Using alternate Bible translations for scripture study

[JAHS]

Apparently the following entry was recently made in the Church Handbook:

38.8.40.1

Editions and translations of the Holy Bible
The Church identifies editions of the Bible that align well with the Lord’s doctrine in the Book of Mormon and modern revelation (see Articles of Faith 1:8). A preferred edition of the Bible is then chosen for many languages spoken by Church members.

In some languages, the Church publishes its own edition of the Bible. Church-published editions are based on standard Bible texts. Examples include:
The King James Version in English.
The Reina-Valera (2009) in Spanish.
The Almeida (2015) in Portuguese.
Church-published editions of the Bible include footnotes, subject indexes, and other study aids.

Generally, members should use a preferred or Church-published edition of the Bible in Church classes and meetings. This helps maintain clarity in discussions and consistent understanding of doctrine. Other Bible translations may also be used. Some individuals may benefit from translations that are doctrinally clear and also easier to understand. Examples of such translations can be found in the Church’s Holy Bible list. When members encounter doctrinal discrepancies between Bible translations, they should refer to the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and teachings of latter-day prophets.
_________________________________________
Wondering if this will actually help or add more confusion when interpreting scripture?
Like it says, there are some scriptures where the meanings do change depending on which Bible translation one is using.

[JVW]

3 minutes ago, JAHS said:

Apparently the following entry was recently made in the Church Handbook:

38.8.40.1

Editions and translations of the Holy Bible
The Church identifies editions of the Bible that align well with the Lord’s doctrine in the Book of Mormon and modern revelation (see Articles of Faith 1:8). A preferred edition of the Bible is then chosen for many languages spoken by Church members.

In some languages, the Church publishes its own edition of the Bible. Church-published editions are based on standard Bible texts. Examples include:
The King James Version in English.
The Reina-Valera (2009) in Spanish.
The Almeida (2015) in Portuguese.
Church-published editions of the Bible include footnotes, subject indexes, and other study aids.

Generally, members should use a preferred or Church-published edition of the Bible in Church classes and meetings. This helps maintain clarity in discussions and consistent understanding of doctrine. Other Bible translations may also be used. Some individuals may benefit from translations that are doctrinally clear and also easier to understand. Examples of such translations can be found in the Church’s Holy Bible list. When members encounter doctrinal discrepancies between Bible translations, they should refer to the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and teachings of latter-day prophets.
_________________________________________
Wondering if this will actually help or add more confusion when interpreting scripture?
Like it says, there are some scriptures where the meanings do change depending on which Bible translation one is using.

https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2025/12/16/update-to-general-handbook-outlines-more-flexibility-in-bible-usage-home-church/

The most interesting quote for me was

Quote

Examples of translations that are published or preferred for use by the Church can be found under the Holy Bible in the Scriptures section of the Gospel Library.

By reading level, these translations are:

Ninth through 11th grades

- English Standard Version (ESV) 

- New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 

Sixth through eighth grades

- New International Version (NIV)

- New Living Translation (NLT) 

- New King James Version (NKJV) 

Third grade

- New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)

and

Quote

The translations listed in the Gospel Library were analyzed and found to achieve “both readability and doctrinal clarity,” Elder Klebingat said.

So it looks like the church now has "official" translation recommendations. There's no way they are going to buy the licenses for the copyrights for these texts for their membership to use, so it'll definitely be KJV on the app, site, and in Deseret Book and then let people bring whatever they want to church.

I still believe that soon the church will release an official translation of the Bible that they did internally and call it the LDS version or something.

Also, my favorite translation of the Bible is the Tree of Live Version (TLV).

[InCognitus]

47 minutes ago, JAHS said:

Wondering if this will actually help or add more confusion when interpreting scripture?
Like it says, there are some scriptures where the meanings do change depending on which Bible translation one is using.

I don't know if this is any different than looking up the word meanings in the original languages for clarification.  President Nelson was big on teaching using the meaning of Hebrew words for some of the concepts in the Bible for example.  And, there are footnotes all through the LDS version of the KJV for Greek and Hebrew word meaning

And there are definitely some passages in the KJV that can be misleading to modern readers, or are awkwardly worded.  So it's awesome that this is part of the official instruction now.

[webbles]

The section in the Gospel Library has links for each of those editions that all links to bible.com.

[JAHS]

47 minutes ago, InCognitus said:

I don't know if this is any different than looking up the word meanings in the original languages for clarification.  President Nelson was big on teaching using the meaning of Hebrew words for some of the concepts in the Bible for example.  And, there are footnotes all through the LDS version of the KJV for Greek and Hebrew word meaning

And there are definitely some passages in the KJV that can be misleading to modern readers, or are awkwardly worded.  So it's awesome that this is part of the official instruction now.

For example. David said:
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (King James)
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me". (New International Version)
 

[ZealouslyStriving]

1 hour ago, JAHS said:

For example. David said:
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (King James)
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me". (New International Version)
 

But how do other translations render this?

I like the options because you can look at the various translations and usually find one that best fits with the Church's teaching on the idea being presented

[JAHS]

33 minutes ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

But how do other translations render this?

I like the options because you can look at the various translations and usually find one that best fits with the Church's teaching on the idea being presented

Here's a list of some. They mostly align with the NIV except for King James and New Amer Std Bible 
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (King James)
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me". (New International Version)
I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. (The Message)
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. (New Amer. Std Bible)
For I was born a sinner-- yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. (New Living Translation)
See, I was born in sin and was in sin from my very beginning. (New Life Version)
I have sinned and done wrong since the day I was born. (Contemporary English Version)
I know I've been a sinner ever since I was born. I've been a sinner ever since my mother became pregnant with me. (New International Reader's Version)
Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. (New Revised Standard Version)

Since we normally use the King James translation did David's mother conceive him in sin?

[ZealouslyStriving]

1 minute ago, JAHS said:

Here's a list of some. They mostly align with the NIV except for King James and New Amer Std Bible 
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (King James)
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me". (New International Version)
I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. (The Message)
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. (New Amer. Std Bible)
For I was born a sinner-- yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. (New Living Translation)
See, I was born in sin and was in sin from my very beginning. (New Life Version)
I have sinned and done wrong since the day I was born. (Contemporary English Version)
I know I've been a sinner ever since I was born. I've been a sinner ever since my mother became pregnant with me. (New International Reader's Version)
Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. (New Revised Standard Version)

Since we normally use the King James translation did David's mother conceive him in sin?

  I guess those translations work as long as we understand that sin is not imputed to us until, and unless, we become accountable.