I want to wish all of you a most blessed Easter. For those of you with spouses or other family members still caught in Joseph Smith's tangled web, don't give up hope. For those of you who will be attending church alone this Easter morning, you are never really alone. Christ died and rose again so that none need ever be alone. When we hit the door of the church we will find loving hands.

My tears and prayers go out to each one of you; you who who are struggling, trying to find the truth; you who are grappling with loved ones who have not yet found the light; you who are still victims of the evil, may God's light shine on you all.

In His amazing love

Jan

Unlike the New York Times, which sticks its corrections on the last page, between an add for arugula (which isn’t even in my spell check) and the answers to last week’s crossword puzzle, let me be right up front with my correction. Or at least my I’m-still-trying-to-find-proof copout.

Here is the statement in question from the last post, "What's in a Word?":

“. . . misunderstood by Joseph Smith when he wrote his so-called inspired version of the Bible. You remember, the one he translated using the seer stone in his hat, right after he wrote the Book of Mormon utilizing essentially the same method. (Emphasis mine)

I was sure I had heard or read that this was the case. But Paul, who has about twenty more years of research than I, says no, it was something he and Sidney Rigdon cooked up. I have no doubt about that; it’s well documented. But I was certain I’d read about the Urim and Thummim/seer stone in the hat in the “translation” of the “Inspired Version” as well as the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. Not to be easily swayed, because I’m a good part rat terrier, I set out to find the truth.

After much web surfing and crawling through my own books, I got this far:

On a website entitled knowledgerush.com is this paragraph:

“ It is possible, but not certain, that Smith's process of receiving ‘revealed text’ is the same for this volume [Joseph Smith Translation] as it was for his earlier work, The Book of Mormon, and his later work, The Book of Abraham; however, these other works appear to have been dictated from beginning to end with little revision, and they purportedly based on an original ancient document. To translate, he may have used a seer stone in a hat, or a purported set of seer stones set in the form of spectacles which he called the Urim and Thummim. According to most accounts, however, most of the translation took place without any physical mediums, but by direct revelation through the Holy Spirit.”

The information doesn’t really reveal much, but I sent a question to them asking about the possibility. I haven’t received a reply yet.

In The Four Gospels of Joseph Smith we find that “In October of 1829 Oliver Cowdery, an associate and scribe for Joseph Smith, purchased a large leather bound edition of the King James Bible at Egbert B. Grandin’s Bookstore in Palmyra, New York. At the time Smith was residing in Pennsylvania. The Bible was published in Cooperstown, New York, by H. and E. Phinney Company in 1828. This printing included the Apocrypha. This KJV 1828 Bible (JS Bible) became the textual basis for the revision.”
H. Michael Marquardt, The Four Gospels of Joseph Smith (Xulon Press, 2007) 33.

This Bible now resides in the Community of Christ archives. It was also published in the town where I was born and grew up: Cooperstown, New York. Woo, woo, woo.

In 495 words I have managed, I hope, to make the correction. It is pretty clear that Joseph Smith did not use the Urim and Thummim, a stone or a hat in the “translation” of the “Inspired Version” of the Bible. Therefore, please disregard the following words: “so-called inspired version of the Bible. You remember, the one he translated using the seer stone in his hat,” in "What’s in a Word?"

I highly recommend that you read about Joseph Smith’s “Inspired Version” of the Bible, found on pages 103-112 in Part Way to Utah. Better yet, re-read the whole book. It’s on this website.

God bless

Jan

Recently there was an article in Restoration Voice which was written by an elder whom I happen to know slightly and for whom I have in the past had a great deal of respect. In it he attempts to explain a passage of scripture, and specifically one word in that passage. We all know how important one word was to a former president but this is a different word and a different context.

The word is “leave” and it was utterly and absolutely misunderstood by Joseph Smith when he wrote his so-called inspired version of the Bible. You remember, the one he translated using the seer stone in his hat, right after he wrote the Book of Mormon utilizing essentially the same method.

Hebrew 6:1 reads: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection: not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God . . .” (KJV)

The word “leave” in the Greek, is aphiemi, meaning to abandon, in some cases, but in other instances, meaning moving beyond something. When I began college, I took a number of introductory courses which laid the foundation for more advanced study: English 101, 102, 103, etc. Then I moved on to 201, 201, 203, etc. I did not abandon everything I learned in the first courses. I simply moved on to the higher level courses, further continuing my education.

This verse has been copiously explained by such scholars as Matthew Henry and John Calvin. Unfortunately, Joseph Smith didn’t have the intellectual capacity to grasp the implication of the passage. So he simply added the word “not” and utterly changed the impact. This is what he had to say about the verse: I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors…. Look at Heb. vi.1 for contradictions—“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection.” If a man leaves the principles of the doctrine of Christ, how can he be saved in the principles? This is a contradiction. I don’t believe it. I will render it as it should be—“Therefore not leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works….”

Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts, 2d ed. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1950), 6:57, 58.*

What makes this so disturbing is the number of seemingly intelligent people who believe this error. But multiply it by the thousands of Joseph Smith errors, inaccuracies, misinterpretations, sleights of hand, and outright lies and we have a church that is trapped in a quagmire of massive proportions. The followers of Joseph Smith would do well to follow instead the example of the Bereans in the 17th chapter of Acts. We wish they would do so.

In His amazing love

Jan

*I borrowed this section from The Book of Hebrews and the Joseph Smith Translation by Robert M. Bowman.

I couldn’t let today go by without wishing everyone a most blessed Christmas and a better new year. Rejoicing in the birth of God’s only begotten Son and sharing the reason for the hope that lies within us, may our joy reach out to everyone who stands in need of the Gospel. Remembering that, no matter the situation, God is still in control.

Here’s a little reading assignment, as if you don’t already have enough to do herding grandkids, finding places to stash your new stash, schlepping the turkey from counter to oven to table, and making sure Grandma doesn’t drink too much eggnog.

Question: Why does Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon say Jesus was born in Jerusalem? (Alma 7:10) Then click on this (those of you who haven’t already read it and committed it to memory) and watch Jeff Lindsay stumble all over his rationale trying to justify it.

Praise the Lord.

This post is intensely personal. If you don’t want to know my most inner thoughts at the moment, I understand. But this is for those of you who are struggling with family members who are still in the clutches of Joseph Smith’s doctrines. At times it seems as if we take two steps forward and seventeen back.

As some of you may know I fractured two vertebrae in a car accident on October 13th. It has involved pain, a turtle shell brace, help with showering, dressing, getting in and out of bed, assistance with some aspect of nearly every activity of daily living. Finally, surgery last Thursday. As a previously healthy and very active senior citizen I had, in an instant, achieved the status of the people for whom I care in the nursing home. Without hubby Cecil, I probably would have ended occupying one of those beds, at least temporarily. Major bummer.

In the two years since I escaped the RLDS, Cecil has been gracious enough to frequently accompany me to my church, Fellowship Baptist in Aurora (Come and visit us sometime and receive a blessing beyond your wildest dreams.) The extremely high gas prices had something to do with it in the beginning. God moves in mysterious ways! But as he got to know our pastor, Lee Parsons, he went more willingly, oftentimes going when I had to work or was otherwise indisposed. He raves about Brother Parsons’ sermons, which are absolutely Bible-based and salted with the zest of someone who has been there and done that. He considers him one of the finest and most sincere human beings he has ever met. He shouts “Amen” from the pew with the rest of us and seems the epitome of a hardcore Bible-believing, fundamental Baptist. He and Brother Parsons have become very close friends. I, of course, have been in seventh heaven (no disrespect intended.)

When I had my accident Cec and Brother Parsons were in Aurora having lunch. I called Cec from the car and the rest of the day involved ambulance rides, x-rays, CT scans and MRIs. Bro. Parsons was there for us the whole time and stuck by Cecil like a third arm. The pain I was experiencing was greatly buffered by the interaction between the two men whom I feel closest to. I truly felt they were on the same page. Keep in mind that Cecil hasn’t been able to attend his church in Miami, OK because he hasn’t been able to leave me long enough. I have considered this a gift from God and have told myself that surely he must have “seen the light” by now.

A few days ago I was resting after a flurry of activity. For me a flurry of activity is going to church and coming home. Cecil and I were talking about the wonderful people at Fellowship Baptist and how fortunate we are to have them in our lives. Cecil mentioned Bro. Parsons and again commented on how well they get along. Then he added, “Even though we don’t see eye to eye on some issues I consider him one of my best friends.”

Understand—I am on pain medication and my brain doesn’t always thoroughly engage before my mouth starts running. “What issues?” I queried.

“I believe the Book of Mormon,” Cecil answered.

I was shattered with disappointment. Quite honestly, I don’t remember how the rest of the conversation went. But after he left the room I spent quite a lot of time in tears and prayer.

Now, in the cold light of reality, I can almost look at it rationally. Cecil has been a member of Joseph Smith’s church since the mid 60’s, most of his adult life. He has heard nothing but preaching from the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the “Inspired” version of the Bible for most of that time. How can I expect him to “get it” when he is not even looking or questioning, and he truly believes Joseph Smith was a prophet? What makes me think he will just gather up those books and toss them into the trash just because he agrees with much of what he hears at my church? Of course some of it is similar, which makes the Joseph Smith church, or any false church, for that matter, so insidious.

My error was in thinking for God. I believe we all do this on occasion. Okay, God, here’s what I think you’re doing because it’s a really good idea, it fits perfectly and it certainly suits my agenda. Let’s face it; God doesn’t need us arranging His plans for Him. What an abrupt awakening.

Someone once said to me, “Make plans but don’t plan the outcome.” I never really understood it until this little incident. I think I understand it now: we may think they’re our plans, but if we let God into them, it’s always His outcome.

God bless and thanks for listening. You are all in my prayers. Have a blessed holiday season and yes, it is okay so say Merry Christmas. I'll try to get God Doesn't Run a Cafeteria 2 up soon.

In His amazing love

Jan