The doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon) are based on four books of LDS scripture: the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. These four Mormon holy books are printed together in the LDS church's official scriptural canon, which is known as the "standard works."
Mormon Scripture - The Bible
The Bible is a record of some of God's dealings with people in the Middle East, from the creation of the earth until roughly 90 years after the earthly ministry and death of Jesus Christ. Latter-day Saints use the Holy Bible with both the Old and New Testaments, but not the apocrypha.
In English, the LDS Bible is the King James Version (KJV) with footnotes to related verses in the Bible and the other three books of Mormon scripture. LDS editions of the Bible also include maps and a Bible dictionary defining words, names, and places.
Mormons study and revere the Bible, believing it was the pure word of God when it was written but that some inaccuracies have crept into the text over the last 2,000 years. Footnotes include portions of founder Joseph Smith's "inspired translation" of the Bible, which is generally regarded as an inspired study aide rather than a complete or perfected version of the Bible.
LDS Scripture – The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a record believed to be translated by Joseph Smith about God's dealings with people living on the American continents from about 600 B.C. to 421 A.D. (For more on how it came to be used in the LDS church, please see Origin of the Book of Mormon.)
Stories in the Book of Mormon echo many of the Bible's religious themes and expand on topics from the Bible as infant baptism, the nature of the fall of Adam and Eve, and Jesus' bodily resurrection.
Sometimes incorrectly called "the Mormon Bible" by non-Mormons, the Book of Mormon does not replace the Bible in the LDS church. Mormons study the books side by side and do not feel that they contradict one another. Within the church, however, the Book of Mormon is regarded as the more doctrinally accurate and complete of the two.
Mormon Canon – The Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) is a very significant book of Mormon scripture, outlining much of the history and the doctrinal development of the present Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The D&C claims to be a written record of revelations from the Lord received by the prophet Joseph Smith between the years of 1823 and 1844, instructing church leaders and formulating church doctrines and procedures.
A few official statements from subsequent church leaders are also included in the LDS D&C, namely an announcement of the discontinuance of polygamy in 1890 and the extending of priesthood authority to all worthy male members regardless of skin color in 1978.
LDS Standard Works – The Pearl of Great Price
The Pearl of Great Price is a collection of various writings from early LDS church history containing the following:
- Book of Moses – Some of Joseph Smith's inspired translation of the book of Genesis in the Bible.
- Book of Abraham – Extract of Egyptian papyri that Joseph Smith reported translating.
- Joseph Smith History – Portion of LDS church history that details the background of Joseph Smith, the "first vision" that gave rise to the LDS church, and the process of obtaining the plates containing the purported original text of the Book of Mormon.
- Articles of Faith – 13 creedal statements of LDS belief, originally part of a personal letter written by Joseph Smith but later voted on and included as doctrine in the standard works.
The beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are formed by their scriptural canon and supported by the teachings of their current prophet. Any teachings not contained in the standard works (even if they are generally accepted as true among some or all Mormons) are not official doctrine. If the prophet wants to add new doctrine, his material is voted on by church authorities and the standard works is amended.
Interested readers may also want to see Relationship Between the Bible and Book of Mormon and Origin of Mormonism.
Jenny Evans - Jenny Evans is a freelance writer and editor specializing in parenting and the family. She is also the Mormonism Topic Editor for ...
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