Joseph Smith: An Apostle of Jesus Christ

LDS.org ^ | Dennis B. Neuenschwander

[Paragon Defender]

Joseph Smith: An Apostle of Jesus Christ

By Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander Of the Seventy

 

 

 

Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “Joseph Smith: An Apostle of Jesus Christ,” Ensign, Jan 2009, 16–22

Adapted from a presentation to the Seventy.

 

 

 

In the Doctrine and Covenants we read that Joseph Smith was “called of God, and ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ” (D&C 20:2). The call of an Apostle is first to witness or testify of Jesus Christ. Old Testament prophets testified of His coming. The New Testament Apostles bore personal witness of Christ’s being and of the absolute reality of His Resurrection. This apostolic witness was the basis of their teaching. “Ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8) was Jesus’s instruction to the original Twelve. Peter testified on the day of Pentecost to the Jews who had gathered “out of every nation” (Acts 2:5) that “this Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Similarly, Paul wrote to the Corinthians that Jesus “was seen of me also” (1 Corinthians 15:8). The sure witness of Christ’s being and the reality of His Resurrection is the first pillar of apostolic testimony.

The second pillar is centered on the Savior’s redemptive and saving power. Peter teaches that to the Lord “give all the Prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).

Without these twin pillars of testimony concerning Christ, there could be no Apostle. Such testimonies are born of experience, divine command, and instruction. For example, Luke writes that Christ showed Himself to the Apostles “alive after his passion … being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).

How does the Prophet Joseph Smith fit into these apostolic requirements? The answer is “Perfectly.”

The First Vision

Joseph Smith’s apostolic instruction began in 1820. Pondering the questions of religion, he soon found that there was no way to reason or argue one’s opinion to an authoritative conclusion concerning the correctness of the various churches or their doctrines. Short of a divine manifestation, young Joseph could add only one more opinion to the already existing “war of words and tumult of opinions” (Joseph Smith—History 1:10). But Joseph’s questions on religion were answered by the personal and physical manifestation of God the Father and His divine and living Son, Jesus Christ—an experience referred to as the First Vision.

Like that of the original Apostles, Joseph’s experience with Deity was direct and personal. There was no need for the opinion of others or the deliberations of a council to define what he saw or what it came to mean to him. Joseph’s vision was at first an intensely personal experience—an answer to a specific question. Over time, however, illuminated by additional experience and instruction, it became the founding revelation of the Restoration.

As apostolic as this manifestation of Christ’s being, existence, and Resurrection was to Joseph Smith, it was not the only thing Jesus wanted to teach him. The boy Joseph’s first lesson arose from the manifestation of Christ’s absolute, omnipotent, and divine power. Joseph learned firsthand at least one meaning of the redeeming and saving power of Christ when he prayed in the grove. As he began to pray, “Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction” (Joseph Smith—History 1:15). With every bit of energy Joseph had, he began to call upon God to deliver him from the grasp of this enemy.

“At the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction … , I saw a pillar of light. …

“It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound” (Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17).

Joseph Smith’s confrontation with the adversary is reminiscent of an experience Moses had, about which the Prophet would learn some few years later. Unlike the boy Joseph, however, Moses saw God’s greatness first and then was confronted with the power of the adversary before being delivered from his influence. (See Moses 1.)

The difference in the order of events is significant. Moses was already far into maturity and had much knowledge and influence prior to this event. By displaying His magnificent power to Moses before he faced the adversary, the Lord helped Moses put his life into perspective. After experiencing God’s glory, Moses said, “Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed” (Moses 1:10). This incident enabled Moses to withstand the temptations of the adversary that followed.

Joseph Smith, on the other hand, was an inexperienced young man, who in his lifetime would repeatedly face adversarial power and the overwhelming problems it brings. By facing the adversary first, then being saved from his assault by the appearance of the Father and the Son, Joseph learned this indelible lesson: as great as the power of evil might be, it must always withdraw with the appearance of righteousness.

