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DON - The Church insists on using the Authorized ("King James") Version as its official Bible, even though more modern translations are easier to read, are more accurate, and include more recent manuscript discoveries,(4th century MS).
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch=(*haptomai G. 680) a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication=(porneia, G 4202), let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. (I Cor 7:1-2 KJV).
1. to touch #2.*of carnal intercourse with a women or cohabitation.#1**, illicit sexual intercourse adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc. Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 1Cor 7:1-2 NIV, in context is a better translation.
RE: Joseph Smith, who was not interested in the transmission at all, but rather in the translation. He studied Hebrew and Greek in an attempt to come closer to the original language of the Bible.
...the angels which kept not their first estate…=(*arche ,746)…(Jude 1: 6 KJV& JST), And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority,..(Jude 1: 6 NIV) And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority…( Jude 1:6 commentary) Refers to Fallen angels(demons).
I have been many Christian Bible studies where there have been several modern translations ,as well as the KJV and the Greek N.T., it’s a blessing.
JOEL - The LDS church has adopted the King James as the official version for a number of reasons. I have already discussed this on a few different pages:
http://www.mormonhaven.com/troy5.htm
I agree that sometimes it is interesting and helpful to refer to some of the other translations. Sometimes it's more confusing. See the following:
http://www.mormonhaven.com/luke2.htm
But we of course can rely on latter-day revelation through our prophets as to what God really wants us to know from the scriptures. We have faith that He relates the true meanings of the scriptures through them and even through the minds and spirits of anyone who diligently studies and and asks God for understanding.
DON - Modern translations like the NIV have footnotes, “The earliest and best MS And other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53, John 8:11 or Mark 16: 9, etc.” My sunday school class discusses such things, this is one of the advantages of using several translations including the Greek N.T.
The Bible in Psalm 51:5 clearly teaches that we have sinful nature from birth: (total depravity)
Gen 8:21; Psalm 58:3. Paul explains, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.. (Romans 3:10-11 KJV)…Also,
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.(Eph 2:2-3 KJV)
The Book of Mormon teaches that little children are not capable of sin because they do not have a sinful nature? For the natural man is an enemy of God, and has been from the fall of Adam (Mosiah 3:19); …we are unworthy before thee: because of the fall our natures have been evil continually.(Ether 3:2)
The Book of Mormon teaching that these divine commands are contradictory, But
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:13-14) God temps no one.
JOEL - The 90% figure came from an (Encyclopedia of Mormonism article by Mormon scholar, Victor L. Ludlow ).
If you do look at different translations of the Bible, Psalm 51:5 does not clearly teach that we have a sinful nature at birth. Some translations do; some don't as I showed in the page I referred you to. (http://www.mormonhaven.com/luke2.htm). It is interesting to look at different translations, which I personally do in my studies, but it can also make things even more confusing when they don't all agree.
I understand how you can come to your conclusions based on the Bible scriptures you cite in your email. But there are other Bible scriptures that need to be considered to get the whole picture. A child is born into a sinful world and has within him the potential to sin later in life (because of Adam's transgression). That potential to sin later in life is because of the, as you say, sinful nature that all are born with, as evidenced by the Bible scriptures you quote, as well as the Mosiah 3:19 verse; although I cannot find the words "total depravity" anywhere in the Bible (nor do I see any evidence of it in my 3 year old granddaughter).
But there is a big difference between having a sinful nature and actually commiting a sin. God does not judge or punish us based on our nature or potential to commit sin, but only on the sins we actually commit (Ezk 18:30, Romans 2, Rev 20:12-13). And in order to commit sin a person has to be able to make a conscience decision to disobey a commandment of God; something infants and small children simply cannot do; nor are they capable of repenting even if they could commit sin.
In Moroni in the Book of Mormon, Mormon told his son:
"Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them;"
And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!" (See Moroni 8: 5-15)
The sacrifice and atonement Jesus made for us takes care of the sinful nature we are all born with ("wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me"); which leaves us only with the repentance we must do for the sins we actually commit.
Jesus Christ said of children,
"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 19:14)
And:
"Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 18:3)
Apparently the way little children are, is what we must be to go to heaven. Why would He say that if children are totally depraved and unworthy of heaven? It is because, even though they might have a sinful nature which provides the potential to commit sin later in life, they have never actually willfully committed any sins yet. In order for us adults to go to heaven we need to repent of the sins we have committed so we can become as clean as little children who have not committed any sins.
This is the way I understand the doctrine.
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