Standard works

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quadruple Combination format of the Standard Works

The Standard Works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church, the largest in the Latter Day Saint movement) are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon. The four books of the standard works are:

The Standard Works are printed and distributed by the LDS Church both in a single binding called a quadruple combination and as a set of two books, with the Bible in one binding, and the other three books in a second binding called a triple combination. Current editions of the Standard Works include a number of non-canonical study aids, including a Bible dictionary, photographs, maps and gazetteer, topical guide, index, footnotes, cross references, and excerpts from the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.

The scriptural canon is "open" due to the Latter-day Saint belief in continuous revelation. Additions can be made to the scriptural canon with the "common consent" of the church's membership.[5] Other branches of the Latter Day Saint movement reject some of the Standard Works or add other scriptures, such as the Book of the Law of the Lord and The Word of the Lord Brought to Mankind by an Angel.

Differences in canonicity across sects[edit]

Canons of various Latter Day Saint denominations reject some of the Standard Works canonized by the LDS Church or have included additional works. For instance, the Bickertonite sect does not consider the Pearl of Great Price or Doctrine and Covenants to be scriptural. Rather, they believe that the New Testament scriptures contain a true description of the church as established by Jesus Christ, and that both the King James Version of the Bible and the Book of Mormon are the inspired word of God.[6] Some Latter Day Saint denominations accept earlier versions of the Standard Works or work to develop corrected translations. Others have purportedly received additional revelations.

The Community of Christ points to Jesus Christ as the living Word of God,[7] and it affirms the Bible, along with the Book of Mormon, as well as its own regularly appended version of Doctrines and Covenants as scripture for the church. While it publishes a version of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible—which includes material from the Book of Moses—the Community of Christ also accepts the use of other English translations of the Bible, such as the standard King James Version and the New Revised Standard Version.

Like the aforementioned Bickertonites, the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) rejects the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, as well as the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, preferring to use only the King James Bible and the Book of Mormon as doctrinal standards. The Book of Commandments is accepted as being superior to the Doctrine and Covenants as a compendium of Joseph Smith's early revelations, but is not accorded the same status as the Bible or the Book of Mormon.

The Word of the Lord and The Word of the Lord Brought to Mankind by an Angel are two related books considered to be scriptural by Fettingite factions that separated from the Temple Lot church. Both books contain revelations allegedly given to former Church of Christ (Temple Lot) Apostle Otto Fetting by an angelic being who claimed to be John the Baptist. The latter title (120 messages) contains the entirety of the former's material (30 msgs.) with additional revelations (90 msgs.) purportedly given to William A. Draves by this same being, after Fetting's death. Neither are accepted by the larger Temple Lot body of believers.[8]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) considers the Bible (when correctly translated), the Book of Mormon, and editions of the Doctrine and Covenants published prior to Joseph Smith's death (which contained the Lectures on Faith) to be inspired scripture. They also hold the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible to be inspired, but do not believe modern publications of the text are accurate. Other portions of The Pearl of Great Price, however, are not considered to be scriptural—though are not necessarily fully rejected either. The Book of Jasher was consistently used by both Joseph Smith and James Strang, but as with other Latter Day Saint denominations and sects, there is no official stance on its authenticity, and it is not considered canonical.[9] This sect likewise holds as scriptural several prophecies, visions, revelations, and translations printed by James Strang, and published in the Revelations of James J. Strang.[10]

An additional work called The Book of the Law of the Lord is also accepted as inspired scripture by the Strangites. They likewise hold as scriptural several prophecies, visions, revelations, and translations printed by James Strang, and published in the Revelations of James J. Strang. Among other things, this text contains his purported "Letter of Appointment" from Joseph Smith and his translation of the Voree plates.

The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite) accepts the following as scripture: the Inspired Version of the Bible (including the Book of Moses and Joseph Smith–Matthew), the Book of Mormon, and the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants (including the Lectures on Faith). However, the revelation on tithing (section 107 in the 1844 edition; 119 in modern LDS editions) is emphatically rejected by members of this church, as it is not believed to be given by Joseph Smith. The Book of Abraham is rejected as scripture, as are the other portions of the Pearl of Great Price that do not appear in the Inspired Version of the Bible.

Many Latter Day Saint denominations have also either adopted the Articles of Faith or at least view them as a statement of basic theology. (They are considered scriptural by the larger LDS church and are included in The Pearl of Great Price.) At times, the Articles have been adapted to fit the respective belief systems of various faith communities.