This lesson was critical in Joseph’s apostolic education. He needed this knowledge not only because of the personal trials that lay ahead of him but also because of the overwhelming opposition he would face in founding and directing the Church.

The boy Joseph went into the grove seeking wisdom, and wisdom he received. His apostolic instruction had begun. Among the great apostolic lessons of this First Vision were both the physical nature of the Savior and Heavenly Father and the initial and fundamental lessons relating to Their power—each a pillar of apostolic testimony.

The Book of Mormon

Joseph Smith’s early apostolic instruction continued with his translation of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon gave Joseph access to “the fulness of the everlasting Gospel” (Joseph Smith—History 1:34), principles that were necessary to understand even prior to the organization of the Church. The Prophet was introduced to numerous “plain and most precious” (1 Nephi 13:26) prophetic and apostolic testimonies regarding the Savior, all of which served as models for him.

Indeed, the Book of Mormon prophets employ over 100 titles in their teachings of Christ, each of which helped Joseph understand the Savior’s divine role.1 By virtue of these teachings, Joseph Smith became intimately acquainted with ancient prophets, giving him insight into the divine purpose of his responsibilities.

The Book of Mormon illuminates the universality of Christ’s Atonement. The Savior’s holy sacrifice is not confined to the borders of the Holy Land of His day or even restricted to the apostolic world of the original Twelve. The Atonement encompasses all of God’s creations—past, present, and future. What an impression Jacob’s teaching of the “infinite atonement” (2 Nephi 9:7) must have made on the mind of young Joseph, especially in contrast to Christian teachings at the time.

The Book of Mormon also introduces the universality of the Resurrection and other doctrines relating to it. Discourses on this doctrine by Lehi, Jacob, King Benjamin, Abinadi, Alma, Amulek, Samuel the Lamanite, and Moroni are all rich sources of instruction.

During the translation of the Book of Mormon, the Prophet received additional valuable personal instruction concerning the redemptive and saving power of Christ. In 1828 Martin Harris persuaded Joseph to lend him the first 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript. When Martin Harris lost those pages, the Prophet felt an enormous despair.2 His mother, Lucy Mack Smith, recorded that Joseph exclaimed: “Oh, my God! … All is lost! all is lost! What shall I do? I have sinned—it is I who tempted the wrath of God. … How shall I appear before the Lord? Of what rebuke am I not worthy from the angel of the Most High?”3

For well over a month the Lord left Joseph in this terrible condition of remorse.4 Then came relief and the apostolic lesson. The Lord told Joseph:

“The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught. …

“For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him” (D&C 3:1, 4).

These words carefully describe what Joseph Smith had been experiencing. He had learned the exacting nature of the apostolic call and to whom the Apostle, at all cost, owes his loyalty. “Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words,” Joseph was told, “yet you should have been faithful” (D&C 3:7–8). Joseph Smith had lost access to the plates for a season and had been taught an invaluable lesson. Subsequently, the plates were returned, and his position as translator restored.

How critical were the lessons provided by the translation of the Book of Mormon as Joseph Smith grew in his apostolic calling! The Book of Mormon is the “keystone of our religion”5 because it contains so many prophetic testimonies of Christ and stands as a tangible witness of the Restoration.

Continuing Revelation and Scripture

After finishing the translation of the Book of Mormon in 1829 and organizing the Church in 1830, Joseph Smith had the opportunity to receive continuing apostolic education through the process of translating other scripture. This included three years of translating the Bible and, beginning in 1835, translating the book of Abraham. Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible expanded his understanding of the role of Old Testament prophets and New Testament Apostles. It also resulted in additional revelation, namely the book of Moses.

The book of Moses provided the Prophet with important knowledge about the Savior’s ministry, including His role in the Creation. “The Lord spake unto Moses, saying: … I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten I created these things” (Moses 2:1). Further, He said, “And worlds without number have I created; … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:33).

