Why the 1830 Church relied on the KJV

Why the Church Restored on April 6, 1830, by Jesus Christ
Relied on the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible

Prepared by
Elder Dwight Burford
October 6, 2024, Printing
[pdf copy]

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While writing a series of posts under the title, Why Look to “the Stick of Joseph” as a Standard,[1] the Lord has led me to quote from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible for many of the references included in this series.  Since I usually study from the Inspired Version (IV)[2] of the Holy Scriptures, I prayerfully asked the Lord why I was to draw primarily on the KJV for this study instead of the IV.[3]

The initial answer I received was that the KJV is a well-established and commonly available version of the Bible.[4]  By quoting from the KJV, the Bible verses referenced would then assist those unfamiliar with the IV in taking an approach similar to the one the Bereans took in confirming the word of the Lord.[5]  It will also help them understand the Bible that shaped the church restored on April 6, 1830.[6]

This leads to the second answer I received:  The first generation of the church restored in 1830 relied on the KJV version of the Bible.  Priesthood of that era quoted from and expounded upon the scriptures preserved in it when teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In fact, in 1831, they were instructed to rely on the Bible available to them in the following law[7] given to the church.

D&C 42:5a,b – And again, the elders, priests, and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in which is the fullness of the gospel; and they shall observe the covenants and church articles to do them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed by the Spirit; and the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith, and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach.

The IV was not yet available at the time the Lord gave this instruction to the ministers of His latter day restored church, and it would not be available to them for many years afterwards.[8]  Because the IV was first published in 1867 by the RLDS church,[9] it became generally available only after some of the priesthood to whom this revelation was initially addressed had passed on to their eternal reward.

When the IV was eventually published as the Inspired Version of the Holy Scriptures,[10] its publication was not meant to claim the KJV was not inspired.  To suggest that the KJV was not inspired would not only call into question the ministry and teaching of that first generation of ministers of the 1830 restored church, but it would also call into question the instruction given by the Lord in D&C 42:5a,b.

It should be noted also that there have been no further instructions given by way of revelations to the 1860 reorganized church updating the instruction given in D&C 42:5a,b.  Specifically, there has been no instruction to the priesthood to exclusively use the IV in their teaching and preaching ministry.  Thus, the Lord’s instruction in D&C 42:5a,b to His priesthood stands unchanged.

Teaching and preaching from the KJV was not only not prohibited, but its use was well-founded based on the instruction given above and in scriptures like the following from the KJV and IV.

II Timothy 3:16,17 (KJV) – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

II Timothy 3:16,17 (IV) – And all scripture given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The third reason I received of the Lord for quoting the KJV was that He had called me to write Why Look to “the Stick of Joseph” as a Standard to show how the KJV includes many prophecies foretelling the restoration of the house of Israel in the latter days.  For this and the other reasons listed above, I have and am continuing to write on “the stick of Joseph” to demonstrate just how the KJV points us toward the Lord’s work of fulfilling His promises to His ancient covenant people, the house of Israel.

As such, both the KJV and IV are of great worth to me in my worship of the Lord and in studying His words, including where the text of the IV clarifies and explains the text preserved in the KJV.  One example of great personal importance regarding the IV is found in Luke 14, shown in the table below.  The underlined words and phrases in the second column have been restored and/or corrected in the IV.

Of especial personal value to me is verse 28 in the IV, which states “Therefore, settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which I shall teach, and command you.”  Prior to moving to Wichita in the summer of 1989, I had been reading this passage while preparing a sermon I was asked to give to our small congregation in Ohio.  As I read it, a vision opened to me, and I found myself standing in the crowd when Jesus spoke these words.

In the vision, I saw Jesus also standing with many people pressing in to hear His words.  The images before me were so vivid I smelled the dust and felt the press of the people.  When Jesus spoke these words, “…settle this in your hearts…,” He was looking right at me it seemed.  His words penetrated deep into my soul as if He was speaking directly to me—as if to no one else—and the sternness of His words impressed upon me the importance of settling His words in my own heart.

This vision is a major part of why I have written and ministered for Jesus Christ to this day.  Since the time of the vision, I have sought to settle in my heart the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ preserved and restored in the scriptures—those given by the Spirit of truth—not only to say but also to do whatsoever He has said.[11]  If for no other reason, this passage (Luke 14:28 IV) and the vision that accompanied it back in 1989 has convinced me of the truth and value of the IV.

