Bible translations in Latter-day Saint Church use

What bibles can you use in church? Historically growing up you were ONLY allowed to use the King James Bible …. Has that changed? Or is it still ONLY the KJV?

No. The King James Version (KJV) is no longer the only Bible translation permitted in Latter-day Saint church settings. The current General Handbook says members should generally use a preferred or Church-published Bible in Church classes and meetings, but explicitly adds: “Other Bible translations may also be used.” [1]

Current policy

• The Church selects a preferred Bible edition for many languages. Its examples are the KJV in English, Reina-Valera (2009) in Spanish, and Almeida (2015) in Portuguese. [1]
• In English, the Church-published Latter-day Saint Bible is the Authorized King James Version with Church explanatory notes and cross-references. [2]
• The handbook’s preference for designated editions in classes and meetings is intended to promote clarity and consistent doctrinal understanding; it also says some people may benefit from translations that are both doctrinally clear and easier to understand. [1]
• When translations differ doctrinally, the handbook directs members to the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and latter-day prophets. [1]

How the policy changed

• A 1940 Improvement Era article described a substantially stricter practice: the KJV was used in the Church’s “official work,” Church literature referred “invariably” to it, and other translations were used only to clarify obscure KJV passages. [3]
• In 1954, J. Reuben Clark Jr. stated in general conference that the Church could not accept certain modern revisions—especially the Revised Standard Version—as presenting the true record of God’s word, because he believed their renderings weakened doctrines of Christ’s divinity and miracles. [4]
• Bruce R. McConkie’s 1966 Mormon Doctrine likewise said the KJV “has been and remains the official version” of the Church. That was McConkie’s published statement, not the wording of the current handbook. [5]
• By 2020, the General Handbook replaced an English-only formulation with a multilingual policy of preferred and Church-published editions, while expressly allowing other translations. [1]

So, the KJV remains the preferred English Bible for Church use, but members are not restricted to it. In congregations using other languages, the Church identifies different preferred editions; in any language, other translations may be used. [1][2]

Edition and source differences

Substantive Revision

The current handbook permits use of other Bible translations in Church classes and meetings, whereas the 1940 Improvement Era article described a practice in which the KJV was used for all official Church work and other translations served only to clarify it.

It is this version which is used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all of its official work both at home and abroad. The literature of the Church refers invariably to the King James' translation. Other translations are used by the Church only to help explain obscure passages in the authorized version.

Telefacts 133, 134, The Improvement Era, Volume 43, Number 3 (March 1940), 1940, Improvement Era 43, no. 3 (March 1940), p. 191

Generally, members should use a preferred or Church-published edition of the Bible in Church classes and meetings. This helps maintain clarity in discussions and consistent understanding of doctrine. Other Bible translations may also be used.

38. Church Policies and Guidelines, General Handbook, Current Edition, 2020, 38.8.41.1

The difference marks a real change from exclusive institutional use of the KJV toward a policy that retains preferred editions while allowing other translations.

Sources

1. 38. Church Policies and Guidelines — General Handbook, Current Edition, 2020, 38.8.41.1 — Official Church
2. Title Page — Holy Bible, Current Edition, 2013 — Canon
3. Telefacts 133, 134 — The Improvement Era, Volume 43, Number 3 (March 1940), 1940, Improvement Era 43, no. 3 (March 1940), p. 191 — Periodical
4. "Our Bible" — J. Reuben Clark, Jr., General Conference, April 1954, 1954, Conference Report, April 1954, pp. 37–47 — Official Church
5. King James Version of the Bible — Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966 Second Edition (post-1978 revised printing), 1966, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. (digital reprint), pp. 301–302 — Leader