Section 15: The Joseph Smith Translation — Altering the Text

Beginning in 1830, Smith undertook a "translation" of the Bible, producing what is now called the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) or Inspired Version. He did not use any ancient manuscripts. He worked from an English King James Bible and dictated revisions that he claimed came by revelation. The JST adds an extensive prophecy about Joseph Smith by name in Genesis 50. It rewrites John 1:1 to read: "In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son." It adds thousands of words throughout both Testaments.

The JST is not used as the primary text in LDS worship, but significant JST passages appear in the footnotes of the LDS edition of the KJV Bible and are taught in LDS curriculum.

ERROR IDENTIFIED: Revelation 22:18–19: "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life." The JST adds to Scripture without manuscript basis, without historical evidence, and by the same claimed supernatural mechanism that produced the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham. It is not translation. It is institutional revision of a text that the institution finds inconvenient.