While giving the sermon the day following receiving the vision described above, I read from Luke 14 in the IV, including this same passage.  When I got to verse 28, the vision was renewed, and I found myself immersed in the sights and sounds I experienced the evening before.  Again, these words of our Lord, “Settle this in your hearts,” sank deep into my soul, leaving me with no doubt Jesus was speaking directly to me and that I must be careful to be faithful to His words in all things in the days to come.

Accordingly, I am indeed grateful for the IV and that it is available to us today because I believe the Lord has revised the Bible to restore many important clarifications and records through it.  Examples of the many changes to the biblical text over the centuries, e.g. by way of scribal interpretations and errors, are evident in the differences between the Masoretic and Septuagint versions of the Bible, and by those in the many modern versions.  This topic, however, is beyond the scope of this post.

For clarification, since the time of the vision related above, I have studied the scriptures in the IV and KJV diligently to know the will of the Lord for endeavoring to fulfill His calling on my life.  When studying from both sets of scriptures, the Lord has continually impressed upon me that the term inspired revision—as opposed to inspired version—is the more accurate and appropriate description of the Bible version now commonly called the IV by members of the church reorganized in 1860.

In support of calling the IV an inspired revision, recall that on the cover page of the IV it is called An Inspired Revision of the Authorized Version (i.e. the King James Version of the Bible).[12]  Also, note that while Joseph Smith, Jr., worked on the manuscript of the IV, it was referred to as an Inspired Revision (IR) of the Bible[13]—as is printed in the front of most if not all copies of the IV.[14]  Therefore, I have come to understand and think of the IV as an inspired revision of the Bible.

The Lord has even led me to use IR (for Inspired Revision) for Bible references in at least one of my previous major studies.[15]  Even so, I have used the designation IV for Bible references quoted in many of my studies and online posts.  In either case, please know that I regard the IV as an authorized revision by the Lord, and I am not insinuating in any way that the KJV is not inspired.

I am making the point here that the IV is a revision of the scripture because it has been impressed upon me that to insinuate only the IV is inspired—by calling it as such—may be taken by some that I believe the collection of books known as the KJV is not inspired.[16]  I do not believe the KJV is uninspired.  Such a stance would be contemptuously dismissive of the writings of the prophets and apostles preserved to this day in the books preserved in the KJV.  I am confident that these writings are inspired, and I continue to receive assurance from the Holy Ghost[17] to respect them as did the faithful ministers when the latter-day church was established in 1830.

I thus believe if anyone suggests the IV is the only inspired version of the Bible, he or she is challenging the very integrity and ministry of those early ministers of the church restored in 1830 who preached and taught from the KJV.  Because the IV was not made available for many years after Joseph and Hyrum Smith’s martyrdom on June 27, 1844, the KJV was held as an inspired standard for the church through its formative years and for many years after, especially through the dark and cloudy days that followed their deaths.  Since then, both the KJV and IV have inspired a remnant to stay true to the Lord and His covenants and words of eternal life.[18]

A significant part of the history of the Restoration is summed up in the phrase “plain and precious” spoken of by an angel to Nephi as recorded in I Nephi 3:157-183.  This is a lengthy passage devoted to the corruption and removal of many plain and precious parts of the gospel originally found in the scriptures.  This passage is also about how God promised not to leave people in a state of blindness.  This is why the Lord moved to restore His scriptures in these latter days as He fulfills all His promises.

As stated in the passage from the Book of Mormon noted above, the text of the Bible brought to Joseph’s land had been altered by an abominable church.[19]  As a result, many people have stumbled over the years in terms of truly understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ and many of the covenants of God.[20]  To correct this error, God moved to restore the fullness of His gospel through the Book of Mormon and by providing many valuable clarifications and insights into His work of redemption through the IV.

In fine, we all must remember the words preserved in scripture are the words of Christ, and thus they must be heeded for us to inherit eternal life.  For, as Jesus stated, His words are spirit, and they are life.

John 6:63 – It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 12:47,48 – And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

I John 5:10-12 – He that believeth on the son of God [the Word] hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Romans 10:16 – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Isaiah 1:18-20 – Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Many of the words of our Redeemer Lord, Jesus Christ, have been and are now being fulfilled in these latter days.  This is more than evident, I believe, by the advent of the Book of Mormon in 1830.  As such, I have written and am continuing to write posts on Why Look to “the Stick of Joseph” as a Standard.  Through this series of posts, I am endeavoring to show how the plain and precious truths of the gospel are now available for all to see and hear so they may exercise faith in Jesus Christ.

