So there was an actual Joseph Smith Translation. If Mormons know that but don't acknowledge that, isn't that a form of dishonesty?
And if Mormons claim to read the bible, wouldn't Paul's warning about perverting the bible be burning in their heads over Joe's tampering?
Joseph Smith wrote himself into the Genesis book, fabricating a prophecy of his 'coming forth in these latter days'. I can't think of a conman more bold than to add hundreds of words to the Genesis book in order to fabricate a prophecy of his advent in these latter days, so you might get a kick out of reading that little segment. The JST version is available online; go to the fiftieth Chapter of Genesis.
Yes, indeedy!
It could be after a fashion. some of the ardent mormons would argue that the 'translation' was never finished, so it couldn't be accepted into the canon of mormon scriptures - that combined with the fact that the RLDS hold the rights to it.
Modern mormons are faced with once again very difficult problem with the JST like they do the book of abraham - a translation that is NOT a translation. Historically IIRC, bring'em young opposed the JST because it differed with the book of abraham, it wasn't until after his death that the boa was adjusted and accepted as canon.
overall - the JST contains GLARING contradictions in doctrines and leaves errors that modern scholars have identified in the KJV. All in all, it is a mess.
When one places the academic fraud of the JST together with the Book of Abraham, the kinderhook plates, the Greek Psalter incident, and the Book of Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar, it totally destroys any credability that smith had the gift or ability to translate ANYTHING.
Since the official doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-Day Saints says that "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly", I am always surprised when they fail to mention the Bible that the Prophet Joseph Smith himself supposedly translated to restore all these things that they claim were lost. Why wouldn't they want to advocate the most accurate translation known to modern man...
The LDS official website offers free access to this important work, yet Article #8 in your Summary of Beliefs still makes an Official LDS Disclaimer that the LDS should only believe the Bible "as far as it is correctly translated". Since Joseph Smith produced the JST, that means meaning a "correctly translated" version supposedly exists now! But it's my understanding that the website doesn't give access to the entire JST. It gives free access to the entirely of every other scripture held sacred by the LDS (including some not mentioned in the "Summary of Beliefs"), and the JST is similarly expurgated in it's printed form. Why does the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-Day Saints withhold this important scripture from it's members? Or at least make the appropriate changes to Article 8 to reflect the JST's existence?
For what it's worth, the official website says this about the use of the word "translation" as it applies to the JST:
"Because the Lord revealed to Joseph certain truths that the original authors had once recorded, the Joseph Smith Translation is unlike any other Bible translation in the world. In this sense, the word translation is used in a broader and different way than usual, for Joseph’s translation was more revelation than literal translation from one language into another."
Even with a supposedly restored and properly translated Bible, the LDS church still insists on offering a disclaimer that they don't know if the Bible (KJV, JST, or otherwise) is translated correctly or not. Not exactly the kind of assuredness I'd expect from an organization led by a prophet.