A New Book!

I have a new book for you that I am very excited about.

The Joseph Smith Bible Story

This book was written a dozen years ago by a friend in the LDS Church to trace the development of the Inspired Version of the Bible from the initial manuscripts generated by Joseph Smith, Jr., through the many editions and printings of the book. He identified problems and corrections in each edition and described how well they followed or deviated from the Joseph Smith manuscripts. He also added many notes about printing—especially about printing Bibles.

The author never published his book, and I received permission to condense, edit, and publish it in a format that makes for interesting and informative reading. I am sure you will learn some worthwhile things from this book. You can preview pages at Newbookman.blogspot.com.

The Joseph Smith Bible Story is now available on Amazon.com as a hardcover book for $20.99. I will have copies available later at $16.00 each. You can order either way you like—order directly from Amazon now or order from me at PaulVLudy@gmail.com or 816-210-8450. You can order now, and I will plan to deliver in late May or early June.

Let me explain how these prices are nearly equal for a great number of readers. If you have Amazon Prime, you won’t pay for shipping from Amazon. But you will likely pay sales tax. If you order from me, I will mail for $5.00 or deliver in the Independence, MO, area for $2.00. I will add sales tax if you are in Missouri.

Remember that I also offer a $1.00 discount per book for all books listed at $5.00 or more when you purchase three or more at the same time.

Description of The Joseph Smith Bible Story

An LDS apostle has shared his opinion that the Joseph Smith Bible is a thousand times over the best Bible on earth. He said it was produced by God’s Spirit and its changes and additions are equal to God’s Word revealed in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.

Joseph Smith wrote, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.” The Book of Mormon contains the warning that, over the centuries, the Bible text had been corrupted and many plain and precious parts had been removed. Because of that, many people stumble.

Joseph Smith had been directed to translate the Book of Mormon and organize the Church of Jesus Christ. He believed that God enlightened him to continue in the role of prophet, seer, and revelator to restore the plain and precious things to the Bible.

The Joseph Smith Bible Story traces the development of Joseph Smith’s correction of the Bible—from his dictation to several scribes, to revisions of his manuscripts, to preparations for publication, and to the printing of many editions.
As Joseph Smith read from a large family Bible, he felt directed to make modifications. He used two processes to modify the text of the King James Version. At first his scribes wrote entire verses, whether they had changes or not; but later they wrote only the changes which he dictated.

The prophet was killed before the manuscripts could be published. Years later, a publication committee incorporated changes into the biblical text. The first printing was completed in 1867.

The Joseph Smith Bible contains nearly 400 verses for which there are no matching verses in other Bibles. And it explains and clarifies hundreds of other passages. A Protestant minister wrote that Joseph Smith had deliberately altered the text to make it say clearly what many Bible students get only through “theological legerdemain.”

The Joseph Smith Bible Story is designed to help members of Restoration churches, friends, scholars, and other interested persons discover the history and value of the Bible produced by the latter-day prophet. It contains many facts which have not been brought together before, and it includes a dozen pages listing unique contributions of the Joseph Smith Bible.

33 WOMEN OF THE RESTORATION

by Emma M. Phillips

Over the past century and a half, thousands of women have lived and died in a Christian cause called the Restoration movement. Out of this long list of women of the Church, the author has extracted a group of thirty-three to be representative examples of the kinds of lives which have helped the Church to grow.

Because their biographies appear in this book does not make them heroines over and above the other women of the Restoration movement. They stand on a level with the unsung—and in many cases now unknown—women of our faith who reared sons and daughters in our tradition and talked to their neighbors about the gospel, and who cleaned churches, built fires, taught classes, quilted and tied "comforts," and did the myriad other tasks required on the frontier of service.

It is to our loss and our shame that we have not done a better job of collecting and retaining the information necessary to make a permanent record of the lives of more of our pioneer women. Many of their experiences, would bring to our young people a greater appreciation for the energies spent that we might now worship as we do.

