Difference between revisions of "Scriptures"

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Under the Church's doctrine of [[continuous revelation|continuing revelation]] (see [[Articles of Faith]] number 9), the Church has an open scriptural canon which thus far includes the [[Bible]] (the [[King James Version of the Bible|King James Version]] in [[English]]-speaking countries), ''The [[Book of Mormon]]: Another Testament of [[Jesus]] Christ,'' ''The [[Doctrine and Covenants]],'' and ''The [[Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)|Pearl of Great Price]],'' including ''The [[Articles of Faith]].'' These scriptural writings comprise the [[Standard Works|Standard Works of the Church]]. This belief in additional scriptural canon makes them unique among Christian religions.
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Under the Church's doctrine of continuing revelation (see [[Articles of Faith]] 9), the Mormon Church has an open scriptural canon which thus far includes the Bible, the [[Book of Mormon]], the [[Doctrine and Covenants]], and the [[Pearl of Great Price]]. These scriptural writings comprise the ''standard works'' of the Church. The belief in additional scriptural canon makes Mormons unique among Christian religions.
  
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Many of the pronouncements of [[General authority|general authorities]], particularly the president of the Church, are also often viewed as uncanonized scripture—particularly official written pronouncements signed by the [[First Presidency]] and/or the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]], such as "[[Proclamation to the World|The Family: A Proclamation to the World]]" (1995), which defined the Church's vision of the ideal family (which resembles the typical nuclear family), and "The Living Christ" (2000), which commemorated the birth of Jesus. Latter-day Saints are also encouraged to accept the most recent statements from prophets and general authorities as modern-day scripture. Latter-day Saints are encouraged to pray to know the truthfulness of the doctrine contained in their various scriptures, especially if they have trouble living a certain principle.
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Many of the pronouncements of [[General authority|general authorities]], particularly the president of the Church, are also often viewed as uncanonized scripture—particularly official written pronouncements signed by the First Presidency and/or the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]], such as "[[Proclamation to the World|The Family: A Proclamation to the World]]" (1995), which defined the Church's doctrines related to the family. Mormons are also encouraged to view the most recent statements from prophets and General Authorities as modern-day scripture, but not to accept such blindly. Latter-day Saints are encouraged to pray to know the truthfulness of the doctrine contained in such statements and in scripture in general.
  
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English-speaking members typically use the [[King James Version]] of the Bible; Joseph Smith also translated a version of the Bible, known as the [[Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible]] (or Inspired Version), and although this Bible translation is not generally used by members of the Church, <!--(because the copyright is owned by The Community of Christ, previously called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)-Copyrights have expired, so this statement is not accurate.  Joseph Smith was not going through the Bible starting with page 1 and correcting it. He actually was doing this translation by subject. Therefore one verse in The Community of Christ's JST Bible may be correct, while the two surrounding verses may still be flawed. (CORRECTION: The Church does not use the JST of the Bible because it was never completed - See Comment by clicking 'Edit this Page')--> the Bible issued by the Church contains cross references to the Joseph Smith Translation (JST), as well as an appendix containing major excerpts from it. Though it is part of the canon and members believe the Bible to be the word of God, the Church also acknowledges that numerous omissions and mistranslations occured in even the earliest known manuscripts, though the relative majority of what remains is believed to be correct. These errors have led to incorrect interpretations of the meaning of certain passages.
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English-speaking members typically use the King James Version of the Bible; Joseph Smith also translated a version of the Bible popularly referred to as the Joseph Smith Translation (JST). Although this Bible translation is not generally used by members of the Church, the Bible issued by the Church contains cross references to the Joseph Smith Translation, as well as an appendix containing major excerpts from it. Though it is part of the canon and members believe the Bible to be the word of God, the Church also acknowledges that numerous omissions and mistranslations occured in even the earliest known manuscripts, though the relative majority of what remains is believed to be correct. These errors have led to incorrect interpretations of the meaning of certain passages.
  
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The introduction of ''The Book of Mormon'' describes the book as follows:
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Besides the Bible, the Church considers the following part of their scriptural canon:
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:"The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God&#8217;s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of [[the Americas]] and 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. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C.E., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the [[Nephites]] and the [[Lamanites]]. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the [[Tower of Babel]].  This group is known as the [[Jaredites]].  After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are the principal ancestors of the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|American Indians]].
 