Continuing revelation[edit]

Under the LDS Church's doctrine of continuing revelation,[11] Latter-day Saints believe in the principle of revelation from God to his children. Individual members are entitled to divine revelation for confirmation of truths, gaining knowledge or wisdom, meeting personal challenges, and so forth. Parents are entitled to revelation for raising their families.

Church members believe that divine revelation for the direction of the entire church comes from God to the President of the Church, who they consider to be a prophet in the same sense as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Peter, and other biblical leaders. When other members of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve speak as "moved upon by the Holy Ghost", it "shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation."[12] Members are encouraged to ponder these revelations and pray to determine for themselves the truthfulness of doctrine.

Adding to the canon of scripture[edit]

The D&C teaches that "all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church".[13] This applies to adding new scripture. LDS Church president Harold B. Lee taught "The only one authorized to bring forth any new doctrine is the President of the Church, who, when he does, will declare it as revelation from God, and it will be so accepted by the Council of the Twelve and sustained by the body of the Church."[14] There are several instances of this happening in the LDS Church:

  • June 9, 1830: First conference of the church, The Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ, now known as D&C 20. If the Bible and Book of Mormon were not sustained on April 6 then they were by default when the Articles and Covenants were sustained. (see D&C 20:8-11)[15]
  • August 17, 1835: Select revelations from Joseph Smith were unanimously accepted as scripture.[16] These were later printed in the D&C.
  • October 10, 1880: The Pearl of Great Price was unanimously accepted as scripture.[17] Also at that time, other revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants – which had not been accepted as scripture in 1835 because they were received after that date – were unanimously accepted as scripture.[18]
  • October 6, 1890: Official Declaration 1 was accepted unanimously as scripture.[19] It later began to be published in the Doctrine and Covenants.
  • April 3, 1976: Two visions (one received by Joseph Smith and the other by Joseph F. Smith) were accepted as scripture and added to the Pearl of Great Price. (The two visions were later moved to the D&C as sections 137 and 138.)[20]
  • September 30, 1978: Official Declaration 2 was accepted unanimously as scripture.[21] It immediately was added to the Doctrine and Covenants.

When a doctrine undergoes this procedure, the LDS Church treats it as the word of God, and it is used as a standard to compare other doctrines. Lee taught:

It is not to be thought that every word spoken by the General Authorities is inspired, or that they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost in everything they speak and write. Now you keep that in mind. I don't care what his position is, if he writes something or speaks something that goes beyond anything that you can find in the standard works, unless that one be the prophet, seer, and revelator—please note that one exception—you may immediately say, "Well, that is his own idea!" And if he says something that contradicts what is found in the standard works (I think that is why we call them "standard"—it is the standard measure of all that men teach), you may know by that same token that it is false; regardless of the position of the man who says it.[22]

Quadruple combination opened to the Book of Isaiah (note the cross references between Biblical and Latter-day Saint scripture in the footnotes).

The Bible[edit]

English-speaking Latter-day Saints typically study a custom edition of the King James Version of the Bible (KJV), which includes custom chapter headings, footnotes referencing books in the Standard Works, and select passages from the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.[23]

Though the KJV was always commonly used, it was officially adopted in the 1950s when J. Reuben Clark, of the church's First Presidency, argued extensively that newer translations, such as Revised Standard Version of 1952, were of lower quality and less compatible with LDS tradition.[24] After publishing its own KJV edition in 1979, the First Presidency announced in 1992 that the KJV was the church's official English Bible, stating "[w]hile other Bible versions may be easier to read than the King James Version, in doctrinal matters latter-day revelation supports the King James Version in preference to other English translations."[25] In 2010 this was written into the church's Handbook, which directs official church policy and programs.[24][26]

A Spanish version, with a similar format and using a slightly revised version of the 1909 Reina-Valera translation, was published in 2009.[27] Latter-day Saints in other non-English speaking areas may use other versions of the Bible.

Though the Bible is part of the LDS canon and members believe it to be the word of God, they believe that omissions and mistranslations are present in even the earliest known manuscripts. They claim that the errors in the Bible have led to incorrect interpretations of certain passages. Thus, as church founder Joseph Smith explained, the church believes the Bible to be the word of God "as far as it is translated correctly".[28] The church teaches that "[t]he most reliable way to measure the accuracy of any biblical passage is not by comparing different texts, but by comparison with the Book of Mormon and modern-day revelations".[25]

The manuscripts of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible state that "the Songs of Solomon are not inspired scripture,"[29] and therefore it is not included in LDS canon and rarely studied by members of the LDS Church. However, it is still printed in every version of the King James Bible published by the church.