The book of Moses clarified Christ’s relationship to the Father in the premortal existence and reinforced the Prophet’s understanding of the ascendant power of righteousness. One of the most beautiful of all the apostolic lessons that came to Joseph Smith in this revelation was the confirmation of God’s love. It was so different from the harsh, unforgiving, and judgmental personage so many believed God to be; the book of Moses reveals a God of infinite compassion. Enoch saw that the “God of heaven … wept” (Moses 7:28) over those who would not receive Him. Wishing to know how it was possible, Enoch was given an answer that has a familiar biblical feel to it: “I [have] given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father. … Wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?” (Moses 7:33, 37; see also Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37–39).

Through the translation of the book of Moses, the Prophet also became more acquainted with the redeeming and saving power of the Savior. As the Lord said, this earth was created “by the word of my power” (Moses 1:32) for the purpose of bringing “to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Many long years before the Savior taught Thomas and the Twelve that “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6), He revealed to Moses that “this is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time” (Moses 6:62).

The First Vision in the grove, the translation of the Book of Mormon, the revision of the Bible, the revelation of the book of Moses, and the translation of the book of Abraham laid the basic foundation of the Church, largely through the rapidly expanding knowledge and testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith relating to Jesus Christ.

Revelations given to him and compiled in the Doctrine and Covenants contain a wealth of knowledge concerning the Savior. One could research the numerous topics and cross-references of the Topical Guide and Guide to the Scriptures referring to Jesus Christ and still not understand the breadth of information on the Savior that the Prophet Joseph Smith brought to the world. I am grateful to know that Jesus was “in the beginning with the Father” (D&C 93:21). I am grateful to know that He “suffered these things for [me], that [I] might not suffer if [I] would repent” (D&C 19:16).

My Testimony of What the Prophet Revealed

I am grateful for yet one other thing about the Savior’s ministry that stirs my soul deeply. From studying the promises of Malachi, Moroni’s initial visit with Joseph, the Savior’s words to the Nephites, and the visit of Elijah in the Kirtland Temple, I learn that God loves His children and has provided a way for each to return to Him. I know of no doctrine more just, no teaching that gives more hope than that of redemption of the dead. I am so grateful for the revelations that teach me that the Savior’s Atonement reaches to those who have lived, loved, served, and hoped for a better day yet never heard of Jesus or had the opportunity to embrace His gospel. This knowledge alone would be sufficient to convert me to the gospel if I knew nothing else at all. Here, at least for me, is the ultimate testimony of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice.

What, then, can be said of the incomparable saving power of Christ? That which Joseph Smith learned in the Sacred Grove about the power of righteousness overcoming evil foreshadows the final scene. So reveals the Lord:

“I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself—

“Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment” (D&C 19:2–3).

Our own testimonies of the Savior are framed by the testimony and teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Is it any wonder then that the Prophet taught that “the fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”6

Joseph Smith’s apostolic testimony of the divine reality and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as his knowledge of the redemptive and saving power of the Savior, can best be seen by the Prophet’s own beautiful, powerful, and succinct witness:

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

How grateful I am for the apostolic call of Joseph Smith.

 

 

 

Notes

1. See Book of Mormon Reference Companion, ed. Dennis L. Largey (2003), 457–58.

2. See Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith, ed. Preston Nibley (1958), 128–29.

3. History of Joseph Smith, 128, 129.

4. The 116 pages were lost in June 1828. In July Joseph Smith received what is now section 3 of the Doctrine and Covenants. In September the plates were returned to the Prophet. See the historical introductions to D&C 3; 10.

5. History of the Church, 4:461.

6. History of the Church, 3:30.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dps.inspect]

You are right... I do not belong in the Mormon Cult... Thanks be to God.

[reaganaut]

We are not into RELIGION. We preach & believe in Jesus Christ.

- - - - - -

I have an LDS friend who I have been witnessing to for the past year. Early on I noticed that she always says ‘my religion’ where I always say ‘my faith’. She will say ‘my religion believes this” or “my religion does this”. It is never ‘my faith’. She has yet to notice (or at least comment) on the differences or ask me why I never use the word ‘religion’.

