Sunday, December 25, 2016

Day 16- CHRISTmas 2016 - The LORD's prayer clarified

King James Version Of Matthew 6:9-13

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, 


Hallowed be thy name.


Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.


Give us this day our daily bread.


And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors


And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:


for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,


for ever. Amen.



Joseph Smith Translation


Therefore after this manner ye shall pray, saying,


Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.


Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, 


as it is done in heaven.


Give us this day our daily bread.


And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them who trespass against us.


And suffer us not to be led into temptation, but deliver us from evil:


For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,  forever and ever. Amen.


1. Joseph changes "which" to "who" referring to the FATHER. Millions of Catholics have been taught to use incorrect English in their incorrect tradition of preferring this prayer to all others.


2. Better parallelism with 2 "done"s for earth and heaven.

3. "In earth" becomes "on earth". I am sure the LORD did not misspeak using Aramaic or Hebrew.

4. "Give us this day our daily bread" is unchanged. Sometimes what Joseph leaves alone is telling. The KJV is not all wrong, there are thousands of verses and hundreds of chapter that Joseph did not have to correct.

5. "Debts" becomes "trespasses", which is a much better word. Not everyone has debts, but everyone has trespassed against God and their fellow man.

6. "Lead us not into temptation" becomes "suffer (allow) us not to be led into temptation". GOD does not lead anyone into temptation. Satan does that.

7. We get "forever" spelled correctly in verse 13, and the addition of "and ever". The Hebrews are known for their repetitive phrasing.

8. Curiously no mention of ending in the LORD's name. Maybe we use CHRIST's name too much?
The name of the priesthood was changed to avoid repetition of HIS name.

9. Most Christians know this is just a template for prayer, not a mantra to repeat over and over like a magic spell. Seems to me JESUS is saying "pray to the Father, ask for the basics, ask for forgiveness because you are all sinners, and keep it short." GOD already knows what we need, but the asking unlocks all kinds of positive benefits for us. GOD usually gives more than we ask in terms of what HE knows we need. Do not foolishly think like Elder Nelson's present wife we can trick GOD into blessing us financially by paying tithing on what we want to make, or by asking for a million dollars in hopes of getting that amount or even more. "Daily bread" means sufficient for your needs. We are not going to get wealth via prayer or tithing. GOD's surplus involves salvation and information. Joseph just wanted to know which church to join. His sins were forgiven for having the faith to ask GOD directly. The brother of Jared had a barge lighting problem, and he got to see the LORD and be redeemed from the fall. There is a reason Satan does not want us to pray...





Saturday, December 24, 2016

Day 15- CHRISTmas eve 2016- The gospel is not as tough as we thought!

King James Version Mathew 5:40-41

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat,


let him have thy cloke also.


And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, 


go with him twain.



Joseph Smith Translation


And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have it;


and if he sue thee again, let him have thy cloke also.


And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him a mile;


and whosoever shall compel thee to go with him twain, 


thou shalt go with him twain.


1. The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST is difficult, but now we see it is less difficult than before. There will still be trials and persecution to test whether we really love GOD or not. However, Joseph Smith is telling us that the Gospel is even easier than the King James translators would have us believe. Twice as easy.


2. If someone sues us and wins $1,000, we do not have to give them $2,000 just to show everyone we are disciples of CHRIST. We do however have to pay the $1,000. JESUS is advocating justice under the law, and not some ridiculous cosmic test, to see who HIS true followers are.

3. If we have to do something for our job, family, church, etc. then we should do exactly that...no more and no less. "Going the extra mile" is not scriptural. It is used by religions to get their followers to provide excessive free labor under threat of guilt and shame, while the priestly class lives off the other members. This is priestcraft. This idea has been a tool of Satan to try and make the teachings of CHRIST absurd. Why align yourself with a Being who wants to make your life twice as hard? In reality JESUS can make how we deal with the traumas of our life better. HE usually does not take the problem away, but he will bring peace and comfort to those who truly trust HIM.

4. This correction by Joseph Smith is monumental.  I do not always agree with Bruce R. McConkie, but his statement that the JST is "1,000 times the best version of the Bible that we currently have" is spot on.