  
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:The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of Jesus Christ among Nephites soon after his [[resurrection]]. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come."
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* '''''[[Book of Mormon]].''''' A record of God's dealings with ancient prophets in the Americas.
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* '''''[[Doctrine and Covenants]].''''' A collection of revelations, policies, letters, and statements largely from Joseph Smith, but also from a few other Church prophets.
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* '''''[[Pearl of Great Price]].''''' A collection of translations of several ancient works, as well as Joseph Smith's official history and the [[Articles of Faith]].
  
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According to his record, [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God through the [[Urim and Thummim]]. Eleven witnesses signed testimonies of its divine authenticity, which are now included in the preface to the Book of Mormon. [[Three Witnesses|Three witnesses]] testified to having seen an angel present the gold plates, and to having heard God bear witness to its truth.  [[Eight Witnesses|Eight]] others stated that they  had handled the plates when [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] showed them to them.
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Latter-day Saints believe literally 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, and meeting personal challenges. Parents are entitled to revelation for raising their families. Divine revelation for the direction of the entire Church comes from God to the president of the Church, who is viewed by Latter-day Saints as a [[Mormon prophet|prophet]] in the same sense as Abraham, Moses, Peter and other biblical leaders.
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''The Doctrine and Covenants'' is a collection of revelations, policies, letters, and statements from Church presidents, starting with Joseph Smith. This record contains Church doctrine as well as direction on Church government.
 
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''The Pearl of Great Price'' contains: (1) excerpts from Joseph Smith&#8217;s translation of Genesis, called the book of Moses, and of Matthew 24, called Joseph Smith&#8212;Matthew; (2) Joseph Smith&#8217;s translation of some Egyptian papyrus that he acquired in 1835 (and subsequently lost, although some pages were purportedly rediscovered in 1967), called the "Book of Abraham"; (3) an excerpt from ''The Documentary History of the Church'' containing a letter written by Joseph Smith in 1838, called Joseph Smith&#8212;History; and (4) an excerpt of another of Joseph Smith's letters called the ''[[Articles of Faith]]'', thirteen statements of belief and doctrine.
 
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Latter-day Saints believe literally 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, and meeting personal challenges. Parents are entitled to revelation for raising their families. Divine revelation for the direction of the entire Church comes from God to the president of the Church, who is viewed by Latter-day Saints as a prophet in the same sense as Abraham, Moses, Peter and other biblical leaders.
 
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''See also:'' [http://scriptures.lds.org Scriptures online].
 

Revision as of 16:39, 20 January 2006

Under the Church's doctrine of continuing revelation (see Articles of Faith 9), the Mormon Church has an open scriptural canon which thus far includes the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. These scriptural writings comprise the standard works of the Church. The belief in additional scriptural canon makes Mormons unique among Christian religions.

Many of the pronouncements of general authorities, particularly the president of the Church, are also often viewed as uncanonized scripture—particularly official written pronouncements signed by the First Presidency and/or the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, such as "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" (1995), which defined the Church's doctrines related to the family. Mormons are also encouraged to view the most recent statements from prophets and General Authorities as modern-day scripture, but not to accept such blindly. Latter-day Saints are encouraged to pray to know the truthfulness of the doctrine contained in such statements and in scripture in general.

English-speaking members typically use the King James Version of the Bible; Joseph Smith also translated a version of the Bible popularly referred to as the Joseph Smith Translation (JST). Although this Bible translation is not generally used by members of the Church, the Bible issued by the Church contains cross references to the Joseph Smith Translation, as well as an appendix containing major excerpts from it. Though it is part of the canon and members believe the Bible to be the word of God, the Church also acknowledges that numerous omissions and mistranslations occured in even the earliest known manuscripts, though the relative majority of what remains is believed to be correct. These errors have led to incorrect interpretations of the meaning of certain passages.

Besides the Bible, the Church considers the following part of their scriptural canon:

  • Book of Mormon. A record of God's dealings with ancient prophets in the Americas.
  • Doctrine and Covenants. A collection of revelations, policies, letters, and statements largely from Joseph Smith, but also from a few other Church prophets.
  • Pearl of Great Price. A collection of translations of several ancient works, as well as Joseph Smith's official history and the Articles of Faith.

Latter-day Saints believe literally 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, and meeting personal challenges. Parents are entitled to revelation for raising their families. Divine revelation for the direction of the entire Church comes from God to the president of the Church, who is viewed by Latter-day Saints as a prophet in the same sense as Abraham, Moses, Peter and other biblical leaders.

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