New Versions of the Bible

A friend of mine posted this on her facebook today:

Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.
Romans 5:3-5 (NRSV)

At first I thought I was reading a quote by some person, but then I noticed the scripture reference at the bottom. I decided to look this up in the King James Version, and this is what I found:

Romans 5:3-5
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

I don't know about you, but for me those two different versions are VASTLY different! And one of the most important parts was left out all together, and that is the part that talks in verse 5 about the love of God.

I know that many people want to read newer translations/ versions of the Bible because it is easier to understand than the older English. But these are some of the "plain and precious things" that the writers of the Book of Mormon warned would be taken from the Bible. Here is what the prophet Nephi had to say about this: (note: the "great and abominable church" is defined as "Every evil and worldly organization on earth that perverts the pure and perfect gospel and fights against the Lamb of God." Guide to the scriptures)

"Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.

And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them."
1 Nephi 13:28,29

I fear that many of these precious teachings are being lost in the world today, not only through various interpretations of the Bible, but through a lack of study of the scriptures. I would encourage every student of the Bible to not only study their newer versions, but to also study the King James version so that they can find if some of the "plain and precious things" have been lost.