Mormon Doctrine

LDS Authority

The Bible


Summary Points:

  • The LDS church takes the official stance that there are many errors, deletions, additions, and mistranslations in the Bible
  • Historical evidence refutes these claims
  • The LDS church claims the Bible is "the foremost of her standard works"
  • Joseph Smith "fixed" the Bible in the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) 
    • The JST is not endorsed as the LDS church's Bible
    • The LDS Church claims Joseph Smith never finished the work, although historical evidences indicate he claimed he had
    • Some JST passages are included as footnotes to the KJV Bible the LDS church publishes
    • The LDS church does not include all of Joseph Smith's changes
  • The LDS endorses only the KJV Bible (with selected JST footnotes)
  • The LDS Church picks and chooses between biblical teachings and the JST to create whatever doctrine support it desires
  • Most Mormons are unfamiliar with the Bible