“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.”
– 8th and 9th Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1842), as written by the Prophet Joseph Smith
I am a believer in the Holy Bible – both the Old and New Testaments
I am a believer in the Holy Bible. I was raised on the stories that it contains, and still try to study them today. I’ve been trying to learn Biblical Hebrew and Greek for some time now, because I would like to one day read the Holy Bible in the original. Hebrew is the primary language of the Old Testament (or the “Hebrew Bible,” if you prefer), while Greek was the original language of the New Testament.
I also believe in the Book of Mormon
I should mention that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This means that I believe in both the Old and New Testaments. It also means that I believe in some other revealed scriptures, such as the Book of Mormon. Because of this, others have sometimes referred to us as “Mormons.” But this is not the term that we apply to ourselves today. We call ourselves members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Perhaps an anecdote will help to illustrate why.
Why we call ourselves the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints …
“A man named Lauri Ahola from the eastern United States admitted that at times he finds it awkward to share the full name of the Church. But because of the prophet’s counsel, he persists. On one occasion, he was visiting a friend at a church of another faith. Here are his words: An acquaintance asked, ‘Are you a Mormon?’ ‘I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, yes,’ I said. He started asking me several questions, each beginning with: ‘Does the Mormon Church believe … ?’ And each time, I began my answer with the phrase: ‘In the restored Church of [Jesus] Christ, we believe …’
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
… rather than the “Mormons”
“… When he noticed that I wasn’t accepting the title ‘Mormon,’ he asked me point-blank, ‘Are you not Mormon?’ So I asked him if he knew who Mormon was—he didn’t. I told him that Mormon was a prophet … [and I was] honored to be associated with [him]. ‘But,’ I continued, ‘Mormon didn’t die for my sins. Mormon didn’t … suffer in Gethsemane or die on the cross [for me]. … Jesus Christ is my God and my Savior. … And it is by His name that I want to be known. …’ … After a few seconds of silence, [the acquaintance exclaimed], ‘So, you are a Christian!’” (Shared in one of our church’s general conferences in 2021) I agree with this explanation. We revere the prophet Mormon. But it is by the name of Christ that I wish to be known. Thus, I do not call myself a “Mormon” or a “Joseph-Smithian.” I choose to call myself a Christian.
Neil L. Andersen, the apostle who shared the above story in that 2021 general conference
I wish to be known by the name of Christ
In this post, it is not my purpose to answer objections to our faith, or to defend our beliefs. If you want a defense of our Christianity, I will refer you to two talks (here and here, respectively) – again, if you wish to read them. Suffice it to say here that I consider myself to be a Christian, and that I am proud to call myself by His name.
My favorite painting of Jesus Christ
We believe in a volume of scripture called “The Pearl of Great Price” …
In 1842, our church clarified that “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.” (Source: Eighth Article of Faith) The church then added that “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.” (Source: Ninth Article of Faith) This is why we believe in two other volumes of scripture as well. One is “The Pearl of Great Price,” which includes a few miscellaneous texts. This includes a brief account called “Joseph Smith – History,” a brief autobiography from Joseph Smith. This is a much-recommended starting point for beginners, since it explains (among other things) how the Book of Mormon came to be.
The Prophet Joseph Smith
… and in another scripture that we call the “Doctrine & Covenants”
The other volume of scripture is the “Doctrine and Covenants,” a record of revelations given to the restored Church of Jesus Christ. Most of these revelations were in the nineteenth century – many during the lifetime of Joseph Smith. However, additions have been made as late as the twentieth century, with the last made in 1978. There are fascinating stories behind the writing of the “Doctrine and Covenants.” But with few exceptions, these dramatic stories are not to be found within the text of the work itself. Rather, the “Doctrine and Covenants” reads more like a manual – a great and classic manual, giving us timeless truths about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. In general, this is not where I would advise most newcomers to begin, although they are more than welcome to do so if they wish. (The text of these “Doctrine and Covenants” can be found here, for any who are interested.) Rather, I would advise interested newcomers (if they choose) to begin either with the aforementioned “Joseph Smith – History,” or with “The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” These may be the most user-friendly introductions to our church’s beliefs, which are great starting points for beginners.
The standard that the Book of Mormon suggests for its own verification
The Book of Mormon ends with a memorable promise to pray about whether or not the work is true. In the words of that promise, “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Source: The Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:4-5) I personally believe that this promise is true. At the very least, it provides a means by which to test its truth – the criterion given by the book itself. A free copy of the work can be ordered here, and its full text can be read online here. We invite people to read the Book of Mormon for any reason that they choose, including a search for ways to prove it wrong. That is totally and completely fine. At the very least, you will better understand what your Latter-Day Saint friends believe, and learn how to engage with their beliefs – if that is what you desire.
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
I hope that this will be received in the spirit in which it is intended
So where do I stand on this marvelous document? As you have probably gathered, I am a believer in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon – and in the other scriptures previously mentioned. I believe in continuing revelation, and in living prophets on the earth today. It is not my intent to force these beliefs on anyone, or to criticize the beliefs of others. My intent is only to clarify what I believe, and to provide those curious about my beliefs with the best possible resources to investigate them. I hope that this will be received in the spirit in which it is intended – the spirit of sharing who I am, and where I find meaning.
“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of [Christ], this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.”
Free copy of the Book of Mormon can be ordered here
Full text of the Book of Mormon can be read online here
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