LDS standard works

L.D.S Standard Works

The standard works of the L.D.S church is the 4 books they call scripture. The Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, The
Doctrine & Covenants and the Bible.

L.D.S VIEW OF THE BIBLE
The L.D.S 8th Article of Faith "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also
believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."

J. Reuben Clark, Jr., On the Way to Immortality and Eternal Life, p.202
As to the Bible, the Prophet Joseph on another occasion (October 15, 1843) said:
"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."

James E. Talmage, Articles of Faith, Ch.13, p.248 (Mormon Apostle)
The present is too late a time and the separating distance too vast to encourage the reopening of the question. The New
Testament must be accepted for what it claims to be; and though, perhaps, many precious parts have been suppressed
or lost, while some corruptions of the texts may have crept in, and errors have been inadvertently introduced
through the incapacity of translators, the volume as a whole must be admitted as authentic and credible, and as an
essential part of the Holy Scriptures

Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol.2, p.65 (Mormon Prophet)
There are no original manuscripts. Second, through the years scribes were busy making copies of the scriptures, and they
inadvertently, or otherwise, made some changes. There is no original copy of any of the books of the Bible known to man
today; that eliminations could have occurred is very possible. Third, in later translations after the scriptures fell into the hands of
Christian scholars who did not accept baptism by immersion, other errors could have occurred. Especially was this the case as
it was revealed to Nephi by the angel of the Lord. On this point Nephi wrote:1 Nephi 13:26 (book of Mormon) And after they go
forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the foundation of a great and
abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel
of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken
away. And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden
the hearts of the children of men.

As you can see the Bible although believed to be the word of God is not believed to be accurate by L.D.S authorities. Their
statements show their ignorance of the subject. There are actually thousands of manuscripts validating the accurate
transmission of the New Testament. As far as the Old Testament the Dead Sea scrolls contain a portion of every book in the
Old Testament with the exception of Ester. The whole book of Isaiah was found in the Dead Sea scrolls. These manuscripts
verify that our Hebrew Text today has not changed from what they had back then.

Keep in mind that the Dead Sea scrolls date back before the Lord Jesus Christ. If the text was corrupt in Jesus' time period he
certainly would know about it. Well Jesus seemed to consider the text reliable.

Matt 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the
Law, until all is accomplished.

Matt 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.

Luke 24:25-27 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! "Was it
not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning with Moses and with all the
prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

John 5:39 "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of
Me;

Jesus said not the smallest letter would pass away. How could they know that if the text was corrupt already?

Jesus said his words would not pass away. Are we now to believe that Jesus was wrong and his words have passed away?

Jesus told them they were foolish for not believing ALL that the prophets spoke. Then beginning with Moses and all of the
prophets Jesus explained the scriptures concerning himself. Does this sound like he believed they could not trust the
scriptures?

Jesus said the Old Testament testified of him and although they searched the scriptures they were unwilling to come to him.
This would be an unfair statement if the text were really corrupt.

Are we now to believe that even though the Dead Sea scrolls verify the accuracy of the text in Jesus' day that we cannot trust
them even though Jesus trusted in them?

Are we now to ignore the thousands of manuscript evidence showing the accuracy of the New Testament simply on their word
without any evidence to back up their statement?