The Standard Works

THE STANDARD WORKS

The acceptance of a Book of Mormon by the Town Council and Library Committee for use in the Public Library of Salis­bury has recently been the subject of widespread Press comment. The writings have been generally fair, many of them referring to “broadminded Salisbury”, and making other impartial obser­vations; but it is obvious that many of the writers have ail erroneous conception of the status of the Book of Mormon with respect to the other standard works of the Church. This is shown by the fact that the Book of Mormon is repeatedly re­ferred to as the “Mormon Bible.”

Those books accepted as the standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are four, namely: The Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. These are authoritative.

The Bible used by this Church is the King James’ Translation, commonly referred to as the Authorized Version, generally accepted by the Protestant churches of the world, and any state­ment to the effect that the Bible is supplanted by the Book of Mormon in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is based on a gross error.

The Book of Mormon is a sacred record of certain righteous people, remnants of the House of Israel, who at different times were guided by the Lord to the American Continent from the Eastern Hemisphere, and who subsequently became a mighty and highly civilized race, lint finally dwindled in unbelief and became degraded. The American Indians of the present day arc their descendants. A brief record is also included of the Jaredites, a people earlier led west from the Tower of Babel, who later became extinct. The inspired writing was translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith through the power of Rod, from plates of gold, the title page of which the Prophet rendered thus:

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of tile people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a rem­nant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile^-Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revela­tion— Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by wav of the Gentile—The interpre­tation thereof by the gift of God.

An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.

The Book of Mormon in no instance contradicts the doctrines set forth either within its own covers or in the Bible. On the contrary, each of these two scriptural records corroborates and strengthens the testimony of the other. The last chapter of the western record promises sure knowledge of its truthfulness to all who will read it with a, sincere heart and real intent, asking God that they may know, and having faith in Christ. Its genuineness is attested by eleven witnesses, three of whom, Martin Harris, David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery, were shown the gold plates by an angel of God who bore witness to them of the divine authenticity of the book. Although each of these three later became estranged from the Church, two only return­ing, they verified their testimonies throughout their lives.

The Doctrine and Covenants, as at present constituted, contains revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, between Sep­tember 21st, 1823, and July 12th, 1813, for the organization and guidance of the Church, and for the building up of the kingdom of God in these latter days; and some additions by his successors in the Presidency of the Church are also included. These revela­tions were compiled into book form by divine commandment.

The Pearl of Great Price contains a selection of revelations, narrations, and translations of Joseph Smith, dealing with varied subjects.

In short, as is stated in the Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things per­taining to the kingdom of God.

In other words, in line with both the letter and the spirit of all scripture, and contrary to the teachings of the chinches of men, in the language of the Prophet Amos recorded in the Bible we declare to all the world:

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

R. L. E.