In June of 1830, just after the Book of Mormon had been published and the church was organized, Joseph Smith began working on the New Translation of the Bible. Thus, it was a very busy time in the early period of the Restoration. The translation and review of the New Testament was completed on February 2, 1833 and the Old Testament was completed on July 2, 1833.

​New Translation of the Bible (KJV)

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Although there are many versions of the New Translation (or Joseph Smith Translation [JST]) of the Bible now in existence, all include only a portion of the total number of revisions that Joseph made to the Bible. For example, although it is estimated that Joseph Smith made edits to more than 3,400 verses in the Bible, only about 600 of those changes are included in the KJV currently used by the LDS Church. The LDS church has only officially canonized the Book of Moses and Joseph Smith's revision to part of the Gospel of Matthew, both published in the Pearl of Great Price.
The Restoration Edition of the New Translation of the Bible is a complete edition that includes all of Joseph Smith's additions, corrections, and deletions from 446 pages of dictated translation manuscripts, as well as insertions and deletions written into his personal copy of the Bible.

​What did the Lord say about state of the Bible?

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What did ​Joseph Smith say about error in the Bible​?

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​Why was the New Translation of the Bible never published?

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What happened to the New Translation of the Bible after Joseph Smith's death?

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​​Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated the following about the New Translation of the Bible: "The Joseph Smith Translation, or Inspired Version, is a thousand times over the best Bible now existing on earth. It contains all that the King James Version does, plus pages of additions and corrections and an occasional deletion. It was made by the spirit of revelation, and the changes and additions are the equivalent of the revealed word in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. For historical and other reasons, there has been among some members of the Church in times past some prejudice and misunderstanding of the place of the Joseph Smith Translation. I hope this has now all vanished away. Our new Church Bible footnotes many of the major changes made in the Inspired Version and has a seventeen-page section which sets forth excerpts that are too lengthy for inclusion in the footnotes. Reference to this section and to the footnotes themselves will give anyone who has spiritual insight a deep appreciation of this revelatory work of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is one of the great evidences of his prophetic call" (The Bible - A Sealed Book, 1984).

The New Translation contains corrections that shed light on countless issues, problems, questions, and doctrines, and also restores many lost truths. Many of the revelations in the LDS Doctrine & Covenants are in some way connected to Joseph's work on the New Translation, including background on the Apocrypha (Section 91), the three degrees of glory (Section 76), teachings on baptism for the dead (Section 124), the Book of Revelation (Sections 77 and 86), and various revelations on priesthood (Sections 84, 88, 107), as well as other sections (Sections 37, 45, 73, and 91).

After more than 184 years since the conclusion of the work on the New Translation, a complete edition has now been published, faithful to the process of translation followed by the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. and including all of his edits and revisions. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will notice many significant and important differences between the LDS KJV and the Restoration Edition of the New Translation. No more is there a need to go to an appendix (and lose your train of thought in the process) or search through footnotes in order to find revisions made by the prophet Joseph Smith. All additions, corrections, and deletions are made unabashedly and seamlessly within the text itself, to be read in one continuous flow of revelation and truth. This is truly a gift to be cherished, studied, and appreciated by all seekers of truth. The publication of the complete New Translation of the Bible represents a step in our collective repentance before the Lord for taking His word and work lightly in the past.

The Restoration Edition scripture committee that coordinated the recovery of the New Translation of the Bible in 2017 also produced a modern English version of the Bible, which can be downloaded as two separate volumes, known as the The Old Covenants and The New Covenants. (Note: The New Covenants includes both the New Testament of the Bible as well as the Book of Mormon as originally intended by the Lord as revealed to Joseph Smith, whereas The Old Covenants contains only the Old Testament of the Bible).

Reference: Matthews, RJ (1983). Joseph Smith’s efforts to publish his Bible “Translation”. Ensign, Jan, 57-64.