Latter-day Saints accept four collections of writings as official scripture:
- The Bible
- The Book of Mormon
- The Doctrine and Covenants
- The Pearl of Great Price
Together, these are called the standard works.
The Bible contains the Old and New Testaments. The Book of Mormon is presented as another testament of Jesus Christ and was first published by Joseph Smith in 1830 after he said he translated it from golden plates by divine power. The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of revelations given primarily through Joseph Smith beginning in the 1820s and 1830s; these revelations were gradually compiled and formally accepted by the church in 1835, with additional sections added over time. The Pearl of Great Price includes the books of Moses and Abraham, Joseph Smith’s history, and the Articles of Faith; these writings were produced at different times in the 1830s and 1840s and were later gathered into a single volume and officially canonized by the LDS Church in 1880.
How Do Mormons View the Bible?
Latter-day Saints read, quote, and value the Bible. In English, the LDS Church has traditionally used the King James Version but does allow modern translations to be used in the home.
However, their acceptance of the Bible includes an important qualification. The eighth Article of Faith says:
“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.”
“Translated correctly” means more than choosing the right English words. LDS teaching says that “plain and precious” truths were lost, removed, or obscured as the biblical text passed through history.
Latter-day Saints, therefore, do not view the Bible as a complete and fully reliable authority on its own. They believe additional scriptures and modern revelation restore truths that were lost.
This means you and your LDS friend may both call the Bible God’s Word while understanding its authority differently.
Read: How to Talk About the Completeness of the Bible
Do Mormons Believe in Continuing Revelation?
Yes. Latter-day Saints believe God continues to reveal truth through living prophets and apostles.
General conference messages are not automatically added to the standard works as a fifth canonized collection. Still, LDS members are taught to study the words of living prophets alongside scripture. When leaders speak under inspiration, their words may be received as scripture.
For Latter-day Saints, authority does not end with the four standard works. Living prophets may continue to clarify earlier teachings and reveal God’s will for the church today.
Which Scripture Should I Use with My Mormon Friend?
Begin with the Bible.
You do not need to master every LDS book before talking with a Latter-day Saint about Jesus. Most LDS friends recognize the Bible as God’s Word, so it gives you a genuine place to begin. God uses his Word to create faith, so when you open the Bible together, you are not relying on your own ability to persuade but on what God himself promises to do through it.
But quoting a single verse may not settle the question. Your friend may interpret that verse through the Book of Mormon, modern revelation, or the teachings of LDS leaders.
Instead of racing from one quotation to another, slow down and read a passage together. Look at the verses around it. Ask questions that keep the focus on the text:
- “What does this passage say Jesus has done?”
- “What is being given here?”
- “How does this passage say forgiveness is received?”
- “Where does it place our confidence?”
Give your friend time to answer. Then keep returning to what the passage says about Jesus.
A Latter-day Saint may want to introduce another LDS scripture or a statement from a modern prophet. You do not need to dismiss it rudely, but you also do not need to abandon the Bible passage before you have understood it together.
You could say:
“I understand that you also accept that writing. Could we stay with this passage for a moment and look carefully at what it says about Jesus?”
The purpose is not to win a contest between religious books. It is to let your friend hear the Bible’s clear promises.
Jesus carried our sins, completed the payment for them, and gives eternal life freely to those who believe in him. Our confidence rests in what he has done, not in whether we have become worthy enough to receive what he offers.
You may also wonder whether reading the Book of Mormon would help you understand your friend or prepare for a conversation. Read Should I Read the Book of Mormon? for additional guidance.