About The Holy Bible
Do mormons
Believe in the Bible and Biblical Christianity?
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints accepts and honors the Bible as the word of God. Latter-day Saints
treasure its inspired accounts of the Savior's life and earthly ministry. They read the
Bible regularly and accept both the Old and New Testaments among the standard works of the
restored Church of Jesus Christ.
Does God speak to his children
other than through the Bible?
Latter-day Saints do not believe "that the Bible contains all of God's word to all people of
all time."
The Bible
The Bible stands at the foundation of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, constitutes one of its standard works, and is accepted as the word of
God.
LDS
Belief in the Bible
The Church believes the word of God contained in the Bible. It
accepts the Bible "as the foremost of [the Church's] standard works, first among the
books which have been proclaimed as…written guides in faith and doctrine. In the
respect and sanctity with which the Latter-day Saints regard the Bible they are of like
profession with Christian denominations in general (AF, 1966 ed., p. 236).
LDS
Perspectives on the Bible
Latter-day Saints
believe in the Bible, but it is sometimes stated by some not of our faith that we do not.
In fact, we love the Bible and believe its teachings. It holds a special place in our hearts
Jesus
Christ in the Bible
Latter-day Saints view Jesus Christ as the central figure of the
entire Bible. The Old and New Testaments are divinely inspired records that reveal the
mission of Jesus as Creator, God of Israel, Messiah, Son of God, Redeemer, and eternal
King. The Bible contains history, doctrinal teachings, and prophecy of future events, with
Jesus Christ as the main subject in every category.
King James
Version
In various lands where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints has been established, it uses a translation of the Bible in the local language. In
English-speaking areas, the Church uses the King James (or Authorized) Version (KJV),
mainly because it was the basic English text used by the Prophet Joseph Smith and
because subsequent Church leaders have approved its use.
Joseph
Smith Translation of the Bible
Joseph Smith, the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, made a "new translation" of the Bible, using the text of the King James Version (KJV). This work differs from the KJV in at
least 3,410 verses and consists of additions, deletions, rearrangements, and other
alterations that cause it to vary not only from the KJV but from other biblical
texts.
The New
Testament
During the early centuries of the Christian era, the New Testament
gospels were the principal written witness of Jesus as the Christ. No other collection of
writings carried the insight, the power of teaching, and, consequently, the spiritual
appeal to Christians. The New Testament also stands as the foundation of the restoration
of the gospel in the latter days. It was while reading in the Epistle of James (1:5) that
the youthful Joseph Smith was inspired to pray to the Lord about his confusion over
religious matters, leading to his first
vision (JS—H 1:7-20).
The Old
Testament
The Old Testament is one of the standard works, or scriptures,
accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which values it for its
prophetic, historical, doctrinal, and moral teachings.
LDS
Publication of the Bible
An edition of the King James Version of the Bible with new Bible
study aids was published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1979,
culminating seven years' work by Church leaders and scholars.
Bible
Dictionary
In 1979 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published
its own edition of the King James Version of the Bible with many
reader's aids, including a new Bible dictionary.
Bible
Scholarship
Latter-day Saints recognize Bible scholarship and intellectual study
of the biblical text. Joseph
Smith and his associates studied Greek and Hebrew and taught that religious knowledge
is to be obtained by study as well as by faith
Abrahamic
Covenant
The divine archetypal covenant, of which Abraham's covenant is an
example, is the everlasting covenant of the gospel of Jesus Christ. By accepting the
gospel, humankind can be redeemed from the doom of death and the blight of sin to enjoy
eternal life with God.
Israel
This article gives a general introduction of the distinctive LDS concept
of Israel, a review of the scriptural scattering of Israel, discusses the scriptural
promises of the restoration of the tribes to their homelands, and reviews the scriptural
promises concerning the latter-day gathering of Israel.
Law of Moses
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that this
law was given by God to Moses, that it formed part of a
peculiar covenant of obedience and favor between God and his people,
that it symbolized and foreshadowed things to come, and that it was fulfilled in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
The
Beatitudes
The Beatitudes, or promises of blessings in Jesus' Sermon on the
Mount (Matt. 5:3-12), hold a particular significance for Latter-day Saints because the
resurrected Lord gave essentially that same sermon to the Nephites and the Lamanites in
the Western Hemisphere, as recorded in 3 Nephi 12-14.
Biblical
Prophets
The phenomenon of prophecy is a distinctive feature of biblical
religion. In its fully developed character, it sets biblical religion apart from other
religions of the ancient Near East.
Priesthood in
Biblical Times
Throughout the biblical period, God
called prophets and other servants to direct his work and to be his authorized
representatives by sharing his power or priesthood with them. Through that priesthood, God
administered his spiritual and temporal kingdom on earth, taught redeeming gospel truths,
and provided saving ordinances in all generations (D&C 84:17-21).
Covenants
in Biblical Times
The idea of making and keeping covenants is essential to Latter-day Saints, who
would readily agree "that the central message of the Bible is God's covenant with
men" (Bruce, p. 139).
Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy (Greek for "duplication of the law") is the
fifth book of the Old Testament. Latter-day Saints have specific interests in this work.
It distinctively teaches that those who inherit a Promised Land do so on condition that
they remain faithful to the Lord, pure in heart, generous to the poor, and devoted to
God's Law.
Isaiah
Of the writings in the Old Testament,
the message of Isaiah enjoys high priority among Latter-day Saints. The attraction derives
primarily from the extensive use of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon.
Epistle to the
Hebrews
Many passages in this New Testament letter have particular
significance for Latter-day Saints.