The Apocrypha[edit]

Although the Apocrypha was part of the 1611 edition of the KJV, the LDS Church does not currently use the Apocrypha as part of its canon. Joseph Smith taught that while the contemporary edition of the Apocrypha was not to be relied on for doctrine, it was potentially useful when read with a spirit of discernment.[30]

Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible[edit]

Joseph Smith translated selected verses of the Bible, working by subject. His complete work is known as the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, or the Inspired Version. Although this selected translation is not generally quoted by church members, the English Bible issued by the church and commonly used by Latter-day Saints contains cross-references to the Joseph Smith Translation (JST), as well as an appendix containing longer excerpts from it. Excerpts that were too long to include in the Bible appendix are included in the Pearl of Great Price as the Book of Moses (for Genesis 1:1-6:13) and Joseph Smith-Matthew (for Matthew 23:39-24:51 and Mark 13).

The Book of Mormon[edit]

Cover page of The Book of Mormon from an original 1830 edition, by Joseph Smith
(Image from the U.S. Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division.)

Latter-day Saints consider the Book of Mormon a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It contains a record of God's dealings with the prophets and ancient inhabitants of the Americas. The introduction to the book asserts that it "contains, as does the Bible, the fullness of the everlasting gospel. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon."

Segments of the Book of Mormon provide an account of the culture, religious teachings, and civilizations of some of the groups who immigrated to the New World. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, identified in the book as the Nephites and the Lamanites. Some years after their arrival, the Nephites met with a similar group, the Mulekites who left the Middle East during the same period. An older group arrived in America much earlier, when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites and their story is condensed in the Book of Ether. The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of Jesus Christ among Nephites soon after his resurrection. This account presents the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and offers men peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come. The latter segments of the Book of Mormon detail the destruction of these civilizations, as all were destroyed except the Lamanites. The book asserts that the Lamanites are among the ancestors of the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

According to his record, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by gift and power of God through a set of interpreters later referred to as the Urim and Thummim. Eleven witnesses signed testimonies of its authenticity, which are now included in the preface to the Book of Mormon. The Three Witnesses testified to have seen an angel present the gold plates and to have heard God bear witness to its truth. Eight others stated that Joseph Smith showed them the plates and that they handled and examined them.

The Doctrine and Covenants[edit]

The church's D&C is a collection of revelations, policies, letters, and statements given to the modern church by past church presidents. This record contains points of church doctrine and direction on church government. The book has existed in numerous forms, with varying content, throughout the history of the church and has also been published in differing formats by the various Latter Day Saint denominations. When the church chooses to canonize new material, it is typically added to the Doctrine and Covenants; the most recent changes were made in 1981.

The Pearl of Great Price[edit]

The Pearl of Great Price is a selection of material produced by Joseph Smith and deals with many significant aspects of the faith and doctrine of the church. Many of these materials were initially published in church periodicals in the early days of the church.

The Pearl of Great Price contains five sections:

Church instruction[edit]

Historically, in the church's Sunday School and Church Educational System (CES) classes, the standard works have been studied and taught in a four-year rotation:

Year One: Old Testament (also includes some coverage of related topics in the Book of Moses and Book of Abraham from the Pearl of Great Price)
Year Two: New Testament
Year Three: Book of Mormon
Year Four: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History

However, church leaders have emphasized that members should not restrict their study of the standard works to the particular book being currently studied in Sunday School or other religious courses. Specifically, church president Ezra Taft Benson taught:

At present, the Book of Mormon is studied in our Sunday School and seminary classes every fourth year. This four-year pattern, however, must not be followed by Church members in their personal and family study. We need to read daily from the pages of [that] book ....[31]

In November 2014, the church announced changes in the curriculum to be used within CES, including the church's four institutions of higher education, such as Brigham Young University. The church's seminary program will retain the current four-year rotation of study. Beginning in the fall of 2015, incoming institute of religion and CES higher education students will be required to take four new cornerstone courses:

Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel
Foundations of the Restoration
The Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon
The Eternal Family

The church's intent is to further integrate the teachings found in the Standard Works with that of church leaders and other current sources.[32]

Table of canonicity[edit]

All the denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement listed below use the same canon of the Book of Mormon. Other uses and content vary among their respective canons.

