Before Latter-day Saints unduly criticize the accuracy of the Bible, perhaps they should first consider the following:
1. How do we know if James 1:5, the verse that Joseph Smith used to draw him to the “Sacred Grove,” was indeed correct? For that matter, how can anyone trust other biblical proof texts used to support Mormonism? It would deem reasonable that whatever test for accuracy that could be applied to James 1:5 could also be applied to every other Bible verse as well.
2. If the LDS Church has a prophet who has direct communication with God, then it would seem plausible for him to fix these alleged errors. After all, D&C 107:92 states that one of the “gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church” is the role of translator. If the God of Mormonism was able to help Smith translate the Book of Mormon from the golden plates, he could also be able to help the prophet with these alleged errors. Although the LDS Church does not officially publish the Joseph Translation as a bound volume, Smith’s alterations are included as footnotes and endnotes in the LDS-published version of the King James Bible. Many Mormons are unaware that Joseph Smith failed to “correct” many of the so-called problematic verses.
3. If Mormons want to scrutinize the small percentage of questionable material in the Bible—none of which affects essential doctrine—shouldn’t they also have a problem with the many changes made to the Book of Mormon over the years?
Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson, "Mormonism 101," pg.115-116
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