The Mormon Apocrypha

31 What Are Pastors and Evangelists? Question:  " Why do we not have pastors and evangelists in the Church as mentioned in the Prophet Joseph Smith's thirteenth Article of Faith? If they are names for bishops and missionaries, why then don't we call them such? " The dictionary definition of a pastor is a correct one even from our understanding of this term; it is "a Christian minister who has a church or congregation under his official charge." The term pastor does not refer to an order in the priesthood, like deacon, priest, elder, seventy, and so on, but is a general term applied to an officer who presides over a ward, branch in a mission or a stake, and it could even be applied to a president of a stake. There are several references to pastors in the Old Testament, particularly in the Book of Jeremiah. I quote one or two of these showing that this is a general term applied to the priests and teachers in Israel, and not to an order of the priesthood: And I...

The Joseph Smith Translation, also known as the inspired version, is an interesting part of Latter-day Saint history. After translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith began his translation of the King James Bible in June 1830. In 1833, he believed it sufficiently finished to begin publication. Unfortunately, Joseph Smith did not live to see it published.  Following Smith's death, John Milton Bernhisel, a confidant of Brigham Young, asked Emma Smith for permission to use Joseph's translation in his own bible. Unfortunately, Bernhisel's bible had less than half of the corrections of the JST and was never published. When Jospeh Smith III became prophet of the RLDS Church, he began work on a bible based on his father notes, publishing it in 1867. The JST has not been canonized by the LDS church, with the exception of the Book of Moses, which contains Genesis 1-7 of the JST, and Joseph Smith Matthew, which contains Matthew 24 of the JST. Below are some sections from the Old Te...

The Priesthood is an important part of the Restored Gospel. Many sermons have been delivered about it. Below is one such address, delivered by Lorenzo Snow in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, on April 7, 1861. It is a matter of rejoicing to me, brethren and sisters, that I have the privilege of assembling here with you in a Conference capacity, contemplating the growth of the kingdom of the Almighty which has been upon the earth for the past thirty-one years, and considering the progress that this people have made in knowledge, power, and intelligence. We meet together in this capacity from time to time. Twice in a year we have always the same privilege. After considering the past, and seeing the improvements we have made, as a people and as individuals, it is a matter of importance to us to consider ourselves, to see whether we are making such progress as is required  of us—to learn if we are keeping pace with the times and the improvements that are being made by the leading men ...

This video is the recording of the first general Conference over the radio. On this recording are multiple sermons from prominent members of the church. Since the talks are so short, I will be transcribing all of them here. I will also transcribe how the program was presented on air, which is something I usually do not do.  ​Church of the Air Broadcast  At 10:50 a. m. Conference proceedings were interrupted to prepare for the Church of the Air broadcast which commenced promptly at 11:00. This program, presented on the Columbia Broadcasting System’s regularly scheduled Church of the Air series, was released by more than seventy important network stations throughout the United States and Canada and was carried by short wave to Europe and other countries. The radio announcer was Richard L. Evans. The program opened with the Choir and congregation joining in the singing of the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation.” ​President David O. Kay Second Counselor in the First Presidency Happiness...

Presented down below is a sermon by Wilford Woodruff delivered in the Tabernacle at Salt Lake City, on Sundy June 30, 1878. It is located in the 19th volume of the Journal of Discourses. In it, Woodruff discusses the power of faith and the priesthood. There is a principle that I feel disposed to say a few words on, in connection with what brother Rich has been saying, and that is the principle of faith. [The speaker then read the 11th chapter of Hebrews.] I have taken the liberty of reading this catalogue of blessings which ancient men of God obtained through the principle of faith; which principle is as much needed today by the people of this generation, as by any people at any age of the world. We might continue the chapter of results and operations of the principle of faith to the present day. For by faith Joseph Smith received the ministration of God out of heaven. By faith he received the records of Nephi, and translated them through the Urim and Thummim into our own language, and...