I have started to pay attention to see of it is common with other LDS and have found that it is.

Mormons talk about their ‘religion’. Christians talk about Jesus and their faith.

[Colofornian]

If you could hie to Kolob in the twinkling of an eye, And then continue onward with the speed of light to fly**, D'ye think that you could ever, through all eternity, Find out the generation where

Gods

began to be? Or see the grand beginning, where space did not extend? Or view the last creation where

Gods

and matter end? Methinks the Spirit whispers, "No man has found 'pure space'," Nor seen the outside curtains, where nothing has a place.

Exactly; Mormon leaders are polytheists, no different in their worship of "gods" than pagans.

JimRob took a very reasoned position in objecting to this article being placed in a protected "caucus" when the article's references themselves are so provocatively controversial.

Example from the article that Paragon Defender tried to sneek by as a "caucus": One could research the numerous topics and cross-references of the Topical Guide and Guide to the Scriptures referring to Jesus Christ and still not understand the breadth of information on the Savior that the Prophet Joseph Smith brought to the world.

I have a copy of the Topical Guide to the Scriptures of of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (published by the church-owned Deseret Book Company, 1977).

When you turn to p. 231, you see under the heading, JESUS CHRIST, CREATOR cont." this reference to "Abraham 4:1" from Joseph Smith "translating" an Egyptian funeral document: "

Gods

, organized and formed the heavens and the earth."

Paragon Defender evidently doesn't have the basic discernment to realize how provocative it is to Christians the Mormon mythical claim that

GODS

PLURAL were behind the creation of the heavens and the earth.

If Mormonism was a stand-alone religion -- like Scientology or Hinduism -- both of which don't claim to be Christianity -- then that would be one thing. But since it claims that we are "apostates" and they are the "restored Christianity," it is indeed highly inflammatory!

BTW, this 1977 book referenced by the author which Paragon Defender posted mentions the Book of Abraham in conjunction with Jesus on pp. 223, 228, 231, 234, 236, 240, 243, 244, 246; and also mentions the "Book of Moses" "translated" (as if Smith knew ANY Egyptian!) from the same Pearl of Great Price source -- also in conjunction with Jesus -- on pp. 222, 223, 226-229, 231-232, 234, 237, 240-244, 246, 249, 258.

[reaganaut]

No one here is going to convince anyone his way is right....why are they bothering?

- - - - -

You sure about that? I know at least 3 freepers who have left Mormonism, one returned to the Catholic faith of their childhood and two are now Born Again Christians. All because of the Christians on this board who fight the LDS teachings.

[greyfoxx39]

It would seem there is a bit of the spirit of Gov. Boggs on FR tonight. I would hope that we can all stop the infighting and focus on the real struggle we are engaged in.

While not reading Jim's mind, I suspect he has grown tired of mormons making posts like this. Those of us who rebut the lies of mormonism on FR are continually compared to murderes, arsonists, called liars and the favorite word is bigot. There have been actual threats made against us on these pages, all in the name of "defending" Joseph Smith.

The caucus title has been used in an attempt to do nothing but proselytize by mormons in an attempt to avoid debate while their posts such as this one, denigrate Christianity.

52,000 daily missionaries and multi-million dollar PR campaigns such as the bait and switch "Get a Free Bible" by the mormon church are ongoing and there are hundreds of posts on FR by mormons whining about being "persecuted" because the actual facts about the cult are posted.

This "Governor Boggs" post is yet another "poor persecuted mormons" whine, and a back-handed slap at Jim Robinson in a sly comparison of Jim to Boggs, as Boggs issued the infamous "extermination order" because the mormons were out of control and posed a threat to other citizens.

On October 14, Smith declared a jihad type of holy war:

“If the people [of Missouri] come on us to molest us, we will establish our religion by the sword. We will trample down our enemies and make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. I will be to this generation a second Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Quran or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us – Joseph Smith or the Sword” –History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 167.

