Biblical inerrancy is, of course, not agreed upon in the mainstream Christian world either. But for those of you who do believe in biblical inerrancy, how do you explain the many versions of the Bible that are available? If one version is perfect, what reason is there to be more than one version? And if two versions use different words for the same passages, can they both be 100% correct?

Can you give any logical reason why God wouldn’t have prophets and apostles on earth today vs. thousands of years ago? Does the Bible itself say there would be an end to prophets and apostles? If it does state or insinuate such a thing, doe it state that prophets and apostles would never return?

Parley P. Pratt, one of the first apostles in this dispensation, asked this question quite well, albeit rather verbosely. This is an excerpt from the outline from a presentation he gave in the 1830′s to a group of Christian “truth-seekers” in Toronto, Canada.

“Friends, I am aware that the subject now under consideration is one of the most vital importance to the Christian world, and, though it may seem to be new to most persons, it is familiar to me. I have traced it in all its bearings, weighed it in every possible light, and am prepared to impart to others that which, I trust, will satisfy and enlighten the inquiring mind.

“It appears from our text, as well as from the general tenor of the New Testament, that certain definite principles existed, which, acted upon and enjoyed, constituted the Christian Church, or body of Christ, viz:

“First. An inspired priesthood or apostleship, authorized to administer salvation in the name of Jesus.

“Second. Faith in their words and testimony, on the part of those who heard them.

“Third. Reformation of life.

“Fourth. Obedience to certain ordinances, as baptism and the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus Christ, in order to the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“Fifth. The spiritual gifts imparted to the body thus organized, in order to its edification, growth and perfection.

“It may be presumed that every portion of the professed Christian Church, without any exception—I mean those who admit the Scriptures to be a record of things as they existed—will readily agree, that the five principles just named did exist, and did constitute the Christian Church or body of Christ. This, then constitutes the model or pattern of the object of our present search.

“We have only to compare modern presences with this ancient model, in order to judge of them at once. Either the same principles would be required to constitute the body of Christ in all succeeding ages, or else the New Testament must cease to be a standard, and be superseded by a dispensation of later origin; claiming power to nullify or make void the dispensation of Jesus Christ and his Apostles, and to introduce another order of things in its stead.

“This last alternative none are so bold as to claim. All agree that the gospel was a perfect system, an unchangeable and everlasting covenant, never to be changed or altered by the Lord, and only perverted or altered by man under a severe penalty—a dreadful anathema. In physical matters men are not easily deceived or duped; for instance, a man sees or hears an exact description of a human body as existing in the days of Socrates or Plato; it has head, eyes, ears, mouth, arms, hands, legs, feet, etc. Can an impostor impose upon that man in this age? Can he introduce a wild beast, a fowl, a serpent, a man dismembered of his head, eyes, ears, hands, or feet? Could he pass any of these upon his fellow men as constituting the human body; the model or pattern answering to the former description? No, he could not. He would be considered out of his senses, and would be laughed to scorn for attempting such a thing.

“Why, then, are we at a loss in judging of the various systems which, in modern times, claim to be the church of Christ? Why do we not compare them with the model, and reject or receive at once? Perhaps you will say that such a course leads to consequences and conclusions so awful, that it opens truths so unwelcome, that it is natural to shrink from the view; and, like the ostrich in the desert, when pursued too closely, hides the head and eyes in a false covering, while the body is exposed to certain destruction.

“Says one, ‘if the ancient model or pattern is the standard, then the veil of modern Christendom is thrown off, and the entire world unchristianized—for we nowhere find such a pattern.’ Well, admit then that there is no Christian church in existence among men, and that there has not been for many ages. What then? is it a truth? If so, truth will not harm anybody. If the whole world has been for ages wrapped in mystery and deception, is it not better to find it out now than to continue in ignorance until Jesus reveals it at the judgment day, and sinks us in a moment from the highest pinnacle of hope and expectation to despair, rendered a thousand-fold more painful by a sudden reverse?

“But suppose, on opening our eyes to this great discovery, we search and find our observations and conclusions warranted by the whole tenor of prophetic writ? Suppose Jesus Christ and his Apostles and prophets all agree in bearing testimony, and foretelling the very order of things which we find to exist; also, its final end or termination, and the restoration of his Church and the reign of his Saints? Would not our own observations of what actually exists, confirmed by the prophetic declarations of such a host of witnesses, all testifying that it would be so, be a double assurance that we had opened our eyes to a snare in time to escape, and cause, us to leap forward with a thrill of joy and faith to that which is to come?

