LDS edition of the Bible
Encyclopedia
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) publishes editions of the Bible
in English
and Spanish
that it encourages its members to use. The text of the LDS Church's English-language Bible is the Authorized King James Version and the church's Spanish-language Bible is a revised Reina-Valera
translation. The editions include footnoting, indexing, and summaries that are consistent with LDS Church teachings and that integrate the Bible with the church's other Standard Works
.
The eighth Article of Faith of the church states, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly".
. The text of the Bible is that of the Authorized King James Version. Both the Old
and New Testament
s are included, but the Apocrypha
is not. Each chapter includes a paragraph-long heading that summarizes the contents of the chapter from a "Mormon perspective". Cross-referencing footnotes to the Bible, the Book of Mormon
, the Doctrine and Covenants
, and the Pearl of Great Price
are included, as is an LDS-oriented 600-page topical index and the church's bible dictionary
. Selected references to the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
are included in footnotes, with longer excerpts included in an appendix. Lastly, the edition contains bible maps and a gazetteer
. In 1999, color photographs from the Holy Land
were added. None of the LDS-specific supplements in the edition claim doctrinal authority: only the text of the King James Version (and the other Standard Works
) is considered canonical by the LDS Church.
The publication of the English-language LDS edition of the Bible was overseen by apostle Thomas S. Monson
, who later became the President of the LDS Church. The English-language edition has been described as portraying a "strongly conservative" version of Mormonism
that is largely reflective of the theological positions of apostle Bruce R. McConkie
, who assisted Monson in editing the work and wrote the chapter headings.
translation. Changes to the text included modernization of grammar and vocabulary. Like the English-language edition, the Spanish-language edition includes LDS-oriented footnotes and chapter headings, as well as a topical index. Selections of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
are similarly included. The church's Spanish-language Bible project was supervised by general authorities Jay E. Jensen
and Lynn A. Mickelsen
.
Spanish-language edition
Other media
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
that it encourages its members to use. The text of the LDS Church's English-language Bible is the Authorized King James Version and the church's Spanish-language Bible is a revised Reina-Valera
Reina-Valera
The Reina-Valera is a Spanish translation of the Bible, first published in 1569 in Basel, Switzerland and nicknamed the "Biblia del Oso" . It was not the first complete Bible in Spanish; several others, most notably the Alfonsina Bible, were published in previous centuries...
translation. The editions include footnoting, indexing, and summaries that are consistent with LDS Church teachings and that integrate the Bible with the church's other Standard Works
Standard Works
The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
.
The eighth Article of Faith of the church states, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly".
English-language King James Version edition
In 1979, the LDS Church published its first edition of the Bible in EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. The text of the Bible is that of the Authorized King James Version. Both the Old
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
s are included, but the Apocrypha
Apocrypha
The term apocrypha is used with various meanings, including "hidden", "esoteric", "spurious", "of questionable authenticity", ancient Chinese "revealed texts and objects" and "Christian texts that are not canonical"....
is not. Each chapter includes a paragraph-long heading that summarizes the contents of the chapter from a "Mormon perspective". Cross-referencing footnotes to the Bible, the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, the Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
, and the Pearl of Great Price
Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)
The Pearl of Great Price is part of the standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and some other Latter Day Saint denominations....
are included, as is an LDS-oriented 600-page topical index and the church's bible dictionary
Bible Dictionary (LDS Church)
Bible Dictionary is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Since 1979, Bible Dictionary has been published as an appendix to most copies of the King James Version of the Bible printed by the LDS Church. The dictionary contains 1285 entries on 196 pages...
. Selected references to the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
The Joseph Smith Translation , also called the Inspired Version , was a revision of the Bible by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith considered this work to be "a branch of his calling" as a prophet. Smith was murdered before he ever deemed it complete, though most of...
are included in footnotes, with longer excerpts included in an appendix. Lastly, the edition contains bible maps and a gazetteer
Gazetteer
A gazetteer is a geographical dictionary or directory, an important reference for information about places and place names , used in conjunction with a map or a full atlas. It typically contains information concerning the geographical makeup of a country, region, or continent as well as the social...
. In 1999, color photographs from the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
were added. None of the LDS-specific supplements in the edition claim doctrinal authority: only the text of the King James Version (and the other Standard Works
Standard Works
The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
) is considered canonical by the LDS Church.
The publication of the English-language LDS edition of the Bible was overseen by apostle Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
, who later became the President of the LDS Church. The English-language edition has been described as portraying a "strongly conservative" version of Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
that is largely reflective of the theological positions of apostle Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce Redd McConkie was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 until his death...
, who assisted Monson in editing the work and wrote the chapter headings.
Spanish-language Reina-Valera edition
In 2009, the LDS Church published a Spanish-language edition of the Bible. Entitled Santa Biblia: Reina-Valera 2009, the text of the Bible is based on the 1909 version of the Reina-ValeraReina-Valera
The Reina-Valera is a Spanish translation of the Bible, first published in 1569 in Basel, Switzerland and nicknamed the "Biblia del Oso" . It was not the first complete Bible in Spanish; several others, most notably the Alfonsina Bible, were published in previous centuries...
translation. Changes to the text included modernization of grammar and vocabulary. Like the English-language edition, the Spanish-language edition includes LDS-oriented footnotes and chapter headings, as well as a topical index. Selections of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
The Joseph Smith Translation , also called the Inspired Version , was a revision of the Bible by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith considered this work to be "a branch of his calling" as a prophet. Smith was murdered before he ever deemed it complete, though most of...
are similarly included. The church's Spanish-language Bible project was supervised by general authorities Jay E. Jensen
Jay E. Jensen
Jay Edwin Jensen has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1992. On 1 August 2008, he became a member of the Presidency of the Seventy of the church....
and Lynn A. Mickelsen
Lynn A. Mickelsen
Lynn Alvin Mickelsen has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1990....
.
External links
English-language edition- English-language LDS Bible: complete text in PDF, including footnotes and chapter headings. Does not include other supplemental material.
- English-language Old Testament: complete text in HTML, including footnotes and chapter headings
- English-language New Testament: complete text in HTML, including footnotes and chapter headings
- English-language Study Helps: complete text in HTML of the topical index, bible dictionary, maps, and Joseph Smith Translation
Spanish-language edition
- Official webpage of Spanish-language edition
- Spanish-language Old Testament: complete text in HTML, including footnotes and chapter headings
- Spanish-language New Testament: complete text in HTML, including footnotes and chapter headings
Other media
- "That Promised Day: The Coming Forth of the LDS Scriptures" - BYUtvBYU Television__NOEDITSECTION__Brigham Young University Television is a cable/satellite television channel operated by Brigham Young University...
documentary describing the production of the modern (1979+) English editions of the Standard WorksStandard WorksThe Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
, starting with the LDS edition of the Bible.