“As all informed persons know, the various versions of the Bible do not accurately record or perfectly preserve the words, thoughts, and intents of the original inspired authors. (Eighth Article of Faith; 1 Ne. 13.) In consequence, at the command of the Lord and while acting under the spirit of revelation, the Prophet corrected, revised, altered, added to, and deleted from the King James Versions of the Bible to form what is commonly referred to as the Inspired Version of the Bible. (D. & C. 35:20; 42:56-60; 45:60-61; 73:3-4; 93:53; 94:10; 104:58; 124:89.)
This inspired revision of the ancient scriptures was never completed by the Prophet, and up to the present time none of his successors have been directed by the Lord to carry the work forth to its final fruition. President George Q. Cannon has written: ‘On the 2nd day 01 February, 1833, the Prophet completed, for the time being, his inspired translation of the New Testament. No endeavor was made at that time to print the work. It was sealed up with the expectation that it would be brought forth at a later day with other of the scriptures. Joseph did not live to give to the world an authoritative publication of these translations. But the labor was its own reward, bringing in the performance a special blessing of broadened comprehension to the Prophet and a general blessing of enlightenment to the people through his subsequent teachings.’
“Again, ‘We have heard President Brigham Young state that the Prophet before his death had spoken to him about going through the translation of the scriptures again and perfecting it upon points of doctrine which the Lord had restrained him from giving in plainness and fulness at the time of which we write.” (George Q. Cannon, Life of Joseph Smith, new ed., pp. 147-148; History of the Church, vol. I, p. 324; Sidney B. Sperry, Knowledge is Power, pp. 9-61.)
“Such changes as the Prophet made in the Bible were done, in the main, by topics or subjects. He did not go from Genesis to Revelation and make all needed corrections in every passage as he came to it. True, in many passages all necessary changes were made; in others he was “restrained” by the Spirit from giving the full and clear meaning. As with all revealed knowledge, the Lord was offering new truths to the world, ‘line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little.’ (D. & C. 128:21.) Neither the world nor the saints generally were then or are now prepared for the fulness of Biblical knowledge. The Lord was operating in conformity with the principle explained by Alma: “It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless, they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children 01 men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.” (Alma 12:9.)
“Such Biblical revisions as have been made may be used with safety, and parts of these are now published by the Church in its standard works. The first l51 verses of the Old Testament, down to Genesis 6:13, are published as the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price. But as restored by the Prophet the true rendition contains about 400 verses and a wealth of new doctrinal knowledge and historical data. The revised 24th chapter of Matthew is also found in the Pearl of Great Price.
“Most of the Prophet’s corrections were made in Genesis, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and the first six chapters of John. Some important doctrinal changes were made in Exodus and other Old Testament books. Very little was done in Acts, but a reasonable number of corrections were made in the various Epistles and in Revelation. In all cases where major changes were made, the student with spiritual insight can see the hand of the Lord manifest; the marvelous flood of light and knowledge revealed through the Inspired Version of the Bible is one of the great evidences of the divine mission of Joseph Smith.
“The fact that some changes were made in a particular passage or chapter does not mean that all needed corrections were given even in that portion of the Bible. Important changes were made in several thousand verses, but there are yet thousands of passages to be revised, clarified, and perfected. Alter his work of revision, the Prophet frequently quoted parts of the King James Version, announced that they contained errors, and gave clarified translations-none of which he had incorporated into his prior revisions of the Bible.
“There will be a not-too-distant day when all necessary changes shall be made in the Bible, and the Inspired Version—as then perfected-shall go forth to the world. It is with the full Biblical account as it is with the full Book of Mormon record—both are now hidden from the world and will so remain until, as the Lord said: ‘I shall see fit in mine own wisdom to reveal all things unto the children of men.’ (2 Ne. 27:22.)”