Memo #107

August 1, 2009
Re: 8th Article of Faith
From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard M. Pratt

“We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”
Out tracting one day Mother and I knocked on a door in the small town of Tama, Iowa. We were pleasantly greeted and taken into an inner room, obviously an office and library. The lady announced the mans name and title indicating that he was the minister of one of the local churches.
He was a small, slight built man of about sixty. He greeted us politely, asked a few questions then suddenly stood up and clutched to his bony chest a large Bible reminding me of a shield, said, “This is my book and I believe everything taught therein.” Being dismissed we left.
He was certainly revealing his lack of knowledge for any student of languages and translations are the first to admit that its impossible to translate to another language no matter how careful the translators are and not lose some of the original meaning or even change it.
A few years ago Protestant students of the New Testament claimed they could verify 50,000 mistakes in its four hundred pages. Many were trivial and would not necessarily change the meaning but others seriously alter meaning and content. Example: “No man hath see God at any time.” John 1:18 that would surely bury the Mormon church, If it were true. But the thought is reversed in John 6:46 “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.” Both the Old and New Testaments are replete with men who saw God, heard him, and even had his hand laid on their shoulder.
When we say the Book of Mormon is the word of God. We are talking about a translation of ancient records carefully prepared by prophets that it might be translated correctly by a modern Prophet.
But even Joseph Smith had some problems. Example the phrase, “and it came to pass” appears so many times that Mark Twain claimed if it was left out there wouldn’t be a Book of Mormon. Well of course he was wrong.
But the Prophet explains it this way that the original that he was translating from had a phrase, often beginning a new thought, that there was no English equivalent therefore he adapted, “and it came to pass.”
I understand the German translation of the Book of Mormon drops the phrase entirely and in it’s place uses [ ] brackets with no words. My own German copy is this way.
There are also around 100 words in that ancient Egyptian reformed language that has no English equivalent. Two that I remember are the names of domesticated animals called cummons and curaloms. We haven’t the least idea what they were or how they looked.
Still the Book of Mormon is translated correctly so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is clearly taught and the testimony of the Godhead is plainly defined.
However, when the Book of Mormon is translated from the English, to another language we believe it as far as it is translated correctly.
I personally know and count as a good friend THE (Tay) Van Nguyen. (Tay Van Win) the translator of the Book of Mormon into Vietnamese. “The” was the first president of the branch of the church in Vietnam, and here in Provo where the Branch moved when Vietnam was
defeated. At his release I was called as the branch President and “The” served as my clerk.
One of our fellow members, “Do” (Dough) a brilliant man who graduated from the Texan school that trained pilots with the highest grades ever. Always read the Book of Mormon in English for said he too much is lost and changed in the translation.
Here is even a better example. The first translation of the Book of Mormon from English to Kiribati (Key-ri-bess) began in the kitchen of our grass shack in the islands.
Here were two of the main problems, the translator encountered. Incidentally he wasn’t even a member of the church but had excellent command of both languages.
Our alphabet of course has 26 letters. Theirs has only half that, 13. We have 42 sounds, they only have 15.
Our name Pratt transliterated comes out “Brat” (pronounced just like that of a naughty kid) they have no “P” nor the sound there of. I understand that we are recognized in Kiribati today (30 years later) as the founding parents and our name Brat is displayed in a public place.
The Book of Mormon is another Testament to the Old and New Testament and the Old and New Testament prophecy of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon to testify as legally stated by God that all things will be established in the mouths of two or more witnesses.
There are several prophecies in the Old Testament referring to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. I will just use one from each record.
The New Testament first. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth (obviously the gospel was not on the earth, hence the need to restore it.) and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
Saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgement is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.
Revelations 14:6-7
the hour of his judgement, is now as recognized by all Bible students regardless of belief and creed. And the angel is a multiple of Heavenly beings. Who have appeared in the last two hundred years beginning with the Father and the Son to the boy Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove in 1820.
Now move to Isaiah who lived a century or two later than David and Goliath. Chapter 29
the first four verses identify the time when his prophecy will be filled. In verse seven he
prophecies that all the nations will fight against Ariel (Jerusalem) and shall be destroyed. (happening today)
in verse 10 he prophecies of the gross apostasy that would cover the earth in these last times, saying, “the Lord hath poured our upon them the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.”
Then he talks of the Book that shall come out of the ground, part of it will be sealed. And of course we know the story of Martin Harris taking the Book of Mormon to New York City. Actually just a portion for the translation was far from complete.
And the Lord even gives Isaiah the words that Professor Charles Anthon would use when Martin Harris visited him asking to read them and he answered, “I cannot for it is sealed.”
“And the book is delivered to him that is not learned (Joseph Smith) saying, read this, I pray thee, and he saith I am not learned.”
The Lord goes on to say in as much as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, (NOW) even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid....
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. (THAT’s Now)
Briefly how we got the bible: the word “bible” comes from the Greek “biblio” and means a collection or library of books.
The Old Testament we have today consists of scriptures current among the Jews of Palestine in our Lord’s day, and received on that account is its entirety by the Christian churches.
