A CLEAR VIEW

 

Over the years as I have studied the scriptures, I have become extremely grateful for the spiritual gift of translation that was given to Joseph, the Prophet of the Restoration. As much as I love the Old Testament and the Bible in its entirety, I am more than grateful for the brilliance of the Book of Mormon because of its singular process of translation.

This is something Joseph said that I have come to have a testimony of: “Certain errors had crept into the Bible through ‘ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests” (Joseph Smith Teachings, p 327). For this reason, I have been very invested in Joseph’s translation of the Bible passages that have given me a much clearer view.

Sometimes it is just a word that has been corrected that has made so much difference to my understanding. Consider these few:

-        Speaking of Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, who introduced the worst form of idol worship and caused the downfall of the northern kingdom of Israel, Revelation 2:22 says: I will cast her into a bed….the JST corrects that to read, I will cast her into a HELL.

-        In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable….” Joseph’s translation takes just one word out and totally alters the meaning. The JST reads: “And all scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable”.

Here are a couple of examples with much weightier matters:

-        “God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). JST: For unto such hath God promised his spirit. And they who worship him, must worship in spirit and in truth.

-        This is my favourite and one which has almost evolved into a doctrinal theory in the Church. It actually enrages me. In Mark 14:33 we read that the Saviour was sore amazed at the suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. This has caused some prolific writers in the Church to elaborate on how the Saviour knew cognitively what He must do but not experientially. The theory is that He had no idea how bad it was going to be. I would like to challenge this belief.

In JST Mark 14:36, we read: “And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane, which was a garden, and THE DISCIPLES began to be sore amazed….” Yes, He admitted He wished the cup to be removed because it was so bad but He never said He was caught unawares (D&C 19:18-19).

This is why I discredit this theory of Him not knowing. When did we start to believe that a God didn’t know something??? When the pre-mortal Christ introduced himself to Abraham He said: “I am Jehovah and I know the end from the beginning….” (Abraham 2:8). A god who creates worlds without number cannot possibly be lacking in something. It’s unfathomable to me.

I also believe that Jesus was apprised of the exact torture of the Atonement during his 40 days of fasting at the onset of His ministry. Scripturally, “number 40 represents a period of trial, testing, probation, or mourning” (Gaskill, “The Lost Language of Symbolism”, 137). Think about that.

The Saviour was a God before His mortal life. He was not someone who got caught up in the enthusiasm of the Plan of Salvation so He volunteered! Saying that He didn’t understand something until He experienced it is like bringing Him down to humanity’s level. This is just an earthly view that excludes godly capability. His godly knowledge in pre-mortal life makes His voluntary suffering and death even more worthy or our gratitude, adoration and worship. I bow before such a God….the lover of my soul…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: In Him Is All Wisdom and Knowledge by Greg Collins)