Friday, December 23, 2016

Day 14- More light on the Sermon on the Mount

King James Version of Matthew 5:3-6

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.


Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.


Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:


for they shall be filled.




Joseph Smith Translation


Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit, which cometh unto me; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


And again, blessed are all they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.


And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the  earth.


And blessed are all they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness:


for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.


1. Being poor in spirit is not sufficient for entering the Kingdom of Heaven, you have to come to CHRIST as well. I believe this is literal and not just a statement acknowledging that JESUS is the Savior.

2. Basically no significant changes to verse 4 and 5. There are two comforters who are members of the GODHEAD. The HOLY GHOST is the first comforter. I presently agree with Margaret and Paul Toscano that this GOD is our Heavenly Mother. What better Being to comfort us than our Eternal Mother. JESUS is the 2nd comforter. No church controls the receipt of this kind of divine comfort.

3. We may want to figure out what being meek really is if we want to inherit a celestialized Earth.

4. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness leads to being filled with the HOLY GHOST, not just being filled. Fasting is probably part of this. Knowing we know nothing compared to GOD, and desiring to know more is definitely a piece of this idea.

5. Usually Joseph did a better job with relative pronouns (that,which, and who). My only quibble with this passage is with the phrase "which cometh unto me". It is not grammatically correct. "Which" is used for non-human nouns, and "who" is the preferred pronoun for referring to people. In many other places in the Bible Joseph changed "which" to "who", so maybe this was just an oversight. He was constantly running for his life for most of the time from 1830-1844.  One of the signs to me of Joseph's divine commission was the fact he makes the Bible not just clearer, but more linguistically correct. Tough to do if you are just going off a few years of education. Easy to do with GOD's assistance.


Monday, December 19, 2016

Day 13- The Sermon on the Mount Is Missing a Beatitude

King James Version of Matthew 5:2

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,


Joseph Smith Translation

And he opening his mouth, and taught them, saying, 

Blessed are they who shall believe on me; 
and again more blessed are they who shall believe on your words
when ye shall testify that ye have seen me and that I am.
Yea, blessed are they who shall believe on your words 
and come down into the depth of humility and be baptized in my name;
for they shall visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost,
and shall receive a remission of their sins.

1. 85 words versus 9. I had to look up the KJV twice before I could believe it.


2. Most of the Christian world thinks the sermon begins with "blessed are the poor in spirit", but Joseph adds life-changing and salvation-changing information.

3. "Believing in Christ" is the first step toward GOD.

4. Being humble enough to be baptized is step two. According to Paul Toscano (a vastly better writer than I), the narcissist will not recognize he or she needs a Savior.

5. Correct baptism of water leads to the baptism of fire, which is when the HOLY GHOST purifies you.

6. A remission of sins follows the baptism of fire, not the baptism of water. There are a lot of baptized people walking the earth who do not have their sins remitted, because they are not yet baptized with fire (myself included). If this is the case, you may want to try rebaptism.

7. If I were a false prophet and had the audacity to fix the Bible, I would not add 76 words to one verse of the Sermon on the Mount. Joseph Smith is a true prophet and had GOD's authorization to restore what was lost from the world's best known discourse. Do not take my word for it, ask GOD yourself (James 1:5).




Sunday, December 18, 2016

Day 12- Matthew 4:19-20 JESUS invites James and John to HIS ministry

King James Version of Matthew 4:19-20

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 


And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.


Joseph Smith Translation


And he said unto them, I am he of whom it is written by the prophets; 


follow me,  and I will make you fishers of men.


And they, believing on his words, left their net, and straightway followed him.



1. "I am he of whom it is written by the prophets"  JESUS announces clearly that HE is the great I AM, the self-existing GOD. I am not sure, but my suspicions are that some scribe at some point under the influence of Satan, decided to remove this vital information.


2. "The prophets" refers to the Old Testament writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Malachi, etc. It can also means the Old Testament in general, which is full of references to CHRIST.

3. It is important that James and John are responding to the fact that JESUS is telling them HE is GOD, rather than just responding to a simple request to follow a man.

