Question: Does our acceptance of
the Pearl of Great Price commit us to a literal acceptance of Genesis? Is not
this a peculiar position among contemporary Christians?
Answer: Yes, we do accept
Genesis, I think, more whole-heartedly, and therefore have a somewhat peculiar position
among contemporary Christians today because fundamentalist among Bible-believers
are somewhat scarce today. It does not commit us 100 per cent to an acceptance
of the book of Genesis as we now have it, however, because we know—thanks to
Nephi—that “many plan and precious parts” have been left out of it. We know,
too, thanks to the Inspired Revision, that “many plan and precious parts” have
been restored to it in the work that Joseph did get to do by revelation. We
know, as we look at the early version in Hebrew, that there are many things
that could be translated better. The Prophet Joseph Smith said on one occasion,
of a passage, “I could give a better translation of this, but it will do for
the present time.” We say we believe it to be the word of God so far as it is
translated correctly. So it is not in its present English state 100 per cent of
the words of Moses or the words of God, but we have great respect for it. I
believe we have much greater respect for it and take it more literally in many
ways than other contemporary Christians. (Ellis T. Rasmussen, “Contributions of
the Pearl of Great Price to Understanding of the Old Testament,” in Pearl of
Great Price Conference, December 10, 1960, ed. James R. Clark [Provo, Utah:
Brigham Young University, 1964], 37-38)