Books The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

(LDS Church)

Community of Christ (RLDS) Church of Jesus Christ (Brickertonite) Church of Christ (Temple Lot) Church of Christ (Fettingite) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
Doctrine and Covenants
Book of Commandments Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes
Moroni's visit to Joseph Smith Yes No No No No No Yes
Conferral of Aaronic priesthood by John the Baptist Yes No No No No No Yes
To Three Witnesses Yes Yes No No No No Yes
To Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Property division Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Location of Zion at Jackson County, Missouri Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Prayer of Joseph Smith; keys of the kingdom Yes Yes No No No No Yes
To William E. McLellin Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Testimony of the Book of Commandments Yes Yes No No No No Yes
To Orson Hyde, Luke S. Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson, and William E. McLellin; bishops; parents Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Assignments for John Whitmer Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Stewardship; equality Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon called to preach Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Bishops Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Explanation of 1 Corinthians 7:14; salvation of children Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Missionary work; families of missionaries Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Jesus Christ; resurrection; degrees of glory; origin of Satan Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Explanation of certain verses in Revelation Yes No No No No No Yes
United Order; equality Yes Yes No No No No Yes
To Jared Carter Yes Yes No No No No Yes
To Stephen Burnett and Eden Smith Yes Yes No No No No Yes
To Jesse Gause; on 18 Mar 1833 its application was transferred to Frederick G. Williams Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Obedience; United Order; equality Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Husbands and fathers; widows and orphans Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Priesthood Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Letter from Joseph Smith to W. W. Phelps; United Order; One Mighty and Strong; equality Yes No No No No No Yes
Parable of the Tares explained Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Prophecy of war and calamity Yes No No No No No Yes
The "olive leaf"; "Lord's message of peace" Yes Yes No No No No Yes
A "Word of Wisdom" Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Keys of the kingdom; First Presidency Yes Yes No No No No Yes
The Apocrypha Yes Yes No No No No Yes
To Frederick G. Williams Yes Yes No No No No Yes
John's record of Christ; intelligence; innocence of children Yes Yes No No No No Yes
To Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, and Jared Carter; construction of various buildings commanded Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Kirtland Temple to be built; purpose of temples Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Division of property Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Saints in Jackson County, Missouri; temple to be built in Jackson County Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Promises and warnings; martyrs; when war is justified; forgiving enemies Yes Yes No No No No Yes
To John Murdock Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to preach gospel; Rigdon to be Smith's spokesman; welfare of Orson Hyde and John Gould Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Redemption of Zion; parables; United States and the U.S. Constitution; Saints to seek redress Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Minutes for first high council meeting Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Redemption of Zion; organization of Zion's Camp Yes Yes No No No No Yes
United Order Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Redemption of Zion; purpose of Kirtland Temple; peace Yes Yes No No No No Yes
To Warren A. Cowdery; Second Coming Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Priesthood; quorums Yes Yes No No No No No
To Lyman Sherman Yes No No No No No Yes
Dedicatory prayer for Kirtland Temple Yes No No No No No Yes
Visitation of Jesus Christ to accept Kirtland Temple; conferral of priesthood keys; coming of Moses, Elias, and Elijah Yes No No No No No Yes
temporal needs of the church Yes No No No No No Yes
To Thomas B. Marsh; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; First Presidency Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Answers to questions on the Book of Isaiah Yes No No No No No Yes
Concerning David W. Patten Yes No No No No No Yes
Name of the church; stakes; temple to be built at Far West, Missouri Yes No No No No No Yes
Adam-ondi-Ahman Yes No No No No No Yes
Concerning William Marks, Newel K. Whitney, and Oliver Granger; property; sacrifice Yes No No No No No Yes
Vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles filled Yes No No No No No Yes
Tithing Yes Yes No No No No No
Council on the Disposition of the Tithes Yes No No No No No Yes
Prayer and prophecies of Joseph Smith; why many are called but few chosen Yes No No No No No Yes
Destiny of Joseph Smith Yes No No No No No Yes
Letter to church; duty in relation to their persecutors Yes No No No No No Yes
Nauvoo Temple and Nauvoo House to be built; baptism for the dead Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Saints in Iowa Yes No No No No No Yes
