Preparation of James 1:5

My husband and I got to go on a date to a symposium on the King James version of the Bible. The first presenter, John S. Tanner, who is the academic vice president of BYU and husband of Susan Tanner (previous general YW president of the church.) He has a great sense of humor making it a delight to listen to him. His paper was titled: The King James version of the Bible: Appointed to be read in Churches. The King James version of the Bible was translated by a group of scholars who focused particularly on how the words would sound coming from a pulpit. They read each proposed verse aloud to try to make each word "heart deep." It was intriguing to hear how James 1:5 was molded by the Lord as the group chose which previous translations to follow. As this was the version Joseph Smith would be reading, this verse was of great import to the Lord. Most of the King James verses follow the Tyndale version of the Bible, yet, was not followed for James 1:5. The Tyndale Bible reads as follows for James 1:5:
"Let him ask of God, who giveth to all men indifferently and casteth no man in the teeth . . . "
(italics added.) Just the image of the Lord kicking someone in the teeth is enough to send away the spirit. And is an indifferent God one who will answer our prayers as He did Joseph Smith's?

In the second presentation of the night, Dan L. Belnap made another interesting point about James 1:5 and the translations that were consulted. There are other translations of the Bible, like the Geneva Bible that had commentary in the margins of the pages, directing the thoughts of those reading. The KJV had no marginalia. Imagine if Joseph Smith had read this definition from the Geneva Bible next to James 1:5: To endure patiently what favor God layeth on a man. So, if we lack wisdom, we should just wait patiently for God to send his knowledge to us- all without serious effort on our part.

Now consider the beautiful wording that was chosen for the King James version:

5^aIf any of you lack ^bwisdom, let him ask of God, that ^cgiveth to all men liberally, and ^dupbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6But let him ^aask in ^bfaith, nothing ^cwavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Does that show you a God who would cast a man in the teeth? Instead, we see that He giveth to all men liberally. We just need to ask.

I noticed another plain and simple version of James 1:5 in 1 Nephi 15:11 as I was reading:

Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and aask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

Obviously, this isn't just a doctrine that was revealed to James. It's an age-old truth, no matter how you say it.

First to the Jews and then to the Gentiles . . .

Joseph and I went to a symposium on the King James Bible for its 400th birthday. It was fascinating and gave me many insights on the Bible and its role in the restoration. Interestingly enough, I had just read 1 Nephi 13 about the Bible coming with the pilgrims across the great waters. When a man asked the speakers what other editions of the Bible they would suggest, Brother Millet made a comment that reading with verses and chapters is like reading a whole book on a bunch of small notecards. As I re-read chapter 13, I found that the chapter break between chapters 13 and 14 had kept me from understanding something very important.
Earlier in chapter 13, verses 29 and 34 mention that plain and precious truths were taken from the Bible, and because of this, "an exceedingly great many do stumble." (vs. 29). Verse 34 says that

after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and preciuos parts of the gospel of the Lamb . . . I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious.

Well, in verse 42, at the very end of this chapter, it says that the Lord "will manifest himself to the Jews and also to the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last."

I've always considered this verse and felt smugly that Christ will come to us first this time. But reading as if there were no chapter break in 1 Nephi 14:1, I was shown something different. It says,

And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentils shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of thier stumbling blocks (italics added.)

The stumbling block we mentioned earlier was the lack of completion of the gospel and covenants in the Bible that caused the Gentiles to stumble. God would manifest himself in word and in power. THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED! We have the Book of Mormon, and we have further revelation that restores to the Gentiles first the covenants God intends for us to take full advantage of the sacrifice of the Lamb. In 1 Nephi 13: 40, it speaks of the Book of Mormon and the Bible. The last records "shall establish the truth of the first . . . and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them and shall make known to all knidreds, tongues, and people that the Lamb of Go is the Son of the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world." The Savior has made himself manifest to the Gentiles already that [we] may know him as [our] Savior. And if we "harden not [our] hearts, , . . we will be numbered among the seed of [Lehi]" (1 Nephi 14:2).
So, maybe I shouldn't feel so smug that the Lord is going to come to us first (like I may be there.. Also, we may be surprised at the way he manifests himself to the Jews.

The whore of all the earth

I was just trying to understand what is meant by the phrase "whore of all the earth" in 1 Nephi 14:11. She "sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people."
I've always considered this as a stinging insult to some church (we've all heard the different conjectures about which church it could be.) A whore is one who participates- often for money- in a sacred ritual without being married. So, if we know the true Priesthood of God has been restored to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that no other church holds the authority, it is as if others are performing all the ritual's of Christ's church without the authority or covenants God intends. It is not an insult, just a very apt comparison.