...As Far As It Is Translated Correctly

Part of the 8th Article of Faith states "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly;..."

Often the Church is criticized for thinking that the bible is flawed. I think sometimes we as members do sometimes take that point of view. As I have studied this out I find that the Bible is a miracle that we have what we have in the good condition that it is in. Here I will list some comments on this that I find relating to this part of the 8th Article of Faith.

This statement by Richard R. Hopkins gives us a point of view to ponder about the 8th Article of Faith. "This simple statement speaks worlds more about acceptance of the biblical texts than many realize. It acknowledges that the currently accepted texts, transmitted over the ages from the original autographa (the original pages written by the prophets and apostles, or their scribes), are sufficiently accurate that men need only be concerned about the accuracy of their translation." (Biblical Mormonism, p17)

In commenting on criticisms of the Church which state that we do not use the Bible Hopkins states, "Those who level such criticisms at the Mormon Church and its leaders have little or no practical experience with LDS teaching. For example, at the direction of the very apostles maligned in the forgoing quotations, two years out of every four are spent in the study of the Old and New Testaments at weekly Sunday School classes attended by all adult Mormons. LDS leaders constantly teach from the Bible, about the Bible, and that every Mormon should study the Bible." (Biblical Mormonism, p18)

I would add that our teenages spend two years taking a course on the Bible. Many take that course every school day before school starts, generally around 6 or 7 in the morning.

Another book by the same author is How Greek Philosophy Corrupted the Christian Concept of God, which I have not read yet.

The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart Exodus 4:21, Exodus 9:7

Exodus 4
21 And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those ^awonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine ^bhand: ^cbut I will ^dharden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

Exodus 9
7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

Does the Lord cause people to sin by hardening their hearts?

What else is missing?

From p41 of the book From Critic to Convert by Willard Morgan after referring to the doctrine taught by Jesus that Paul references in Acts (20:35):
"What else did Jesus say that is missing from modern Bibles? For forty days he remained with the apostles after his resurrection. What did he teach them then? Certainly, anything he had to say would be important. In addition to these references, the Bible refers to seventeen other books of scripture which have become lost." Footnote 4 on this chapter in the book lists several books that are referenced and not included in the Bible.