236.1: What is Scripture? (D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 13, Updated)

This Generation Shall Have My Word through You

Manual Goal: To help class members appreciate the Prophet Joseph Smiths role in bringing forth the word of the Lord in this dispensation.

EGD Goal: To help class members appreciate Joseph Smiths contributions in the larger context of scripture and revelation.

Outline

I. Framing

II. Discussion of new resources

III. Productive Sunday Schooling

a. What is most important about reading scripture?

b. Discuss nature of scripture (both divine and human)

c. How does the class feel about each of the Standard Works? (help the class see that the nature of each can be different)

IV. Lesson: The Nature of Scripture

a. What is revelation? What is inspiration? Is there a difference?

b. The authors of scripture: divine and human

c. Scripture and priorities (spiritual nourishment and encouragement, personal application and inspiration, then the rest)

d. LDS Scripture (I think remaining open to historicity but not requiring or even prioritizing it is a great way to go)

i. What is the JST? (What is the Bible, for that matter?)

ii. What is the Book of Abraham?

iii. What is the Book of Moses?

iv. What is the Doctrine & Covenants?

v. What is the Book of Mormon?

e. How do Josephs contributions fit within the context of other prophets?

V. Conclusion

Lesson 13:This Generation Shall Have My Word through You

Joseph Smiths Bible Translation:This article discusses the translation process and the ways in which different sections of theDoctrine and Covenantsrelate to the Bible translation. True story: the idea of the plain and precious truths being lost from the Bible led directly to my graduate school plans. Good starting point: Josephs translation was not carried out in the traditional sense. He didnt consult Greek and Hebrew texts or use lexicons to create a new English version. Rather, he used the King James Version of the Bible as his starting point and made additions and changes as he was directed by the Holy Ghost. I approve of the way this article focuses on revelations catalyzed by the revision process.

William McLellins Five Questions:This article discusses William McLellin as a witness to revelation through Joseph Smith. (Already reviewed this)

Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham: This Gospel Topics essay discusses the book of Abraham, addressing questions that have been raised about the relationship between the papyri Joseph Smith obtained and the text we have today. This is a very important topic. The Book of Abraham provides useful framing for our understanding of LDS scripture. Im impressed that once again, the opening paragraph is nuanced and allows for more than one interpretation of the book of Abraham. No historicity is claimed, for example. The essay explicitly points out that the relationship between the papyri and Book of Abraham is largely a matter of conjecture. It would be better to lay out a proposal for what that relationship is, but openness is a good starting point. The wording of this essay distances members from the idea that the Book of Abraham is a direct translation of the papyri. I fully approve of this statement: The book of Abrahams status as scripture ultimately rests on faith in the saving truths found within the book itself as witnessed by the Holy Ghost. This emphasis and prioritization of saving truths and confirmation by the Holy Ghost over historicity. Note that the focus on the biblical account does not require that to be historical either. Very valuable essay.

Old Testament Revision 2: This page from the Joseph Smith Papers website introduces Joseph Smiths Bible translation.Complete revelatory re-reading of the Bible I love that description! Came to be known as Joseph Smiths New Translation or Bible revision. I value how this careful wording allows for more than one understanding of the nature of the JST. The detail around the process of transcription is very valuablewho the scribes were, when which portions of the Bible were copied. Joseph changed 1300 Old Testament verses.

Revelation and Family: Joseph and Emmas Five Ohio Homes Explore five places in and around Kirtland, Ohio, where Joseph and Emma Smith livedhomes that became places of revelation. I appreciate efforts to contextualize scripture in place as well as time and circumstance.

Productive Sunday Schooling

What is most important about reading scripture?

Discuss nature of scripture (both divine and human)

How does the class feel about each of the Standard Works? (help the class see that the nature of each can be different)

Lesson:

The Nature of Scripture

What is revelation? What is inspiration? Is there a difference?

Inspiration: insight greater than our own, clarity, wisdom, quickening of our minds, hearts, souls. Gods influence on our own processes

Revelation: inspiration about a specific issue or issues. There is both personal and institutional or authoritative revelation

Scripture: Revelation that is written down

The authors of scripture: divine and human

Scripture and priorities (spiritual nourishment and encouragement, personal application and inspiration, then the rest)

LDS Scripture (I think remaining open to historicity but not requiring or even prioritizing it is a great way to go)

What is the JST? (What is the Bible, for that matter?)

What is the Book of Abraham?

What is the Book of Moses?

What is the Doctrine & Covenants?

What is the Book of Mormon?

How do Josephs contributions fit within the context of other prophets?

Conclusion

Article on the Cooperstown Bible, the Bible Joseph Smith purchased in 1828 from the Grandin Printshop and used to produce his inspired revision.

http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol40/iss1/3/