The biographies in this book are arranged in chronological order. As you read, you will notice the changing times and changing problems that have confronted our women. From these stories of service and sacrifice, both adult and young can gain a greater insight into our history and a higher regard for the cause these women fostered.

A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF MORMON

,h3>by Chris B. Hartshorn

Many commentaries on the Bible have been available from other sources, and our own Church has published a commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants since 1938, but this is the first time our people have had ready access to a Book of Mormon commentary.

This is not a complete commentary in the sense that each verse is thoroughly explored; rather the author has chosen the more significant passages in each chapter for comment. Those parts of the Book of Mormon which seemed to him to offer some problems or difficulties have received extensive treatment.

The order of presentation in this book follows that found in the Book of Mormon. To locate a particular subject, the author suggests that the reader use A Concordance to the Book of Mormon, published by Herald House. Then use this commentary to get further light associated with the text by the use of references from other books. Immediately following the contents page is a "Proper Names Pronunciation Guide," which adds greatly to the value of this book. This guide was reviewed by several Church authorities and represents their consensus of opinion. It should do much to standardize Book of Mormon pronunciations throughout the Church.

Reference literature will have value to the reader to the extent that he is able to find readily the helps it offers. Therefore, several indexes have been prepared by the author and placed in the back of the book: (1) index to bibliography; (2) reference indexes to our standard Scriptures; ( 3) a topical index.

We commend this book for study by every member of the Church and by all students who wish to investigate the Book of Mormon more thoroughly.

A COMMENTARY ON THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

by F. Henry Edwards

This is the second revised edition of a popular work which was first published in 1938. This book first came into being because of a long-felt need of our members to have more complete knowledge of the historical background of the revelations printed in the Doctrine and Covenants. This book attempts to accumulate in one spot the necessary background for this understanding. The author has taken great care to faithfully interpret the conditions and experiences related to each revelation.

This edition covers Sections 1 through 144. Later editions covering additional sections are titled A New Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants and The Edwards Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants.

A DECADE OF THE BEST

In 1960 Elbert A. Smith, former presiding patriarch and longtime member of the first presidency, was memorialized by the establishment of a journalism award in his name. Writing had been his most appreciated talent. He had been a contributor and editor for the Saints' Herald for over a half century.

The Elbert A. Smith Memorial Award was to be given annually to the person "writing the Saints' Herald article judged best to reflect...the high standards of originality, insight, and constructive emphasis set by Elbert A. Smith." The first award was made in 1961 to Clair E. Weldon, a seventy serving at that time in Central and South America. His timely article, "Brazil—An Open Door," presented a view of the opening of new missions abroad, then in the midst of dynamic expansion. Since that date, ten additional awards have been given.

In most instances, the chosen articles have had a timeless quality—they will have value for years to come. It is for this reason that they have been collected into book form. The award-winning articles of the last decade (1961-1970) comprise the bulk of this volume.

A NEW COMMENTARY ON THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

by F. Henry Edwards

When my first commentary was published in 1938, it was felt that a study of the historical background of the revelations in the book of Doctrine and Covenants was needed. In the six printings of the Commentary, it was revised at a number of points, generally to bring it up-to-date; but the passage of time, the receipt of further guidance, and the development of emphases not covered hitherto have combined to advise the preparation and publication of this book.

Nearly 150 years separate us from the times in which the earliest sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were given. We have forgotten, if we have ever known, many small but important details of Church history which provide light for understanding the words of the prophets. This book attempts to provide some of the desired background as faithfully as possible.
This edition differs from the earlier printings in three major respects: some biographical notes formerly included have been eliminated since they are now available in Church History, Volumes 5, 6, 7, and 8; a considerable number of comments on the text have been added; and the book has been brought up-to-date.

This is the 1977 edition, which contains Sections 1-152 (1976). Two earlier editions are generally available. A later edition, entitled The Edwards Commentary..., was published in 1986.

A PROPHET CAME TO AMERICA

By Elbert A. Smith

52 pages

This is a new book.
To preview pages, go to

Newbookman.blogspot.com.