You know what really upsets me? It is when I read the differences in the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) when compared to the King James Version Bible (KJV). I use the KJV in this instance since the JST is simply a copy of the KJV that was changed and conformed to what Joseph Smith thought was better. You heard that right. This false prophet was telling the people that God revealed to him the real verses and how they should sound, while changing over 3400 verses in total. In some verses, you see full sentences added, others where words are changed, and lastly, where the content of the verses was altered. Additionally, we have more verses added to chapters in order to fill in the gaps. All this took place through the course of the Bible and even in the Book of Revelation. In this study we will look at Revelation, chapter 2, verse 26 and look at just a few of the differences. The comparison with the JST is found below…
Revelation 2:26 (KJV)
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Revelation 2:26 (Joseph Smith Translation)
26 “And to him who overcometh and keepeth my commandments unto the end will I give power over many kingdoms.
The key difference between these two verses is “my works” in the KJV, which suggests the good deeds, services, or actions that God expects from his followers. However, in the JST it replaces that statement with “my commandments“. This changes things to obeying God’s rules or instructions. Another difference is in the reward given to the faithful. In the KJV, the reward is “power over the nations,” implying authority over the people on earth, while in JST, the reward is “power over many kingdoms,” suggesting authority over specific kingdoms on earth, but not all nations. Both of these changes are huge and change the true meaning of the verse at hand. But again, Joseph Smith did care one bit about the Bible, and it read to him. And therefore, his supposed inspired version of the Bible became more popular to the people in the early Mormon church.
There are plagues that God will pour out upon people who add to this prophecy. And for those that remove from it, they will have their name removed from the book of life and also have part in the holy city, New Jerusalem. Therefore, This applies to Joseph as he is currently in hell and will be soon cast into the lake of fire. See below for those details…
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:12-15)
It both grieves and angers me to read the changes that JS has made to the Bible in his translation. This man was not only a false prophet, he has done great damage. He has numerous false prophecies. He has taught heresy upon heresy and has likely led thousands of souls to hell, my grandparents among them. I can hardly stand to look at the corruption he’s done to God’s Holy Word.