In regard to Gordon Smith’s Jan. 17 letter, “Smith’s translations alter true gospel,” I would like to point out a few errors in understanding of Mormonism. The angel Moroni visited with Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmore, not a man named David Whitman. If Gordon wants to write about Mormon history and call it erroneous, he should at least get his facts right. As for calling it fictitious, has Gordon Smith read the Book of Mormon? I expect not, since his data were incorrect.
As to his claim that Joseph Smith deleted, rearranged or altered the King James version of the Bible, this is also wrong. The King James version of the Bible is as it has always been. Joseph Smith has a separate section dedicated to the re-translations of the beginning of the New Testament where things that were confusing between the four gospels are now made clear. It is labeled as Joseph Smith’s Translations. Gordon Smith portrays Joseph Smith as a counterfeiter, but I would ask him to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it as I did. Then he will know of its truths.
Larry S. Bowman Jr.
Vancouver
