One of the most common questions we receive is, “Do you have any suggestions on how to get my LDS friend to read the Bible?”
Let’s begin by exploring why Latter-day Saints are reluctant to read the Bible.
Fears your LDS Friend might have
First, the LDS Church teaches that translation errors have crept into the Bible. The 8th Article of Faith reads, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.” Joseph Smith frequently attempted to fix perceived translation problems.1 Current LDS publications go even farther: “as the Bible was compiled, organized, and transcribed, many errors entered the text. The existence of such errors becomes apparent when one considers the numerous and often conflicting translations of the Bible in existence today.”2
Second, LDS Scripture teaches that the Bible is incomplete. Two examples will suffice. Moses 1:41 states, “and in a day when the children of men shall esteem my words as naught and take many of them from the book which thou shalt write.” More famously, I Nephi 13:26 says, “wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the Lamb of God.”
Third, modern LDS Prophets teach that the Book of Mormon is far superior to anything the Bible has to offer. Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon is “the most correct book on earth.” D&C 20:9 says that it contains “the fulness of the gospel.” And Prophet Ezra Taft Benson declared the Book of Mormon to be the “keystone” for doctrines like the Person of Christ, the resurrection, and the truthfulness of the LDS Church.3
Officially, the LDS church claims a deep reverence for the Bible.4 As proof, LDS Church leaders often point to a Sunday School rotation of the Old and New Testaments. But practically speaking, the LDS Church believes the only subject on which the Bible has the authority to speak is its future corruption.5 The upshot is that LDS people have been taught to fear whatever the Bible has to say about religion – it’s untrustworthy, incomplete, and inferior.
How you can help
I realize, of course, that the realities above paint a grim picture. But, in my experience, Latter-day Saints are often more open to the Bible than we might assume. I usually follow a series of three questions.
Question #1: Do you currently know of any translation errors that would hold you back?
As a follow-up, I always suggest, “If we run into concerns about translation, would you be open to seeking the help of someone who knows Greek and Hebrew?” If you don’t know anybody who has studied Greek and Hebrew, just email us. We can direct you to many people across the state of Utah who know the languages well.
Question #2: Can you agree that what remains is the Word of God?
If Latter-day Saints believe that certain parts of the Bible have been removed, they should have no problem with what remains. As the 8th Article states, Latter-day Saints believe that the Bible is the Word of God. If we can fix the concerns over translation, we should be able to study together what remains.
Question #3: Is there a passage of the Bible you would like to study together?
The Sego Lily Foundation has produced a Bible study called, “Discovering God Together.” But this study might be overwhelming as a starting point. If this is your friend’s first venture into the Bible, finding common ground is essential. For this purpose, I always suggest the Gospel of Mark or the book of Colossians. These books are short and punchy; they can be expanded upon easily if your friend enjoys them.
Conclusion
Once a Latter-day Saint begins to read the Bible, he or she will quickly see the differences between Mormonism and biblical Christianity. Be patient. The first inclination of a Latter-day Saint is to twist the Bible to fit Mormonism. But further reading demonstrates the irreconcilable differences between these two religions. And never forget, “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17)