Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 73:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 73:4
"And, inasmuch as it is practicable, to preach in the regions round about until conference; and after that it is expedient to continue the work of translation until it be finished."

This work of translation is the Bible. I've always wanted to read the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible. It won't be that long before I will start studying the Old Testament again. I would like to read the JST Bible all the way through. I went looking to see where I could get a copy. I really don't want to buy it. Then I remembered the BYU Citation Index website has it. So it looks like a good possibility that this will be my year to start reading it.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith did not “translate” the Bible in the traditional sense of the word. He did not study ancient languages in order to make a new translation into English. Rather, he received the spiritual gift to make inspired revisions. While some of the revisions the Prophet made to the text restored original biblical passages that had been lost, other changes corrected, expanded, and supplemented existing biblical text. Overall, through revelation, Joseph revised passages to reflect the meaning God intended. The changes found today in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible restore plain and precious truths and covenants once found in the Bible. The Lord explained that the inspired translation would do far more than provide information or even edification for the Saints. He said it was also given for “the salvation of mine own elect”. Furthermore, several revelations contained in the Doctrine and Covenants were received as a direct result of Joseph’s work of translation. The inspired translation of the Bible is further witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s divine calling and ministry."
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 14: Doctrine and Covenants 35-36; 39-40, "Thou shalt write for him")

"The Prophet and Sidney Rigdon worked diligently on the Bible translation from this time until July 2, 1833, when the translators wrote to the brethren in Missouri that they had, that day, completed the translation of the Bible. Portions of Joseph Smith’s translation are now contained in the Pearl of Great Price (the book of Moses and Joseph Smith—Matthew) and in increasingly more languages in the Latter-day Saint edition of the Bible. The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible had “a significant influence on the Church in the way it shaped the content of the Doctrine and Covenants. More than half of the current Doctrine and Covenants consists of revelations received during the three-year period in which Joseph Smith labored over the Bible translation. Many revelations were received as direct answers to questions Joseph was inspired to ask as his understanding of the gospel expanded during the effort to restore plain and precious parts of the Bible” (Elizabeth Maki, “Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation,” in Revelations in Context, 103, or history.lds.org).
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 26: Doctrine and Covenants 71-75, "It is expedient to translate again")

Day 3662