“We could then exclaim, in viewing the trumpery, pomp, splendor and greatness of Catholicism, or the scarcely less false and glaring systems of absurdity and priestcraft under the name of Protestantism, in their various forms, O, thou mystery of iniquity! thou art at last revealed, thou who deceivest all nations with thy sorcery, and with whom the kings of the earth and the nobles and great men have committed fornication, and lived deliciously; thy covering is removed, and the people shall see thy nakedness and abhor thee; and many shall be ready when the proclamation is made, ‘Come out of her, my people.’

“But suppose, on the other hand, we shut our eyes to these truths, and hug to our bosoms those systems of falsehood and error, which claim to be of Christ, but are not? The result will be a continuance on our part to build up that which the Lord purposes in due time to tear down, and to oppose that which the Lord will send into the world to accomplish his purposes. We would in this case be his enemies, and be found fighting against him.

Why do you never hear a Mormon say, “Pray about the Bible to see if it is true.”? This has always puzzled me. God’s Word does not need verification. It simply is true. But the Book of Mormon, on the other hand, must be prayed about (so they say).

The primary purpose of Mormon missionaries is to bring people unto Christ through the doorway of baptism. If missionaries went out saying “Will you pray about the Bible and if God tells you it is true, will you be baptized into the LDS Church?” how many people would get baptized? Not too many. If the Bible is true, that doesn’t mean the LDS Church is true. Lots of churches use the Bible, so knowing the Bible is true doesn’t help you when it comes to selecting a church. But there’s only one church with the Book of Mormon, so if someone can find out the Book of Mormon is true, then they can know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that the LDS Church is the true church of God upon the earth. That is why Mormon missionaries ask people to pray about the Book of Mormon and not the Bible.

However, Mormons are encouraged to pray about anything they want to know or anything they have questions about, including the Bible, if need be.

Critics of Joseph Smith, Mormonism, and the Book of Mormon use this to set up a false scenario, saying at least implying that Mormons are disparaging the Bible. This has led to people thinking that Mormons don’t even use or believe in the Bible. This is simply not true. Mormons revere the Bible every bit as much as they do the Book of Mormon. What Mormons believe is that the Bible, having passed through who knows how many hands of how many translators and writers over the past 2,000 years, inevitably has been changed, modified, mistranslated, and therefore isn’t exactly what was written down by the prophets and apostles. Mormons aren’t saying the Bible’s a pack of lies, we’re saying that it contains a some errors and there are a few things missing. A primary purpose of the Book of Mormon is to corroborate the Bible as a second witness and clarify things that may be confusing. Mormons use the Bible and Book of Mormon together. They’re even printed by the LDS Church as a single book with all sorts of cross-references. The LDS Church has official curriculum to accompany the Bible that every member studies. It would be hard to say that Mormons don’t use the Bible or revere it every bit as much as members of any other Christian religion.

So why did Joseph Smith say the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion and not the Bible? Because the Book of Mormon is the primary means of proving the LDS Church is true. Every other Christian church already has the Bible, and proving the Bible is true doesn’t help you decide whether to join the Catholic church or the Baptist church. But if you can find out for yourself that the Book of Mormon is true, then there’s only one option.

Want a free Book of Mormon? Or you can read the Book of Mormon online.

Q: The Bible is the final and only Word of God written to man.

A: If the Bible is God’s final word to man why doesn’t it say so? I know Revelations 22:19 says “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” but “this book” refers to the book of Revelation, not the Bible, because the Bible didn’t exist when the book of Revelations was written. Plus the book of Revelations wasn’t actually the last book to be written in the Bible, it just happens to be placed in the Bible as the last book. It says virtually the same thing in Deuteronomy 4:2 – “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it…” but we don’t reject everything that comes after Deuteronomy.

In addition, the early Christians accepted many books as scripture that aren’t included in our modern-day Bible, including the Book of Enoch, the Shepherd of Hermas, the Apocryphal writings of the Septuagint, Psalm 151 of the Septuagint, etc. In Acts 20:35 Paul quotes the words of Christ when he says “It is more blessed to give than to receive” and yet the scripture Paul is quoting isn’t found in the Bible. Where is the scripture that contains the prophecy that Christ would be a Nazarene, which is cited as fulfilled in Matt. 2:23? If someone were to dig up a 2,000 year old scroll in Jerusalem that contained the books those scriptures come from which are quoted in the Bible but not contained in the Bible, would you say they’re not the word of God because they’re not in the Bible?