4. "They believing on his words" means the two brothers recognized the truth of CHRIST's words. You would not leave your livelihood based on a guess. James and John knew they were in the presence of something divine.

5. As an English teacher, I love the fact that "fishers of men" was not changed into some grammatically correct "fishermen of men". The LORD is probably using a play on words here. HE knows they are fishermen, but HE also knows that "fishers of men" will be more memorable to them, and to anyone reading about this event.

5. This is just another two verse example of the Prophet Joseph Smith shedding greater light on the greatest light, JESUS CHRIST.


Saturday, December 17, 2016

Day 11- Matthew 4:12 JESUS sends angels to John the Baptist

King James Version Mathew 4:12

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee.


Joseph Smith Translation


And now Jesus knew that John was cast into prison, and he sent angels, and behold, they came and ministered unto him. And Jesus departed into Galilee;


1. JESUS did not "hear" that John was in prison, JESUS knew. JESUS knows all things. HE is smarter than all of the rest of us put together.


2. JESUS sent heavenly messengers to comfort and minister to John, instead of apparently doing nothing like whoever changed the original manuscript would like us to believe. JESUS is a GOD of action and will do whatever HE can, short of violating free agency to help those who help HIM.

3. CHRIST did not run off to Galilee to avoid prison himself like the KJV makes it possibly appear. JESUS is fearless. After seeing to his servant's relief, HE went where he planned to go all along.

4. JESUS does not rescue John from prison...that one you need to work out on your own.


Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Day 10- December 13, 2016 Matthew 4:1-2 - JESUS in the wilderness

King James version of Mathew 4:1-2

Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.


Joseph Smith Translation 


Then Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be with God.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, and had communed with God, he was afterwards an hungred, and was left to be tempted by the devil.


1. The Spirit of GOD did not lead JESUS into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. The Spirit led HIM there to commune with the MOST HIGH GOD. No member of the Godhead would lead anyone anywhere for the devil's purposes. The Godhead grants Satan a small amount of power to test us. However, reality is not like modern films with GOD and Satan having relatively equal power. GOD has all power. Satan is allowed by GOD to have limited power for a limited time.


2. Joseph did not change the number of days JESUS fasted. HE really did fast for 40 days. He was obviously hungry, but curiously no mention of thirst. This points to the probability that true fasting is abstaining from eating, but not drinking. GOD knows better than anyone how quickly someone can die or suffer irreparable harm from becoming dehydrated. Modern churches always want to make things harder on their members, so some today require abstention from eating and drinking. JESUS and Joseph would obviously disagree. Fasting is a principle of spiritual power, but do not make it harder than it has to be by failing to hydrate.

3. Fasting led to communion with GOD. JESUS was perfect, why would HE need to fast? In order to show we imperfect beings how to connect with GOD. My former faith has made people hate fasting with its 24 hour time requirement and misguided advice to refrain from drinking liquids. If people would follow JESUS' example and fast while staying hydrated, the fast could last as long as needed until some kind of answer is achieved.

4. When GOD left, and the Spirit left, then the devil came to tempt CHRIST. Satan would want no part in dealing with all 3 members of the Godhead at once. He is no match for even one of them at a time. He had to try, because Satan knew that JESUS is the only chance for mortals to avoid death and hell. Funny how Satan knows more than most of the world's people and religions.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Day 9- Matthew 3:15- JESUS' baptism by John

King James Version of Matthew 3:15

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Joseph Smith Translation


And Jesus answering said unto him,  Suffer me to be baptized of thee,  for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And John went down into the water and baptized him. 

1. "Suffer" is the middle English version of the words "allow" or "permit". CHRIST is humbly asking John to permit this to happen. John humbly points out that he needs JESUS to baptize him (verse 14). The true GOD of this Earth asking John to baptize him! John is understandably confused.


2. CHRIST is emphatic that this needs to happen, regardless of the disparity between the holiness of the two individuals. Baptism is a requirement for entrance to the kingdom of the MOST HIGH GOD, or GOD the FATHER. Even a perfect being has to be baptized.

