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.

Spring 2025 $2.00 RLDS Book Sale

Offer good through May 31, 2025, or while supplies last.

All USED SOFTCOVER BOOKS by selected authors are only $2.00 each. Multiple copies available of many titles. No additional discounts apply to the sale books.

3 Hymnals are also added to this sale for $2.00 each:
• Children’s Hymnal
• Hymnal for Youth
• Hymns of the Saints

Easy instructions:
• Look over the list of authors and select those that interest you.
• Go to RLDSBOOKS.blogspot.com and click on ALL RLDS BOOKS.
• Find a selected author and discover the titles of soft (paperback) books he/she wrote.
• Note that all books on the list are considered as used unless they are marked “NEW.”
• Phone 816-210-8450 or e-mail to PaulVLudy@gmail.com to order. We will mail with an invoice and envelope for your payment. We deliver in the Independence, Missouri, area for only $2.00 per order.

90 Selected Authors for This Sale
Anholt, Kasper
Anthony, Joseph H.
Austin, E. Eugene
Baker, Robert
Barlow, T. Ed
Barrington, George
Black, Lea Vail
Boyd, Theo E.
Brock, Carolyn
Brown, Richard A.
Brunson, Madelon
Bryant, Verda
Carter, Mary Leland
Cheville, Roy A.
Clinefelter, William
Clothier, Richard
Cole, Clifford A.
Collins, Barbara Lee and Hale
Conduff, Sara
Dempsey, Elbert A., Jr.
Doty, Harry L.
Draper, Maurice
Edwards, Deane Butler
Edwards, F. Henry
Edwards, Paul M.
Gibbs, Verla
Gilberts, Helen
Gregson, Louise Clark
Griffin, Linda French
Griffiths, Gomer T.
Griffiths, Iris
Ham, Wayne
Hart, Lee
Haworth, W. J.
Henderson, John and Lilli
Holik, Norma Anne
Holm, Francis W.
Holmes, Reed M.
Howard, Barbara
Howard, Richard P.
Huskey, Hyrum H. Jr.
Judd, Peter
Kelley, Edmund G.
Kelley, William H.
Legg, Phillip
Linder, Ted
Long, W. A.
Lucero, Paul
Luff, Joseph
Manzanares, Viola Presler
McKiernan, F. Mark
Mesle, C. Robert
Mills, M. Morrie
Parsons, A. H.
Pement, Isleta L.
Piepergerdes, Vernell
Premoe, David
Presler, Viola Velt
Preston, John
Price, Pamela
Prince, Gregory A.
Reece, Colleen L.
Revell, Roger
Ritchie, Malcolm L.
Ruoff, Norman D.
Russell, Naomi
Sanford, Mabel A.
Schaefer, Henry
Selden, Eric L.
Shaw, Martha
Shotton, James A.
Smith, Elbert A.
Smith, Frederick M.
Smith, Lucy Mack
Smith, Mildred Nelson
Spencer, Geoffrey F.
Stienon, Elaine
Thomas, Clara
Thrutchley, Roy A.
Tickemyer, Garland E.
Tyree, Alan D.
Updike, L. Wayne
Walker, Marietta
Weldon, Roy E.
Yarrington, Roger
Young, Leonard M.
Zerr, Byrna
Zerr, C. Myron

RLDS BOOK NOTES — MARCH 31, 2025

March has been a very busy month for us, including our first conference/reunion display of the season. But I wanted to take the time to pull some 100-year-old Scriptures for you to consider and also make a list of other 100-year-old books and reprints we have available (plus two extra books at the end of this message).

First, let’s take a look at the Scriptures from 1925 and before. The descriptions match the books in the photo. These are one of a kind, and I am asking that you CALL ME at 816-210-8450 on the Scriptures so we don’t have someone calling and someone else sending an e-mail at the same time for the same thing.

A 1920 Inspired Version (complete Old Testament and New Testament). This is from the 20th edition of the 1867 First Edition of the IV. Printed in Lamoni, IA. It is really the “20th printing” of the 1867 edition. The book has been rebound with a nice hardcover binding. In the process, the spine was trimmed and sewn; so the gutter is tight, but the book is still very readable. All the pages are in good condition except the last 20, which are loose and worn at the edges. $100.00

B 1908 Inspired Version New Testament from the 15th edition printed in Lamoni, IA. Good hardcover and clean pages. There are tape tabs added to some pages. $50.00

C 1908 Inspired Version New Testament from the 15th edition printed in Lamoni, IA. Worn cover with tape on the spine. Lots of marking and folded pages. $25.00

D 1912 Inspired Version New Testament from the 17th edition printed in Lamoni, IA. Worn hardcover. The title page and next page are taped together and do not open and close nicely. $25.00

E 1923 Book of Mormon. Black hardcover has only minor wear; the rear hinge is cracked. Pages are clean. $50.00