Three days later, Mormons led by a Danite loon named “Captain Fear-not” (originally named David Patten, he had apparently legally changed his name) looted everything they could haul off in Daviess County (a second riot perhaps).

On October 25, the Saints ambushed a Missouri National Guard unit consisting of about two dozen troops at a location south of Far West in what has since been named “the Crooked River Battle.” Four soldiers were killed along with one Mormon — Fear-not — who apparently thought he was invincible and charged the Guard on his own. When the Guard returned to claim their fallen comrades, the found the Saints had mutilated their bodies.

This series of incidents led to Governor Boggs’ “extermination order” on October 27. He activated the state’s entire guard of around 4,500 troops and approved their march on Far West.

So much for the poor persecuted mormons.

Read this letter that Smith sent to the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont, and see just what kind of "Apostle of Jesus Christ" Joseph Smith really was.

Link

"And in the appeal let me say; raise your towers, pile your monuments to the skies; build your steam frigates; spread yourselves far and wide, and open the iron eyes of your bulwarks by sea and land; and let the towering church steeples marshal the country like the "dreadful splendor" of an army with bayonets: but remember the destruction of Pharaoh and his hosts; remember the handwriting upon the wall, mene, mene, teke, upharsin; remember the angels visit to Sennacherib and the 185,000 Assyrians; remember the end of the Jews and Jerusalem, and remember the Lord Almighty will avenge the blood of his Saints that now crimsons the skirts of Missouri! Shall wisdom cry aloud, and her speech not be heard?"

[dragonblustar]

Boldly I stand with the Lord’s annoited servant Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father.

While you're standing next to Joseph, which one of the 14 year old girls will you be standing next too? It's kind of strange that Joseph being the only apostle of Christ to have a sex addiction after meeting Jesus. He poked teenagers and married women. I think if he really did meet Jesus and God, he would have turned away from such lusts like Paul did but instead he acts more like a con man filling up on his own b.s.

Makes you wonder what Joseph's pick up line was?

[Not gonna take it anymore]

bump for later reading.

[colorcountry]

If we find an individual with leadership qualities and potential we do little to directly assist them. We point out possibilities and we open doors. We make introductions and write referrals and recommendations. We put our reputations on the line with every sponsorship. They have to do the work themselves. We aren't looking for Mormons, they just dominate the able and ambitious pool of possibilities.

We, we, we...all the way home. Sounds like you've fallen for their PR campaign. BTW, who is "we."

[Utah Binger]

Makes you wonder what Joseph's pick up line was?

What's your sign?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I’ve always heard the term “Queer as a three dollar bill”. Now we know where it came from.

[reaganaut]

am not a Mormon, but I do know that Mormons and Orthodox Jews have the least of divorces out of all religious denominations and have the least problems with Children and are very family oriented faiths, that help there own when ever they need it......

- - - - - -
Ummm...not quite. LDS divorce rate is about the same as the national average anymore. And they only ‘help their own’ if the person is ‘worthy’ (including paying tithing) and following other church rules.

Charity is meant to be for all (as Christ taught) not just the ‘worthy’. Because no one is worthy but Christ.

Mormonism did a good job of changing my behavior, but it couldn’t change my heart. Only Christ can (and did) do that and He isn’t found in Mormonism. I’ve been there, done that.

The Body of Christ isn’t found in denominations, it is found only in true believers and sadly, Mormon doctrine keeps its members from really knowing and having a relationship with Jesus and that is sad.

[Godzilla]

Nice, I do not condone polygamy. It Is an illegal practice and my religion requires me to obey the laws of the land.

Yet your religion's founder - smith - completely IGNORED the laws of the land and exempted himself from the LAWS of the land. And that continued through until a new "revelation" came to save prophet Wilford Woodruff from having his rear end thrown in jail.

I have pointed out that polygamy is Biblical.

And Jesus made God's will very clear - man was to be married to one woman at a time and vice versa.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

Amen!

