Old Testament 3

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published an edition of the Bible in 1979. It is the King James Version with no alterations. However, there are over 28,000 cross-references to Mormon scriptures. Also in the footnotes are meanings of difficult or mistranslated Greek or Hebrew words. Passages retranslated by Joseph Smith are in the footnotes and an appendix. In addition, there is a Topical Guide and Bible Dictionary, maps and Gazeteer.

This edition of the Bible took years of work, and is based upon the 1909 edition of the Reina-Valera translation. The text underwent a very conservative revision, focusing on modernizing some of the outdated grammar and vocabulary that had shifted in meaning and acceptability. The volume contains new chapter headings, footnotes and cross-references to all scriptures used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Four and a half million members of the Church speak Spanish.

Mormons follow a four year course of scripture study in Sunday School: one year of Old Testament; one year of New Testament; one year of Book of Mormon; and one year of Doctrine and Covenants/ Church History. After the four year course is completed, it begins again. Thus, two of every four years are spent on Bible study. Bible study is also part of the curricula of LDS Institutes of Religion and Seminary for youth.

The Book of Mormon upholds the stories and teachings of the Holy Bible. There are references to stories that some Bible scholars view with skepticism, such as the Tower of Babel and story of Jonah. The Book of Mormon is a second witness for Jesus Christ. After His resurrection, Christ visited the Book of Mormon peoples, whom He described to His original apostles as "other sheep which are not of this fold" (John 10:16). From among them, He chose 12 apostles and organized His Church.