Written by John Carson
James 1:5 is a wonderful Bible passage.
When read in its context, it gives hope to believers. How does the Mormon church view this passage?
First prophet and president of what Mormons call "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church)", Joseph Smith Jr., said of James 1:5 in Pearl of Great Price (considered Mormon scripture):
Seeing that Joseph Smith claimed the impact of this verse from James' Epistle came so powerfully to him, it would be expected that he would have interpreted such a passage in the most correct manner. How did Joseph Smith view James 1:5? Did he apply this Scripture within its intended purpose?
Joseph Smith went on to say:
That a proper understanding of James 1:5 is important, I definitely agree with! An improper understanding of a particular verse can throw off an individual's understanding of the other passages that surround it. The harmonization of Scripture with Scripture is key to knowing if a Bible student is on the right track. If a verse is used in a context not supported by the surrounding verses, it is a passage used 'out of context', which often leads to a destructive path. So, is it serious? You bet it is!
But before we check out the Biblical context of James 1:5, let's see how Joseph Smith used it.
These accounts from Pearl of Great Price shows Joseph Smith, after reading James 1:5, went to a grove to acquire knowledge from God about information ("to know which of all the sects was right"), and to acquire knowledge about an action ("that I might know which to join"). There's nothing wrong with a 14 year old boy going into a wooded area to pray to God for guidance about confusing issues and life choices. The issue at hand is this: Was this how James 1:5 was to be understood... that seeking God for wisdom was for gaining knowledge about whether any particular religious sect was right, and which to join?
Let's check the context of this first chapter of James:
Who was the Epistle of James written to? Was it written to believers, or to those who do not yet believe?
It was not written to those who did not yet believe, but to all who already belonged to Christ. In particular, this section of James' Epistle was written to fellow Christians when they experience all sorts of temptations. Verse 14 reads:
So right away we see that asking for wisdom had everything to do with dealing with a believer's own inner personal struggles with temptations. James 1:5 has nothing to do with acquiring knowledge about others. A Mormon reading this might interject, "The struggle the young Joseph Smith was faced with, was to choose what was right. That's why he inquired of God. He didn't want to make the wrong choice."
Again, there's nothing wrong with that in itself, but to apply this verse in such a way stretches it out of its context. Seeking guidance about whether someone else is right, or about who to follow is not what James was talking about here. He was talking about reasons why we should "count it all joy" when we are faced with various temptations (verse 2). Would it be a joyous experience for a young teenager to be confused about who is right about God and not certain about where he belongs? Of course not.
What reasons would the Christian have to "count it all joy" from facing various temptations?
When a Christian is faced with a temptation, he/she can "count it all joy" knowing that "we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God!" (Hebrews 4:14), and that we can "therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16). The Christian need not despair when temptations come because, "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13). A believer can "count it all joy" when faced with temptations because there are blessings in the enduring. In James' Epistle he wrote:
Through trusting the Lord during trials and temptations, God grants the believer patience to endure:
Our walk with God becomes closer and sweeter, where the believer can say:
"The LORD is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him." (Psalm 28:7)
Now when we consider James 1:5 within this context, we see that when believers are faced with temptations and trials, their first act is to appeal to God. They can have full confidence that God will give them the wisdom they need. The rejoicing comes with knowing that God Almighty is exalted and glorified through trust, and the patient enduring He provides to those who belong to Him.
Joseph Smith used James 1:5 as if it meant gaining wisdom from God was to acquire knowledge about others. Mormons are thankful for Joseph Smith.
James 1:5 actually teaches those who belong to Christ should seek wisdom from God to endure trials and temptations. To God be the glory!
Latest comments
14.09 | 00:17
Is it your intent to share your faith with me? I'm a devout Latter-day Saint.
30.06 | 17:21
Let's add, the keys to Death and Hades (Revelation 1:18) the key of David (Rev. 3:7) the key of knowledge (Luke 11:52) and the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt.16:19) only given to Simon/Peter.
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Intuitive
10.02 | 23:31
Checked out the great video. 👍 Thumbs up!
The Mormon Religion was officially founded by Joseph Smith Jr. on April 6. 1830 after the Book of Mormon (BOM) was published in that same year.
Joseph Smith Jr. was born in Vermont on December 23, 1805. He claimed that when he was 14, he received a vision from God the Father and Jesus Christ in a grove of trees near his home where he received instructions not to join any of the Christian churches because they were all wrong.
Three years later, Smith claimed that an angel named Moroni (a character found in the BOM) appeared to him in his bedroom whom he said revealed to him that he was selected to translate "Reformed Egyptian" (a language that does not exist) from gold plates into old English. These plates were supposedly hidden near Palmyra, New York and are said to be written around the 4th century. The BOM was named after Moroni’s father, Mormon. Mormons view the BOM as sacred. No one is able to study the original plates because Joseph Smith claimed the angel took them back on May 2, 1838 (History of the Church 1:60).
Smith had a scribe named Cowdery. Smith did not actually translate directly from any plates. Rather, in his writings, he said he placed a "seer stone" in a hat and covered any light from entering it as he placed his face in the hat. According to Martin Harris, “By aid of the seer stone, sentences would appear and were read by the Prophet . . . , and when finished he would say, ‘Written,’ and if correctly written, that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place, but if not written correctly it remained until corrected,” Smith said, “By the power of God I translated the Book of Mormon from hieroglyphics".
Despite such methods of translation, there have been at least 3,913 changes made in the BOM from the time it was first published. Joseph Smith stated, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” Smith also claimed that John the Baptist appeared to him on May 15, 1829 while he was translating the BOM, and instructed him to restore the church by preaching the only true gospel.
Mormons regard the BOM as sacred writings, and view it in higher standing than that of the Holy Bible. Mormon Missionaries will ask you to pray that it is true. (See our page Pray to Know)