3. JESUS later calls John the greatest prophet in history. (Matthew 11:11) John himself recognized his own imperfections compared to CHRIST's perfection, but John was the most qualified person of all time to perform this sacred and vital ordinance.

4. John and CHRIST went down into the water, obviously to do this the correct way, by immersion.

5. CHRIST is probably 30 years old at this point. Joseph Smith called JESUS "the prototype of the saved man." This points to the possibility that people should not be baptized until their brains are fully developed.  Better to make an independently based decision about whether to follow CHRIST or not.


Thursday, December 8, 2016

Day 8- Matthew 3:12 -The Baptism of Fire

King James Version of Matthew 3:12

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

JST


And it is he of whom I shall bear record, whose fan shall be in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but in the fullness of his own time will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Thus came John, preaching and baptizing in the river of Jordan; bearing record, that he who was coming after him, had power to baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire.

The LORD directed Joseph to make this verse both longer and more powerful.


The corrected verse is the LORD's way of honoring his forerunner, John the Baptist. JESUS is humble enough to share credit, even though he does 99.99 percent of the work of salvation. John the Baptist was the prophet of the meridian dispensation of the gospel. Joseph Smith is the prophet of this dispensation.

Joseph's version is also more emphatic about John's testimony of JESUS and specifically his power to give someone the HOLY GHOST. HE can also withhold it. No institution controls GOD. If HE wants to give the HOLY GHOST to someone, he will do it, and all the men in the world, and all the devils in hell cannot stop him.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Day 7- Matthew 3:9 The children of Abraham

King James Version Matthew 3:9

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up seed unto Abraham.

Joseph Smith Translation


And think not to say within yourselves, We are the children of Abraham, and we only have power to bring seed unto our father Abraham; for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up seed unto Abraham.

First, Joseph clarifies the verse changing "we have Abraham to our Father" to the more easily understood "We are the children of Abraham." This makes the message clear. The hard-hearted Jews were rationalizing their refusal to be baptized by John (or better yet re-baptized), because they believed themselves special. They were the chosen children of Abraham, and yet Abraham would have disowned them for their hypocritical behavior. They were religious but not spiritual. A spiritual person does what the spirit tells them, a religious person does what their leaders tell them.


Second, Joseph adds the words "and we only have power to bring seed unto our father Abraham."
Whether you are Jewish, Christian, Mormon or Muslim, GOD does not care. He is no respecter of persons and he is definitely no respecter of religions. HE saves people individually based on their faith in CHRIST, their obedience to the gospel of JESUS CHRIST, and their CHRIST-like behavior.


Monday, December 5, 2016

Day 6- Matthew 3:8 John the Baptist tells the Jewish leaders "for your sins ye have no cloak"

King James Version of Matthew 3:8

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.

Joseph Smith adds a considerable amount of information to the front of this verse.

Keep in mind that "meet" means "suitable, fitting, or proper."

JST

Why is it, that ye receive not the preaching of him whom God hath sent? If you receive not this in your hearts, ye receive not me; and if ye receive not me, ye receive not him of whom I am sent to bear record; and for your sins ye have no cloak. Repent therefore, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance.

1. The Pharisees and Sadducees were too wise in their own eyes to be tricked into the first essential ordinance for salvation by some guy dressed like clothes do not make the man. Clothes might make the natural man, but they do not make a prophet. A suit and a tie mean nothing. You either talk to GOD and he tells you what to do and say, or you are not a prophet.


2. Rejecting John the Baptist means you reject GOD.

3. Reject GOD and you pay for your own sins with just enough horrific suffering in Hell to make up for all the people you hurt.

4. The only way to avoid paying for your own sins is repentance, baptism by immersion, faith in CHRIST, followed by loyalty to CHRIST for eternity via service to your fellow men and women.

The same rejection of GOD's authorized servant and forerunner to the second coming of CHRIST started in 1820 with the rejection of Joseph's first (but not last) vision. It is continuing today with the rejection of the Book of Mormon. Be careful who and what you reject lest ye end up with no cloak for your sins.


Sunday, December 4, 2016

Day 5- Matthew 2:26 JESUS' life before his ministry

King James Version

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Joseph Smith, the only Seer of the last days, was authorized to add significantly to the end of this verse.


