Recently, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints clarified that members may use a variety of Bible translations in their personal study and, in appropriate circumstances, in Church settings. For some, this raised genuine questions. Has the Church backed away from the King James Version? Does this signal a doctrinal shift? Or does it simply reflect a clearer understanding of how people learn and grow in scripture?

A helpful way to understand this update is through the familiar metaphor of seeing the forest for the trees.

Understanding Comes Before Precision

For many readers—especially converts, youth, or those returning to faith—the Bible can feel daunting. Its ancient cultural setting and, in English, the archaic language of the King James Version can obscure the overall message. In these cases, modern translations often help readers see the forest: the broad narrative of God’s covenant with humanity, the unfolding story of Israel, and the central role of Jesus Christ.

This is not a rejection of scripture but an embrace of understanding. If a translation helps someone grasp what the Bible is actually saying—how its stories fit together, what Christ taught, and why it matters—it serves the gospel purpose of bringing people closer to God. The Church’s recent guidance simply acknowledges this reality out loud.

“As Far as It Is Translated Correctly”

This approach fits squarely within long-standing Latter-day Saint theology. The Eighth Article of Faith states: “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.” That phrase has often been misunderstood as a dismissal of the Bible, when in fact it reflects a careful and reverent view of scripture.

As another article published here at Latter-day Times explains, “translated correctly” does not only refer to ancient language issues or scribal errors. It also includes how scripture is understood, interpreted, and applied. A passage can be technically accurate yet misunderstood in a way that distorts its meaning. In that sense, clarity and comprehension matter just as much as wording.

Modern translations can sometimes help restore that clarity—not by adding new doctrine, but by removing unnecessary barriers to understanding. They help readers see the forest before they begin examining the trees.

Why the King James Version Still Matters

At the same time, the Church continues to prefer the King James Version for official use in English—and for good reason. Its importance is not rooted in claims of perfection, but in interconnection.

The Book of Mormon frequently quotes and echoes the King James Bible. The Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price assume familiarity with its language. Joseph Smith’s inspired revisions were made using the KJV text, and generations of prophetic teaching have relied on its phrasing. Over time, the King James Version became the shared scriptural language of the Restoration.

Once a person begins to move from general understanding to deeper doctrinal synthesis—from forest to trees—the KJV becomes uniquely useful. It allows Latter-day Saints to trace ideas, phrases, and teachings seamlessly across the Bible and Restoration scripture.

Sequence, Not Contradiction

This is where some confusion arises. Past emphasis on the King James Version was often strong, leading some to wonder whether the Church’s recent clarification contradicts earlier teachings. But what has changed is not doctrine—it is clarity of approach.

Understanding must come before precision. Faith must come before fine-grained cross-referencing. The Church’s update reflects a mature, pastoral recognition that people start in different places and learn in different ways.

Seeing the forest helps a person know where they are. Studying the trees helps them understand how everything fits together.

A Coherent, Faithful Framework

Some readers need clarity before precision, narrative before nuance, and understanding before synthesis. Those familiar with the King James Version are prepared to trace doctrine across verses, revelations, and with Restoration scripture. The Church’s recent clarification quietly affirms that both paths can be faithful when the aim is discipleship rather than debate.

In the end, the question is not which translation one begins with, but whether scripture is drawing the reader closer to Christ. Some need help seeing the forest. Others are ready to study the trees. The Church makes room for both—while keeping Christ, not language or policy, at the center of the landscape.