Holy Scriptures

                From the beginning of time God has commanded His servants to keep records of His revelations and dealings with mankind.  These records are considered to be scripture.  In fact, any time the Lord’s servants speak or write under the influence of the Holy Ghost, their words are scripture.  God speaks to mankind today just as He has done for thousands of years.

                In a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith in November 1831, the Lord said, “And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:4).

                The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has four books of scriptures:  the Bible, the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.  These four books are called the standard works of the Church and are studied privately and in Church classes.  In addition, Church members accept the words of the living prophets as scripture.

                Daily scripture study is a good way to stay in tune with God.  As members of the Church share the truths found in the scriptures, the rising generation also learns to love them and to use them in their lives.  Daily scripture study fills minds with truth and righteousness and thus keeps people from the evils of the world.

                God told an ancient American prophet named Nephi to keep records, and then He warned him that many people in the latter days would not accept Nephi’s record as scripture.  He said that many of the “Gentiles” would claim that they had a Bible and did not need any more scriptures.  God called those people “fools.”

                “Know ye not that there are more nations than one?  Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

                “Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word?  Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another?  Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another.  And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

                “And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure.  And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

                “Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.

                “For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written” (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 2 Nephi 29:3-11.

                The Lord continued by telling Nephi that He would “speak unto the Jews and they shall write it”, He would “speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it”, He would “speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it” (2 Nephi 29:12).  He continued by saying that the Jews would have the records of the Nephites and the Nephites would have the words of the Jews; He also said that the Jews and the Nephites would have the words of the Lost Tribes of Israel and the Lost Tribes would have the words of the Jews and Nephites (2 Nephi 29:13).

                I personally have read the Bible numerous times.  I have the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ many, many times.  I have also read the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price too many times to count.  I know these books contain the word of God.  I make scripture study a daily part of my life and have done so for more than thirty years.  I love to study the scriptures and to feel the Spirit contained therein; I learn something new every time I study the scriptures.  I look forward to the time when I can also study the words written by the Ten Lost Tribes as well as other scriptures not yet given to us.  I encourage you to make scripture study a daily part of your life.  I know you will receive much comfort, knowledge and other blessings for doing so.