Salt Lake City, Utah | October 19, 2011
In the year 1603, two versions of the Holy Bible competed for popularity among the people of England: the Geneva Bible and the Bishop’s Bible. To quell controversy, King James of England gathered linguists and Bible scholars and directed the translation of a new version, deriving the text closely from its original Greek. After eight years of translation, the King James Version of the Bible was published. It soon became widely used in England and was carried by colonizers aboard the Mayflower to the New World.
The year 2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the publishing of the King James Version, which is celebrated as one of the most influential pieces of literature in the English language and has helped countless people come unto Christ. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints share a love of this inspired work with many other Christian faiths, as the King James Version has been used by members of the Church since its beginning in 1830. The Prophet Joseph Smith supported the use of the King James Version and said of the Bible: One can “see God’s own handwriting in the sacred volume: and he who reads it oftenest will like it best, and he who is acquainted with it, will know the hand [of God] wherever he can see it" (The Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament: The 38th Annual Brigham Young University Sidney B. Sperry Symposium).
The anniversary of the King James Version represents an opportunity to establish common ground with leaders and members of other Christian faiths. An event organized to celebrate its anniversary is newsworthy and may be of interest to local media. Following are some ideas for using this opportunity to build bridges and bring positive attention to the Church in your area.
1. Pitch a story to your local media. Does your local newspaper have a weekly faith column? If so, call the newspaper and ask for the reporter responsible for it. Pitch a story idea on the 400th anniversary of the King James Version to him or her over the phone. As many newspapers allow guest columnist writers, offer to write the story. If you can’t write it, offer to be a point of contact for the reporter and to use your interfaith contacts to assist him or her in research and interviews. Thank the reporter for taking the time to discuss it with you. Send a grateful email whether the reporter is interested in your story or not. This opens channels of communication for future correspondence.
2. The King James Bible Trust, based in England, was created to commemorate the anniversary of the King James Version. One activity in a year-long celebration includes placing an entire reading of the King James Version on YouTube. The “YouTube Bible” allows a person of any faith to select a chapter to read on video and upload it to YouTube. After being uploaded, the trust will log the entry on their website. For example, Lionel Walters, a high priest from Deloraine, Tasmania, added his reading of John 10. Like Walters, Latter-day Saints could read their excerpt, while stating their location and faith, further sharing Mormon belief in the Bible with the rest the world.
3. Consider a fireside, open house or interfaith dinner to celebrate the common love many faiths share for the Bible and the King James Version in particular. Keep in mind how any of these activities can be used to develop relationships with key opinion leaders in your area.
4. The King James Version’s rich history in the lives of many iconic and historic figures, such as John Winthrop, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln and Joseph Smith could be of interest to local academic institutions. Consider offering to organize an interfaith lecture series at a local college or university on the influence of the King James Version in the lives of historic figures, as was done at the University of Oxford in England.
The anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible is just one example of a global or national event or anniversary that your public affairs council can utilize to bless the Church locally.
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