- Chad Lawrence Nielsen on Beyond the King James Version: The Church’s New Handbook Policy on Bible Translations: “Critchlow, I understand the point that Oaks is trying to make, and am fine with that being an option in prayer. At the same time, language is very arbitrary and many of the counter points or protests to his way of thinking that he brings up are, in my opinion, still valid. I agree most fully with his statement that, “I am sure that our Heavenly Father, who loves all of his children, hears and answers all prayers, however phrased. If he is offended in connection with prayers, it is likely to be by their absence, not their phraseology.” I think the only thing I truly object to is his statement, “Latter-day Saints, of course, prefer the latter.” What he is really saying is that “this is the way it’s always been done and the way I think it should be done. I believe that you should think this way too.” But instead of saying it that way, he chose to dictate my thoughts to me regardless of what I actually think.” Dec 17, 09:56
- on Beyond the King James Version: The Church’s New Handbook Policy on Bible Translations: “I take issue with this statement “Some individuals may benefit from translations that are doctrinally clear and also easier to understand.” ALL individuals benefit from clear and easy doctrinal understanding. The use of “some” and “may” here is meant to reduce the use of non KJV translations in church settings even as they expressly make doing so permissible” Dec 17, 09:54
- on Delighting in bloodshed: “Steve B., it’s on my mind. Mortimer, your concerns – which are valid – deserve their own discussion. It’s a post I’ve had in mind for a while, so I’ll try to make it happen soon. It might be after the holidays, and hopefully won’t be preempted by anything dire.” Dec 17, 09:49
- on Beyond the King James Version: The Church’s New Handbook Policy on Bible Translations: “@Chad Nielsen, i’d be interested in your thought about then Elder Oaks; April 1993 general conference talk https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1993/04/the-language-of-prayer?lang=eng” Dec 17, 09:35
- on Beyond the King James Version: The Church’s New Handbook Policy on Bible Translations: “I endorse the recommendations to steer clear of the published verions of the Book of Mormon in simplified English. Nevertheless, I have found it very useful to try to create my own simplified English version. Nothing forces you to confront the meaning of a scripture like trying to translate it–even if it’s just from archaic English to modern English.” Dec 17, 09:32
- on Beyond the King James Version: The Church’s New Handbook Policy on Bible Translations: “I’ve been using the NRSV Cultural Background Study Bible for several years now. I have found the footnotes about the cultural context of many passages quite helpful.” Dec 17, 08:35
- on Beyond the King James Version: The Church’s New Handbook Policy on Bible Translations: “REC911, I heard that there was once a time when the Church’s magazine team (I think it was for the Ensign at the time) reached out to a BYU professor to write an article to explain KJV-style English to help people with praying or reading the Bible. He went through and did what they asked, keeping things as simple as possible. The article wasn’t printed on the grounds that it was too technical and difficult for an average reader. That wasn’t the professor’s fault, though – it’s just an artifact of how different English was 400 years ago. Anyway, yes, I hope we don’t have to pray in Jacobian English to be heard by God (or that we don’t have Church leaders arrogant enough to tell God what language He is allowed to accept).” Dec 17, 08:24
- on Beyond the King James Version: The Church’s New Handbook Policy on Bible Translations: “I think the newer translations can help us understand some passages better, but I still think the KJV should be the “daily driver” bible for members. I have a hard time feeling tingles with “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.” I got some pushback for this, but I still hold by it: https://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2024/09/why-the-king-james-version-is-the-best-bible-translation/” Dec 17, 08:17
- on Beyond the King James Version: The Church’s New Handbook Policy on Bible Translations: “can we now take out the thee, thou and thy of our KJV-style true and only way to pray, mormon prayers? Maybe God will still not hear us unless we use 17th century English.” Dec 17, 07:56
- on Beyond the King James Version: The Church’s New Handbook Policy on Bible Translations: “From the revised handbook entries on Artificial Intelligence, it seems the leadership is also concerned about people using AI to create readable versions of modern scriptures.” Dec 17, 07:35