F 1910 Book of Mormon. Worn hardcover. Several pages have pencil underlining. The last 2 pages are separated from the others. $50.00

G 1925 Doctrine and Covenants (last section is 135). Worn leather cover is still in good shape with a fancy gold title. A few of the gilt-edged pages have light pencil highlighting. $100.00

H 1925 Doctrine and Covenants (last section is 135). Worn black hardcover. Most pages are clean; a few have light underlining. $50.00

I 1919 Doctrine and Covenants (last section is 132; but several others are taped in the back). Worn hardcover; part of the cover is separated from the spine. Some underlining and notes in pencil. $25.00

J 1897 Doctrine and Covenants (last section is 124). The December 25, 1832, revelation is printed on the last page. There is no title page, and sections 1 and 2 are loose. The pages are clean. $50.00

100-YEAR-OLD RLDS BOOKS AND REPRINTS—Part 2

• Allen, J. H., Judah's Sceptre and Joseph's Birthright, reprint of 1917 book, hard, 377 pages $20.00
• Book of Commandments, 1972 Herald House replica of 1833 book, hard, 160 pages $10.00
• Book of Mormon, Replica of 1830 book, Herald House, 1970, hard, $20.00
• Collection of Sacred Hymns, A, by Emma Smith, Herald House replica of 1835 hymnal, hard $10.00
• Doctrine and Covenants, 1971 Herald House reprint of 1835 book, hard, 282 pages $15.00
• Etzenhouser, Rudolph, From Palmyra, New York, 1830, to Independence, Missouri, 1894, 1894, hard, 445 pages $60.00
• Etzenhouser, Rudolph, The Three Bibles—Scholarship and Inspiration Compared, Lamoni, IA, 1899, soft, 61 pages $30.00; reprint $4.00
• Griffiths, Gomer T., An Exegesis of the Priesthood, 2008 reprint, soft, 154 pages $10.00
• Knisley, Alvin, Doctrinal References, Lamoni, IA, 1908, Stiff Cloth Covered Paper Cover, 29 pages $15.00; reprint $4.00
• Lambert, J. R., Objections to Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants Answered, 1894, Lamoni, IA, hard, 120 pages $40.00
• Palfrey, Louise, The Divinity of the Book of Mormon Proven by Archaeology, Lamoni, IA, 1900, hard, 226 pages $15.00
• Saints’ Harmony, 1974 reprint of 1889 book, split pages with 1120 hymns (lyrics) and 542 tunes + 7 hymns with words and music, hard $20.00
• Scott, Columbus, The Christian Sabbath, after 1881, Lamoni, IA, hard and soft, 139 pages $15.00
• Smith, Elbert A., Joe Pine, 1916, hard, 352 pages $15.00; 1971 reprint, soft $5.00
• Smith, Frederick M., The Higher Powers of Man, Lamoni, IA, 1918, hard, 232 pages $15.00; 1968 reprint of 1918 book, soft, 232 pages $5.00
• Smith, Heman C., True Succession in Church Presidency, Lamoni, IA, 1900, hard, 234 pages, $15.00
• Smith, Heman C., True Succession in Church Presidency, Lamoni, IA, 1898, hard, 167 pages, $15.00; reprint, 167 pages $5.00
• Smith, Heman C., The Truth Defended (A Reply to Elder D. H. Bays' Doctrine and Dogmas of Mormonism), RLDS, 1901 and 1908, hard and soft, 241 pages $15.00
• Smith, Hyrum O. (“Orion”), Talks about Joseph Smith, Lamoni, IA, 1909, hard, 421 pages $15.00
• Smith, I. M., The Book of Mormon Vindicated, 1898, hard, 115 pages $15.00; Mimeo reprint of 1898 book, 112 pages $5.00
• Smith, Lucy, Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet (also called Joseph Smith and His Progenitors), Lamoni, IA, 1908 and 1912, hard, 371 pages $15.00; soft reprint $5.00
• Smith, Willard J., Joseph Smith, Who Was He? Lamoni, IA, hard, 255 pages + index, $15.00

EXTRA SPECIAL! We just obtained 2 nice bound volumes of The Saints’ Herald for 1951 and 1952. These are dark green hardcover books. Each has a year’s worth of exceptional reading! $50.00 each. These are heavy books, and shipping will be $10.00 each.

Did you know you can purchase books that are a century old for as little as $14.00 each? If you purchase three or more books listed at $5.00 or more, you receive a $1.00 discount for each book. Or if you purchase 10 or 20 books, you can receive a 10% or 20% discount on your order.

To order, email to PaulVLudy@gmail.com or call Paul at 816-210-8450. I ship with an invoice and envelope for your check. Or I deliver in the Independence, MO, area for only $2.00.

Tell your book-loving friends that I have about 25,000 RLDS books looking for good homes! And I will be glad to add them to my e-mail list so they get news about new books, sales, etc. -- --

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.