The books of the Old Testament are drawn from a national litoratine extending over many centuries and were written almost entirely in Hebrew, while the books of the New Testament are the work of a single generation and were written in Greek.
the Old covenant is the law that was given to Moses or the lesser laws because the people wouldn’t or couldn’t live the higher law. But don’t be too hard on them they are your ancestors and were just emerging from two hundred years of brutal slavery.
The New Covenant is the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, the title Old Testament is a misnomer since all the prophets beginning with Adam, had the fullness of the gospel of Christ. With its ordinances and blessings.
When the Savior came in the meridian of time, he restored the gospel to the Jews in Palestine, since they had strayed, even from the law of Moses. It was a new covenant to them. Thus we have the record called the Old and the New Testaments.
The Bible used by most non-Catholic churches today has 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament such as the King James version.
If we had only Hebrew manuscripts we might conclude that the text of the Old Testament has been the same always and everywhere. Unfortunately this is not so.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, some of which are believed to be as early as the second century B.C. give evidence that the Old Testament text was corrupted at least by that time. Bible Dictionary pg. 622-623
Now the definition of Scripture: “Scripture is the words of holy men (and women) of God who spoke when moved upon by the Holy Ghost.” Scripture, then, is the word of the Lord.
Scripture is always in harmony with the former utterances of the prophets as it will be with future prophets.
In the early days of the church, by uplifted hands, certain scriptures were adopted by which all so called scripture may be measured and we call these “The Standard Works” of the church. Any utterances that are not in harmony with “The Standard Works” are not scripture.
We actually find four parts in “The Standard Works” plus THE CURRENT WORDS of the living Prophet and or prophets.
“The Standard Works” are, 1. The Holy Bible (King James version), 2. The Book of Mormon, 3.The Doctrine and Covenants, 4.The Pearl of Great Price which includes the 13 articles of Faith, a brief history of the coming forth of the church, The Book of Moses which has 8 chapters corresponding to the first 7 chapters of Genesis and excerpts from the writings of the Prophet Abraham. Also Joseph Smith ~ Matthew, which is an extract from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet in 1831: Matthew 23;39 and chapter 24.
The current words of the Living Prophets are found in the monthly church publications
and primarily “The Ensign”. Also letters are sent frequently to be read in wards and stakes from
the presidency of the Church. (LDS.org is a great place to learn!)
Also, each member of the church who has received the gift of the Holy Ghost is entitled, yea expected, to receive revelation for their own personal guidance and the guidance of those they are responsible for. One way we obtain this guidance is through prayer.
Hence a Bishop should receive revelation for administering the ward, Relief Society President for their jurisdiction, parents for their family etc. etc. but always they must be validated by “The Standard” or they are not revelations form God.
Revelations may and should come to the individual member to warn, instruct, advise, guide, lead, comfort, heal and just about anything else that can be imagined. We as individual members miss many blessings for the simple reason that we do not ask. Heavenly Father is so desirous of blessing His children and he does all the time. But he often withholds blessings simply because we do not ask.
While building in the Islands I fell from a roof, about 12 feet, and was injured so seriously that I could not get up. I had just sent the workers home and it was Saturday afternoon about 5:30 PM. I had to crawl to our home some 100 yards away. I spent a sleepless, pain ridden night and begging the Lord to heal me Monday morning for no work happened if I wasn’t on the job and we had a serious deadline to meet.
Late Sunday night I finally fell asleep from exhaustion and awoke straight up at 6:00 AM. I felt so good that I didn’t want to move for fear the pain would return. But I had to get on the job, so I swung out of bed, stood up and no sign of pain. I was completely whole again.
Then I thought, “why wasn’t I healed yesterday when I hurt so badly?” and a voice spoke in my mind saying, “you didn’t ask to be healed until Monday morning.”
Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. When Mother washed my back that night, she said my entire back was black and blue, but there was no more pain then or ever from that injury. We met our deadline, finishing the 14 buildings the night before we were to leave to return home. The next morning I got up at daylight, before anyone was around, and dressed of course, and walked out where there had just been jungle, now gone, and two neat rows of 14 buildings stood in its place.
Boy was I proud of myself and as I walked up the street I nearly dislocated my elbow patting myself on the back and repeating to myself over and over again, “Look what I did, look what I did.” when very distinctly a voice spoke, saying to me, “My son, you didn’t do this, I did it, you were just my agent.” Wow! The best compliment I’ve ever had.
What about the pains, griefs, sorrows, crippling diseases etc. of this life? Laugh at them, rejoice they are for our good and we each have our individual burdens according to the plan of a loving Father. Do I ache and pain? Sure do! Right at this moment I am suffering from gout in the little finger of my left hand. I’ve had it bad for about ten days. Sometimes it gets in the knuckle of the big toe on my right foot. It’s very crippling and exceedingly painful. Don’t sleep much at night. But oh how I can emphasize with gout sufferers. It’s nothing to the shakes, quakes and stumbling and bumbling of advanced age. Hope you live to experience it.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39 in my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also. John 14:2-3 Sans (without) gout, old age, bad backs or whatever your affliction is.
What a glorious time to live. My probation will soon be over, Hallelujah!! Praise God forever more.
Love you all,
Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Pratt