| Response |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not said why it uses only the King James translation of the Bible, but
it has also never instructed its members not to use other versions. Those decisions are left to individuals. Speaking only
for myself, I quite enjoy the King James Version, and even though it is written in what you have called "Elizabethan
English," there is a spiritual uplift which I feel in the reading of it and, therefore, do not mind its style. As to the
text of the Book of Mormon, we believe that Joseph Smith translated it directly from the reformed Egyptian by the gift and
power of God.
Your suggestion that Elizabethan English might lead to a lot of misinterpretation, there are other opinions which say that
the rewritten versions of the Bible in Modern-day English probably also lead to "lots of misrepresentations."
(Bev's thoughts: The King James Bible was the Bible that Joseph Smith used and is written very poetically. While it might seem hard to understand at times, becoming used to that language by frequent reading, is
most helpful. We are also counseled to read, ponder and pray about what we read, so that the Holy Spirit can help us understand. Bev)
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
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