JST

...He shall be called a Nazarene. And it came to pass that Jesus grew up with his brethren, and waxed strong, and waited upon the Lord for his ministry to come. And he served under his father, and he spake not as other men, neither could he be taught; for he needed not that any many should teach him. And after many years the hour of his ministry drew nigh.

This is not mere corrections of spelling or grammar. This is adding 8 significant phrases to the canon of scripture. If Joseph were a pretender to the prophetic, then he would have been cunning enough to keep his corrections simple. This one verse thunders with the audacious, yet true claim, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of GOD.


1. CHRIST was humble enough to serve under his stepfather Joseph. I, myself am a stepfather, and my 4 children do not always serve humbly under even their own "real" mother. The greatest being to touch this earth, had no problem following directions from his temporary father. Undoubtedly the MOST HIGH GOD (EL, EL ELYON, or ELOHIM) picked the best man of the day to raise his SON.

2. CHRIST came to this fallen sphere knowing more than all of its inhabitants past, present, and future put together. No one could teach him. His language was different because he always spoke the truth.

3. Even GOD the SON had to wait "many years" before he could began his work saving souls, healing the sick, raising the dead, preaching the great news of the gospel, baptizing with water and spirit, and ultimately working out the infinite atonement. JESUS had to wait until the timing was perfect. Men always tend to rush in before being called by Heaven, and then are forced to use coercion to keep people in line.



Saturday, December 3, 2016

Day 4- Matthew 2:6 Bethlehem

King James Version Matthew 2:6

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda ; for out of thee shall come a Governor,  that shall rule my people Israel.

The true God of this world, JESUS CHRIST, inspired Joseph Smith to change this verse using addition and revision.


JST

The word of the Lord came unto us, saying, And thou Bethlehem, which layeth in the land of Judea, in thee shall be born a Prince, which art not the least among the princes of Judea: for out of thee shall come the Messiah, who shall save my people Israel. 

There is enough truth here to write a magazine article, but I will focus on the main points.

1. The Old Testament prophets were told directly by the LORD himself what to say and write concerning this or any real prophecy.
2. CHRIST is more than just a mere "Governor." Anyone as dumb as Arnold Schwarzenegger can become a governor. Only one being in the history of the universe can be the MESSIAH.
3. The King James translators may have actually got the gist of the original Hebrew (or Aramaic) correct, but the Jewish expectation of a political leader was incorrect. CHRIST came to save souls, not to lead a country, or even to rule the world. JESUS is already the ruler of this planet, HIS work and HIS glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of mankind (paraphrase of Moses 1:39).
4. It is CHRIST that is being compared to other princes, and not Bethlehem being compared to other areas of Judea. Where CHRIST was born does not compare to what kind of being JESUS is.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Day 3- Matthew 2:4 Herod's paranoia

King James Version

"And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born."

Joseph Smith added some valuable words to this verse starting after the word them.

...he demanded of them, saying, Where is the place that is written of by the prophets in which Christ should be born? For he greatly feared, yet he believed not the prophets.

Joseph's inspired additions to this verse make it as clear as day that Herod did not believe in a God (God the SON) coming down to save Israel. However, he was aware of prophecies about a Messiah. Too many people in our day have less of an understanding of the Old Testament ("the prophets") than wicked King Herod had. Herod was attempting to keep his earthly power, but true followers of CHRIST know that power here is temporary. In this verse the Holy Ghost revealed to Joseph what Herod's true intentions were. Now we can all get a more focused picture of what was going on behind the scenes of the most important birth in history.


Thursday, December 1, 2016

Day 2- Matthew 2:2 The Wise Men

KJV 2:2

"Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star is the East and are come to worship him?

Joseph Smith, the head of the final dispensation of the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, revised the verse to read:

"Where is the child that is born the Messiah of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him."

There have been literally thousands of kings during the history of this planet, but there is only one MESSIAH. The Jews had dozens of kings, but only one SAVIOR. This change may appear subtle, but it is powerful. JESUS is unique, and without him no person can avoid the gates of hell. With him any person who truly repents can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.