[reaganaut]

I don’t really know anything about Mormon Doctrine or Joseph Smith, but I do know Jesus hung out with Sinners some of the worst ones in his days....He stayed away from those Pesky Religious Hypocrites that thought they had everything purrfectly right with G-d.....

- - - - —
“Pesky Religious Hypocrites that thought they had everything purrfectly right with G-d.....”

A perfect description of Mormonism. Seriously. They teach that they are the ONLY true church and the rest of us are apostates and of the ‘church of the devil’. It is all about religion to them, not Jesus.

I suggest reading up on Mormonism. It looks great from a distance but get close and you will see the soul eating maggots.

A couple of great places to start is:

www.irr.org/mit
www.mormonoutreach.org
www.utlm.org

[ejonesie22]

True, I forgot that LDS godhood is the advanced version of the “Heman’s women haters club”

[reaganaut]

“I don’t believe the same as the Catholics or Wiccans or Scientologists or Baptists either but I would not censor them if the appearance of the board was that they are welcome.”

____-————

Like the Mormons, Wiccans and Scientologists aren’t Christians either.

Catholics and Baptists can be however.

[WVKayaker]

Makes you wonder what Joseph's pick up line was?

"Let me show you my seer stones"!

As historians continue to sort through the beginnings of Mormonism, Dan Vogel's comprehensive inventory of all relevant primary documents is an unparalleled achievement. In this first of a multi-volume series, Joseph Smith's family--Emma, Katharine, Lucy, Joseph Sr., William, and others--recount how they became convinced of his high calling, feeling "the spirit of God like a burning fire shut up in [their] bones." These narratives are carefully presented in their original forms with full documentation and annotation.

As confidantes, the Smith family were intimately acquainted with their son's and brother's extraordinary supernatural encounters. Their narratives form an Urgeschichte that they repeated with considerable consistency over the years, despite the fact that Joseph's published autobiography, which became the accepted, canonized version, differs significantly in several areas.

According to family tradition, the young seer retired to his bedroom one evening after discussing the Bible with his parents and siblings. In a night vision he saw an angelic messenger who told him that his sins were forgiven and that he would uncover an ancient record buried near their home. The next day, working in the fields alongside his older brother, he fainted from lack of sleep and again saw the messenger who commanded him to go and retrieve the sacred record.

He found the book, which was inscribed in an unknown script on gold leaves, hidden in a stone box with a pair of eye-glasses, the lenses of which were made of diamonds the size of "an English crown only slightly thicker." By looking through the glasses, then at an opaque seer stone placed in a hat, the book's script appeared as illuminated English words. He published his translation as the Book of Mormon. Later, in a friend's bedroom, Joseph was impressed to ordain elders and to organize a new church. Almost immediately his followers performed miracles, beginning with a dramatic levitation and exorcism which inaugurated the restoration of primitive Christianity. ...

http://www.lds-mormon.com/emd.shtml

[Godzilla]

For most purposes, the KJV is good. As I understand it the LDS group uses a different translation or an edited version of the KJV, is that correct?

The popular lds version is the KJV but with added footnotes from smith's "inspiried" so-called 'translation' of the KJV which was suppose to have 'fixed' all the corruption of the bible over the ages. Known as the JST or inspired version (IV), the RLDS/Church of Christ owns the copyrite to it, but allows LDS to footnote etc. The JST is an academic horror story to the so called prophetic power of smith and his 'version' contradicted the existing lds scriptures. Infact, iirc, even the POGP (Book of Moses) was 'edited' after bring'em young's death to fall in line with the JST's "translation".

PD's question is worthless - good biblical scholarship goes back to the extant Greek and Hebrew texts that the various translations are based upon. Some mormons must also believe that these extant MS are also 'translated' with a peep stone given their ignorance of the subject.

[ejonesie22]

That’s funny, I don’t care who you are...

[greyfoxx39]

I think you would have a hard time moderating the Glenn Beck threads to make sure they didn't digress

In my opinion, once Glenn openly endorses and shills for Romney or Huntsman, there won't be a big problem in moderating the Beck threads.