A review of the many events surrounding our Lord’s work of restoration in these latter days was presented in a series of articles written by Joseph Smith III in 1871 and 1872.[21]  In this series of articles, the martyr’s son referred to the inspired revision of the Bible his father prepared as the New Translation.  Brother Joseph also warned against errors and transgressions, no matter their source.

To conclude this post, then, I am including a partial quote from this series of articles written by Brother Joseph as preserved in Church History.[22]  My hope in writing the current post and in providing the following quote is to emphasize the importance of taking a Berean approach when considering the fulfillment of prophecies pertaining to our Lord’s words and His work of mercy and redemption in these latter days.

“The Bible, New Testament (King James’ or common version); the Book of Mormon; the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and the Holy Scriptures (New Translation), naming them in the order of their acceptance by the church, form the comprehensive field of research from which we gather what were the measures of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, with the others who were the pioneers in the work of the last days. We are authorized to believe that in these books are set forth the hope of those men, the promise by which the hope is offered, and the measures by which it is guaranteed and attained unto.

“These books are then so authenticated that they are to us the statutory enactments by which the masses of the church may claim their liberties, the propagation of the gospel be prosecuted, and the gathering indicated be effected. All men who have accepted the work and the works of these men consonant with the general character of their religious government, must be tried in their lives, and public teaching, by the rules of their accepted laws.  Where these condemn, the acts condemned must be censured or ignored.  Hence, where Joseph and Hyrum Smith, either as teachers of the great principles of life, or as exemplars of those principles, fell into an erroneous conception of them, and practiced accordingly, or willfully transgressed them, their successors are warned not to transgress in like manner, or fall into like errors.”

[1] The link to the introduction of the original series is:  https://hisworkmanship.net/why-look-to-the-stick-of-joseph-as-a-standard-chapter-1/

[2] https://scripturetoolbox.com/html/iv/index.html.  The IV, also called the New Translation, is a version familiar to members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) and the other branches that sprang from the 1860 reorganization of the church Jesus Christ restored on April 6, 1830.

[3] KJV & IV comparisons:  https://scripturetoolbox.com/html/ic/index.html & http://www.restoredgospel.com/Scriptures1/IVKJ_INDEX.php

[4] RLDS Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 34 Page: 662 (See the last paragraph on the page, which continues onto the next page.)

[5] Acts 17:10-12

[6] RLDS Church History Vol. 1 Chapter 6 Page: 67 (April 6, 1830); cf. D&C 46:3a-4b with James 1:5

[7] D&C 41:1b & D&C 43:1a with D&C 42:Intro & D&C 42:16a

[8] For a history of the IV, see beginning at:  http://www.restoredgospel.com/Scriptures1/Shell_Context_History.php?ID=1945&R1=V1

[9] RLDS Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 12 Page: 247 (April 6, 1860)

[10] Note:  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) church refers to the IV as the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible.  See, for example:  https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/robert-j-matthews-and-the-rlds-churchs-inspired-version-of-the-bible/

[11] cf. James 1:22 & D&C 83:8b with Luke 14:28 IV & John 12:49,50; see also II Timothy 3:16,17 IV with II Timothy 3:16,17 KJV

[12] https://www.centerplace.org/hs/iv/InspiredVersionBible.pdf

[13] See also D&C 34:Intro, D&C 74:Intro & D&C 88:Intro with Church History Vol. 4 Chapter 14 Page: 238 (~1879)

[14] Note:  The IV is also referred to as the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible by the LDS church as stated in the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/joseph-smith-translation-of-the-bible?lang=eng

[15] https://www.hisworkmanship.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/PolygamyAndLamanites20July08ARev.pdf

[16] Note:  I agree with the IV that the Song of Solomon in the KJV was not inspired by God, and thus in my own writings I do not reference this book included in the KJV.

[17] See John 14:15-17,26 with John 16:7-15

[18] e.g. Genesis 6:45-71 IV with John 3:1-22 IV, John 6:1-63 IV, & Revelation 13:8b,9 IV (I Peter 1:18-21 IV); see also, for example. John 8:59-58 IV & Hebrews 11:17-19 IV with Genesis 6:45-71 IV & Genesis 22:7-10 IV

[19] cf. I Nephi 3:155-166.

[20] I Nephi 3:155-217 & II Nephi 2:17-23

[21] RLDS Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 34 Pages: 646-686

[22] RLDS Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 34 Pages: 661-662