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Some of Joseph Smith's revisions to the King James text fail to agree with the same passages as quoted in the Book of Mormon. Other portions contradict current Mormon doctrine. The LDS Church explains that Smith's work which began in 1830 was left unfinished at his untimely death in 1844; numerous errors remain in the uncorrected portions of the King James text, and therefore could not be published.  However, in a letter Joseph Smith wrote dated July 2, 1833, at Kirtland, Ohio, he states that he "this day finished the translating of the Scriptures." (History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 368)

In 1967 Original Egyptian papyrus from which Joseph Smith claimed to translate the Book of Abraham is rediscovered. Egyptologists translate and show it to be part of the "Book of Breathings," a funeral text not written by nor related to Abraham.

In Joseph Smith's Translation of the Bible, he marked the book of Malachi as being "correct", yet he specifically noted that the angel Moroni quoted it differently when he appeared to him in 1823. The Joseph Smith Translation has 12,650 words added in Genesis, 693 verses changed in other books of the Old Testament and 1, 453 verses in the New Testament were changed.

What does the Bible say?

Revelation 22: 18-19 - "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 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."

What about the discrepancies and contradictions among their own books?

The entire Mormon system is based in the "revealed" writing of one con man, Joseph Smith. This is the man that Mormons trust their salvation on. The Book of Mormon has been proven incorrect by archaeologists, anthropologists, and Bible scholars. Smith's other writings, The Pearl of Great Price and Doctrine and Covenants, are the seedbed of a theology that completely refutes and contradicts the historic, orthodox Christian faith. Joseph Smith was as big a hoax as the Evolution Theory.

Joseph Smith contradicted himself so many times after he wrote the Book of Mormon by his other writings such as Doctrines & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, etc.  The Holy Bible ("as far as it is translated correctly"), Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price are all considered to be the word of God by Mormons, yet there is a great deal of contradiction among them. Mormons also believe the Book of Mormon to be more reliable than the Bible, yet ironically the Book of Mormon agrees with several passages in the Bible that totally discredit Mormon teachings even though the Book of Mormon is not the Word of God.

How do you determine doctrinal truth?

Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one could know the Father except through Him (John 18:38).  If a Mormon carefully took inventory of the doctrines making up his/her faith, the person would discover that many of them cannot be supported by the standard works. For instance, where in the standard works is the teaching that there is a "mother in heaven" who is married to God? Apostle Bruce McConkie (Mormon Doctrine, p.516) admits this is an "unspoken truth." Instead of turning to standard works, McConkie refers to outside resources.

Where are the specific instructions regarding the LDS temple endowment ceremony? This is suppose to be an important element to progression to 'godhood', yet it is not in the standard works.

Joseph Fielding Smith, 10th LDS president, makes it clear (Doctrines of Salvation 3:203) that true doctrine can only be found in the standard works.

11th president, Harold B. Lee says if it contradicts with scripture, it is not true (Improvement Era, January 1969, p.13).

13th president Ezra Taft Benson saw no problem with the contradictions and said the current living prophet is more vital to LDS than the standard works and warned his listeners not to "pit the dead prophets against the living prophets" (Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophets, p.4). Brigham Young said "I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in books (ibid., pp. 3,4).

If "truth" can change with the induction of a new Mormon prophet, then Mormons really are doing nothing more than trusting in a mere mortal man (Jeremiah 17:5).  The Pharisees added to the Word of God and bound people with heavy burdens above and beyond those precepts found in the Scriptures.  Mormons are nothing less than Latter-day Pharisees who demand an impossible lifestyle of their people.

If the standard works are to be accepted as true, what about continuing revelation when a prophet contradicts it?  If prophets speak with authority at conferences, why are Mormons told to ignore many of the teachings by past leaders that were mentioned during conferences?

If the LDS feels the Journal of Discourses is inaccurate, why does the preface to Volume 8 of the Journal of Discourses state the journal ranks as a "standard work of the church", and why does the LDS church include so many quotes from the journal in its manuals? If the Journal of Discourse is inaccurate, why would an editorial in the Mormon publication Millennial Star urge readers to secure a set (Millennial Star 15:780)?

Inaccuracy of the Journal is an artificial excuse because they expose the heretical teachings of past leaders.

What does the Bible say?

Jeremiah 17:5 - "This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. "