe that in doing so, we draw closer to Christ and gain a clearer understanding of His teachings and commandments. Just as Elder McConkie encouraged, let us not overlook or set aside this divine gift but instead turn to it with open hearts and receptive spirits.
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