Changed LDS Scripture/Part 10

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In this series about the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible we have discussed only a few of the changes in the first seven chapters of Genesis. Yet, God’s “Only Begotten” Son, the Holy Ghost, and some LDS doctrines have been mentioned several times. Such things are out of place in these early chapters of Genesis. But Genesis 7 in the JST has more changes and additions. Noah was born long after God took Enoch to heaven, but Genesis 7:49-51 in the JST says God revealed to Enoch that Noah would build an ark which would save his descendants from a great flood. And Genesis 7:57-58 in the JST says,

Enoch continued to cry unto the Lord, saying, I ask thee, O Lord, in the name of thine Only Begotten, even Jesus Christ, that thou wilt have mercy upon Noah, and his seed, and that the earth might never more be covered by the floods. And the Lord could not withhold; and he covenanted with Enoch, and sware unto him with an oath, that he would stay the floods; that he would call upon the children of Noah; and he sent forth an unalterable decree, that a remnant of his seed should always be found among all nations while the earth should stand.

Did Enoch have more compassion for Noah and his family than the Lord Himself had? And does “the Lord” have an “Only Begotten” named “Jesus Christ” in the Old Testament as the JST says in Genesis 7:57?

In Genesis 7:61-62 of the JST Enoch said, “When the Son of Man cometh in the flesh shall the earth rest? I pray thee show me these things. And the Lord said unto Enoch, Look; and he looked, and beheld the Son of Man lifted up on the cross, after the manner of men.” Notice that it says Enoch saw the “Son of Man lifted up on the cross, after the manner of men.” But the cross was used by the Romans centuries after Moses wrote Genesis and it was not the “manner of men” when Genesis was written.

Genesis 7:66-67 of the JST also says,

And Enoch beheld the Son of Man ascend up unto the Father; and he called unto the Lord, saying, Wilt thou not come again upon the earth? For inasmuch as thou art God, and I know thee, and thou hast sworn unto me, and commanded me that I should ask in the name of thine Only Begotten; thou hast made me, and given me a right to thy throne, and not to myself, but through thine own grace; wherefore I ask thee if thou wilt not come again on the earth? And the Lord said unto Enoch, As I live, even so will I come in the last days….

In this text Enoch is talking to “the Lord” when he asks, “Wilt thou not come again upon the earth?” Then Enoch says to “the Lord,” Thou hast sworn unto me, and commanded me that I should ask in the name of thine Only Begotten….” So, again, Enoch says “the Lord” has an “Only Begotten” Son in Genesis 7:66 of the JST. Genesis 7 in the JST mentions the crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord as well as His Second Coming and His millennial reign on the earth! Those doctrines were not taught in the Old Testament. So, the italicized words above are out of place in Genesis.

Genesis 7:78 of the JST says, “And it came to pass, that Zion was not, for God received it up into His own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, Zion is fled.” Moses 7:69 in the Pearl of Great Price says exactly the same thing. The Bible teaches that only Enoch was caught up to God, but these LDS scriptures teach that the City of Enoch or Zion was caught up to God. Just before that text, Genesis 7:70-72 in the JST says,

And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine own elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare; an holy city that my people may gird up their loins and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion; a New Jerusalem. And the Lord said unto Enoch, Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there; and we will receive them into our bosom; and they shall see us, and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; and there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years shall the earth rest.

The Pearl of Great Price says the same thing in Moses 7:62b-64.

LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie explained LDS beliefs about these texts in Mormon Doctrine on pages 854-855,

After the Lord had called his people Zion, Enoch “built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.” This “Zion in the process of time,” after 365 years, “was taken to heaven,… for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, ZION IS FLED.” Between that time and the flood “many” persons “were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion.” It is this City of Zion (City of Enoch or New Jerusalem) which is to return in the last days, probably shortly after the ushering in of the millennial era. Moses 7:18-69; Doctrine and Covenants 38:4….

McConkie also says on page 532,

In addition to the rebuilding the Jerusalem of old, the latter days are to see the initial building of a New Jerusalem on the American continent, a city which like its ancient counterpart will be a holy city, a Zion, a city of God (3 Nephi 20:22). This New Jerusalem is to be built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Jackson County, MO, is the spot designated by revelation for its construction…. This New Jerusalem on the American continent will have a duel origin. It will be built by the saints on earth and it will also come down from heaven, (the City of Enoch or New Jerusalem) and the cities so originating will be united into one holy city.

None of this is in the Bible.

More can be read about the JST or Inspired Version of the Bible in my book Mormon Claims Answered. We will continue our discussion of the JST next time.

Read Part 11