Of All Things

The Prophet Joseph Smith spent many months translating, by revelation, the King James Version of the Bible. We now have part of the Joseph Smith Translation (or JST) included in the Latter-day Saint version of the King James Bible, along with the book of Moses and Joseph Smith—Matthew in the Pearl of Great Price. While he was translating the Bible, the Prophet also received many revelations that are in the Doctrine and Covenants (see sections 76, 77, 86, 91, 107, and 132).

See if you can answer these questions about the Joseph Smith Translation.

1. Joseph Smith started this translation in June 1830. When did he finish most of it?

   1. December 1831

   2. June 1832

   3. July 1833

2. How many pages was the JST manuscript when completed?

   1. 213

   2. 477

   3. 628

3. The Prophet had at least three scribes help him as he was translating. Of the following three scribes, which one recorded most of the JST?

   1. Oliver Cowdery

   2. John Whitmer

   3. Sidney Rigdon

4. Which article of faith states, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; …”?

   1. Fifth

   2. Eighth

   3. Eleventh

Answer:

There’s a wealth of information …
if you know where to dig.

You already know you can find the scriptures and lots of study helps at www.lds.org. But if you dig a little deeper in the Gospel Library, you’ll discover a lot more. Click on one of the links under Church Publications to access:

• The New Era, Friend, Ensign, and Liahona magazines

• For the Strength of Youth

• Personal Progress and Duty to God guidelines

Back in the year 2000, Christina Jenkins’s family had a grand idea for family scripture study: why not read the whole Book of Mormon in a month?! The family, from Yorktown, Virginia, started the month before the school year started, and her dad calculated they would need to read at least 17 pages a day to meet their goal. To help them feel the true spirit of the Book of Mormon, the Jenkins family also decided not to watch television for that month.

“The events that occurred and the lessons we learned became so much clearer,” Christina says. “Reading the Book of Mormon personally and with my family each year has strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Christina’s family enjoyed their month-long reading of the Book of Mormon so much they have done it every year since.

During the early years of the reign of the judges, Alma and the other Church leaders worked hard to lead and guide the people of Nephi. Their examples of leadership still apply today. You can read about them in Alma 1:26:

“And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.”

Being an effective leader takes great humility and hard work. As you read the Book of Mormon, notice the qualities of successful leaders, and try to bring them into your life.