To Brigham Young Yes No No No No No Yes
Letter to church; baptism for the dead Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Letter to church; baptism for the dead Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Distinguishing the nature of angels and disembodied spirits Yes No No No No No Yes
Various items of instruction; corporeal nature of God and Jesus Christ; intelligence; seer stones Yes No No No No No Yes
Various items of instruction; celestial marriage; eternal life Yes No No No No No Yes
Plural marriage; celestial marriage; sealing power; exaltation Yes No No No No No Yes
Original "Appendix"; Second Coming; missionary work Yes Yes No No No No Yes
secular governments and laws in general Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Martyrdom of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Organization of Mormon pioneer westward journey Yes No No No No No Yes
Salvation for the dead; salvation of little children Yes No No No No No Yes
Jesus Christ preached to spirits in prison; salvation for the dead Yes No No No No No Yes
Cessation of plural marriage Yes No No No No No Yes
1978 Revelation on Priesthood: cessation of priesthood restrictions based on race Yes No No No No No Yes
God's words to Moses Yes
(Pearl of Great Price)
Yes No No No No No
Prophecy of Enoch Yes
(Pearl of Great Price)
Yes No No No No No
General meeting of the quorums of the church to consider the labors of the committee charged with organizing publication of the revelations into a book No Yes No No No No No
Declaration on marriage; one spouse only No Yes No No No No No
Tithing No Yes No No No No No
Calling of William Marks No Yes No No No No No
Priesthood ordination of other races No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Foreign missions No Yes No No No No No
Instructions to the elders No Yes No No No No No
Branch and district presidents No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Duties of quorums No Yes No No No No No
Lamoni College; church publications; relations with the LDS Church; doctrinal tracts; interpretation of various scriptures; gospel boat; branch in Detroit No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Patriarchs; foreign missions No Yes No No No No No
Quorums No Yes No No No No No
Sanitarium No Yes No No No No No
Organization and colonization No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Presiding Bishopric No Yes No No No No No
Presiding Bishop No Yes No No No No No
Missionary work No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; unity No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; work toward Zion No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; Zion No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; counsel No Yes No No No No No
Commendation; urge to work No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; counsel No Yes No No No No No
New President of the Church named No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; unity commended No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; stewardship No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; counsel No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; relationship between ministerial programs; prepare to build temple at Independence No Yes No No No No No
Clarification of 149 No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; counsel on culture; Independence Temple preparation; ecology No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; reconciliation No Yes No No No No No
New precedent on presidential succession; presidential successor named; changes in leadership positions; reconciliation No Yes No No No No No
New President of the Church; changes in leadership positions; counsel on outreach No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; counsel on outreach No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; counsel on witness No Yes No No No No No
Purpose of Independence Temple; priesthood opened to women; changes in leadership positions No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; unity; humility No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; the spiritual life No Yes No No No No No
Changes in leadership positions; trusting the Spirit; Independence Temple accepted No Yes No No No No No
New President of the Church named No Yes No No No No No
Proclaim peace; reach out; patience; embrace differences; respect tradition No Yes No No No No No
Be a prophetic people; diversity; tithing No Yes No No No No No
Strive for peace; missionary work; use and misuse of scripture; equality; generosity No Yes No No No No No
Effects of baptism, confirmation, and sacrament of the Lord's Supper; cultural awareness and sensitivity; flexibility in number of quorums of seventy; accelerate evangelism No Yes No No No No No
Expand community, promote peace, and end poverty; tithing; unity in diversity; act in accordance to beliefs No Yes No No No No No
Pearl of Great Price
Book of Moses Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes
Book of Abraham Yes No No No No No No
Joseph Smith–Matthew Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes
Joseph Smith–History Yes No No No No No No
Articles of Faith Yes Inspired No No No Inspired Inspired
Latter Day Saint movement other religious text
The Word of the Lord No No No No Yes No No
The Word of the Lord Brought to Mankind by an Angel No No No No Yes No No
Lectures on Faith No No No No No Yes Yes
Book of Jasher No No No No No No - not considered canonical[33] No
The Book of the Law of the Lord No No No No No Yes No
Letter of Appointment No No No No No Yes No

