The JST contains at least 3,410 verses that are different from and add thousands of words and many concepts to the King James Version. The Prophet used a King James Version English text as a manuscript base. This is variously known as the Inspired Version or New Translation. The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (JST). It is not clear from the Prophet’s record whether he actually had the document, or saw it in vision, or was given the translation by inspiration without seeing the document.ģ. Joseph Smith translated it into English in April 1829 by use of the Urim and Thummim. The language of the original is not specified, but was probably Aramaic or Greek. This is a statement originally written on parchment by John the Apostle about the Lord’s promise to him that he would tarry on the earth until the Second coming. Between 18, Joseph Smith used the Urim and Thummim to translate the reformed Egyptian of the gold plates into English.Ģ. Much of Joseph Smiths adult life was spent in the difficult work of translation, as the following chronological list of his translations will illustrate:ġ. Today my focus will be on those things which Joseph Smith produced as a translator. I suppose the number of pages of scripture produced through Joseph Smith exceeds that of any other prophet. Joseph Smith was the means, in the hands of the Lord, of translating and publishing the Book of Mormon receiving, translating, dictating, and publishing the materials in the Pearl of Great Price dictating what is known as the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, and also receiving many revelations that have not been published.

Reading scripture does not make a man a prophet, but a prophet makes scripture almost every day. In producing scripture he was very prolific.

It would be impossible to mention all of his contributions and the wonderful things that the Lord brought forth using him as an instrument. I am pleased to be part of this symposium which is designed to honor the name and memory of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Matthews was professor emeritus of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University when this was published.

Joseph Smith by Richard L. Bushman