LONGWOOD, FL-Joseph Smith, the prophet of Mormonism, had a keen interest in studying the four Gospels in his youth. Soon after the Book of Mormon was published, Smith commenced his next major projectÑrevising the Bible. His English revision was based upon the standard text of the day, the King James Version. Smith considered that he could recover wording that had been lost in translation. He made a new version that could be used by the church he organized. H. Michael Marquardt's The Four Gospels According to Joseph Smith ($21.99, paperback, 978-1-60477-025-4; $33.99, hardcover, 978-1-60477-026-1) details the words he added and revised. The text is made available for those who have an interest in how Joseph Smith produced his own version of the four Gospels.
"My book is an objective study of the changes, mainly additions, Joseph Smith made to the four Gospels," says Marquardt. "It takes into account the historical background of the revision. The use of the primary source of his 'new translation' makes the book an extremely valuable work in understanding Joseph Smith."
Marquardt journeyed to Kirtland and Hiram, Ohio, where Smith worked on his revision of the four Gospels. It was there he studied at repositories that preserved the original documents, journals, letters, and newspapers. "I am respectful in the use of historical methodology," explains the author. "I hope each reader will read the work of Joseph Smith and understand this part of his ministry. Having the revisions made to the four Gospels gives everyone the same basis to consider Smith's role as a Bible restorer."
Xulon Press, a part of Salem Communications Corporation, is the world's largest Christian publisher, with more than 3,900 titles published to date. Retailers may order The Four Gospels According to Joseph Smith through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. Salem Communications is the country's leading Christian communications company with interests in radio, Internet, and magazine publishing.
|
2007