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "LDS Edition of The Holy Bible in Spanish". churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  2. ^ Scott Taylor, "LDS Church publishes new Spanish-language Bible", Deseret News, 13 September 2009.
  3. ^ Michael Morris, "President Eyring Announces 'Great Blessing' for Portuguese-Speaking Saints", churchofjesuschrist.org, 15 September 2015.
  4. ^ "§21.1.7 Bible", Handbook 2: Administering the Church, LDS Church, 2010
  5. ^ The only one authorized to bring forth new doctrine is the President of the Church, who, when he does, will declare it as revelation from God, and it will be accepted the church's First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and then sustained by the body of the church. (Harold B. Lee, The First Area General Conference for Germany, Austria, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Spain of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in Munich Germany, August 24–26, 1973, with Reports and Discourses, 69. OCLC 59671066.)
  6. ^ Lovalvo, V. James (1986). Dissertation on the Faith and Doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ. Bridgewater, Michigan: The Church of Jesus Christ. pp. 115–16.
  7. ^ "Scripture in the Community of Christ". Community of Christ Theology Task Force. Saints Herald. August 2006. p. 15.
  8. ^ Sheldon, William. "A Synopsis of the Church of Christ Beliefs and Practices as Compared to Other Latter Day Saint Churches". The Interactive Bible. Refers to the Bible and Book of Mormon as "the only safe standards".
  9. ^ "Strangite Scriptures" Archived 21 October 2013 at Archive-It. Strangite.org. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Strangite Scriptures" Archived 21 October 2013 at Archive-It. Strangite.org. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  11. ^ Articles of Faith 9
  12. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 68:4
  13. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 28:13
  14. ^ Harold B. Lee, The First Area General Conference for Germany, Austria, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Spain of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in Munich Germany, August 24–26, 1973, with Reports and Discourses, 69. OCLC 59671066.
  15. ^ http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/articles-and-covenants-circa-april-1830-dc-20/1#historical-intro "The minutes of that meeting recorded, “Articles and Covenants read by Joseph Smith jr. and received by unanimous voice of the whole congregation, which consisted of most of the male members of the Church.” http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/minutes-9-june-1830/1
  16. ^ Joseph Smith, B. H. Roberts (ed.) (1902). History of the Church, 2:243–246.
  17. ^ Introduction, Pearl of Great Price
  18. ^ "I hold in my hand the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and also the book, The Pearl of Great Price, which books contain revelations of God. In Kirtland, the Doctrine and Covenants in its original form, as first printed, was submitted to the officers of the Church and the members of the Church to vote upon. As there have been additions made to it by the publishing of revelations which were not contained in the original edition, it has been deemed wise to submit these books with their contents to the conference, to see whether the conference will vote to accept the books and their contents as from God, and binding upon us as a people and as a Church." Cannon, George Q. (15 November 1880), "Comments", Millennial Star, vol. 42, no. 46, p. 724. (10 October 1880, General Conference)
  19. ^ Doctrine and Covenants Official Declaration 1
  20. ^ "Scriptural Text for Visions Added to Pearl of Great Price". Ensign. May 1976.
  21. ^ Doctrine and Covenants Official Declaration 2
  22. ^ Harold B. Lee, "The Place of the Living Prophet, Seer, and Revelator," Address to Seminary and Institute of Religion Faculty, Brigham Young University, 8 July 1964.
    As quoted in "Section 68 - Scripture Is the Will, Mind, Word, Voice, and Power of God unto Salvation", Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual: Religion 324 and 325, Church Educational System, LDS Church, 2001
  23. ^ Mortimer, William James, "Bible: LDS Publication of the Bible", Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pp. 110–111
  24. ^ a b Stack, Peggy Fletcher (February 18, 2011). "LDS sticking with King James Version". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  25. ^ a b "First Presidency Statement on the King James Version of the Bible", Ensign, News of the Church: 80, August 1992
  26. ^ "21.1.7 Bible", Selected Church Policies, Handbook 2: Administering the Church, LDS Church, 2010
  27. ^ Santa Biblia: Reina-Valera 2009" (Holy Bible: Reina-Valera 2009)
  28. ^ Articles of Faith 8
  29. ^ "Song of Solomon", Bible Dictionary, KJV (LDS), LDS Church, p. 776
  30. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 91
  31. ^ Benson, Ezra Taft (November 1988), "Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon", Ensign
  32. ^ Prescott, Marianne Holman (November 4, 2014), "LDS Church announces changes to religious education curriculum", Deseret News
  33. ^ "Strangite Scriptures" Archived 21 October 2013 at Archive-It. Strangite.org. Retrieved 3 March 2012.

External links[edit]