Fall
of Adam
Latter-day Saints recognize the Fall of Adam and Eve as an actual
event that occurred in the Garden of Eden and has affected the entire earth and everyone
in the human family. The Fall was a necessary step in the eternal progress of mankind and
introduced the conditions that made the mission of Jesus Christ absolutely necessary for
salvation.
The
Creation
Latter-day Saints understand that Jesus
Christ, acting under the direction of God the
Father, created this and other worlds to make possible the immortality and eternal
life of human beings who already existed as spirit children of the Father.
Revelations of
John
The apostle John, sometimes referred to as John the Beloved and John the Revelator, and scriptural
texts linked to his name are esteemed highly by Latter-day Saints. Modern scripture adds
to an understanding of the man and his writings in three important areas: John as a
translated being, an additional record of John, and clarification of the book of
Revelation.
Prophesies of Daniel
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regards the book of
Daniel as the writings of Daniel, who was deported from Jerusalem to Babylon (c. 606
B.C.), and accepts the work as scripture. It sees in the work significant prophecies about
the latter days, including the apostasy from and restoration of the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
Prophesies of Ezekiel
The principal attention of most Latter-day Saints to the book of
Ezekiel focuses on chapters 34-48 because they shed light on God's latter-day work,
including Israel's return to its land, the restoration of the land to full productivity,
the rebuilding of the temple as a residence for God, and the appearance of important
records that they identify with the Bible and Book of Mormon. |
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People in the Bible
People in
the Bible
A discussion of some of the individual personalities mentioned in the
Bible.
Aaron: Brother of Moses
The Aaronic Priesthood, or lesser priesthood in The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, takes its name from Aaron.
Abel
Latter-day scripture reveals much about Abel beyond what is
contained in the Bible.
Abraham
Few biblical characters figure so prominently in LDS faith as does
Abraham.
Adam: LDS
Sources
For Latter-day Saints, Adam stands as one of the noblest and
greatest of all men.
Cain
Cain, son of Adam and Eve, came under the influence of Satan, whom "he
loved…more than God" (Moses 5:18; see Devil), and thereafter became the founder
of secret societies whose purposes include to "murder and get gain" (Moses 5:31; cf.
5:49-51).
King David
Mormon interests in David have often dwelt on the issues of his plural marriages and his
status in the afterlife.
Elija
During a divine manifestation to the youthful Joseph Smith on the
evening of September 21, 1823, the angel
Moroni quoted Malachi 4:5-6, a prophecy that concerns Elijah's activities in the
latter days.
Enoch
Enoch holds a prominent place in Latter-day Saint scripture and
tradition as a prophet, seer, and builder of Zion.
Ephraim
In the last days, Ephraim's descendants have the privilege and
responsibility to bear the message of the restoration of the gospel to the world and to
gather scattered Israel (D&C 113:3-6).
Eve
Eve, first woman of earthly creation, companion of Adam, and mother
and matriarch of the human race, is honored by Latter-day Saints as one of the most
important, righteous, and heroic of all the human family. Eve's supreme gift to mankind,
the opportunity of life on this earth, resulted from her choice to become mortal.
Jesus Christ
"Jesus Christ was and is the Lord God Omnipotent. He was chosen
before He was born. He was the all-powerful Creator of the heavens and the earth. He is
the source of life and light to all things. His word is the law by which all things are
governed in the universe. All things created and made by Him are subject to His infinite
power." Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was born in Judea about six months before the
Savior Jesus Christ. John's primary mortal mission was to prepare the way for, and
baptize, Jesus. His later role in restoring the Aaronic
Priesthood in 1829 is particularly significant to Latter-day Saints.
John the Beloved
John the Beloved is the author of five New Testament writings—a Gospel, the Revelation
(Apocalypse; see John, Revelations of), and three
letters.
Mary,
Mother of Jesus
Describing her as "most beautiful and fair above all other
virgins" (1 Ne. 11:13-20) and a "precious and chosen vessel" (Alma 7:10),
they prophesied that Mary would bear the Son of God and was therefore blessed above all
other women. "We cannot but think that the Father would choose the greatest female
spirit to be the mother of his Son, even as he chose the male spirit like unto him to be
the Savior" (McConkie, p. 327).
Moses
Few prophets are more revered in ancient and latter-day scripture
than Moses, who serves as a model of prophetic leadership not only in the Bible but also
in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price (see Luke
16:29-31; 24:27; 2 Ne. 3:9; D&C 28:2; 103:16; 107:91; Moses 1:41).
Noah
Noah is one of God's most notable prophets, Patriarchs, and
ministering messengers. He became a second father—with Adam—of all mankind
following the Flood and later returned to earth as the angel Gabriel to announce the
births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ (HC 3:386; TPJS, p. 157). LDS revelation has
amplified what is known about Noah in the Bible.
Paul
Paul is a true apostle of Jesus Christ. No
other early Apostle has had the impact on subsequent believers through both his personal
example and his written words that Paul has.
Sarah
Sarah was the wife of Abraham. |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reveres the Bible as the
word of God given through ancient prophets and apostles, though it recognizes that the
current text is not identical with the original. The Church has consistently used the King
James Version (KJV) for formal classes, missionary work, and personal study among
English-speaking peoples, utilizing KJV editions issued by the major Bible publishing
houses. However, because latter-day revelation offers insight, interpretation, and supplemental material to thousands of biblical
passages and in order to make the message of the Bible more readily accessible to LDS
readers, the Church published in 1979 an edition of the KJV with multiple study helps.
These include chapter headings, cross-references to other LDS scriptural works,
explanatory footnotes, clarification of Greek and Hebrew terms and idioms, a
subject-matter guide, a dictionary, maps, and excerpts from an inspired translation of the
Bible by the Prophet Joseph
Smith.
