Standard English for Sacred Writings – if needed, accompanied by Simple English - 20 September 1973

Obviously teaching literature and books about the Faith can be written in Simple English. However, we feel that when the Sacred Writings are published the standard English translation should be used, but there would be no objection to printing alongside it the translation into Simple English which should be described as a paraphrase of the Holy Word. Thus, for the people of ... who have difficulty in comprehending standard English, the simple English version would be in the nature of an explanation of the Writings which they could understand. In the case of teaching literature in which quotations from the Writings appear, these could either be paraphrased or a simple English version could be used with the standard version printed as a footnote. This method also provide a means whereby the people of ... could improve their knowledge and understanding of the English language. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 20 September 1973 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)