How does the lds church view the Bible?

Question

Before ya hate me again.. NO im not a mormon basher.. You say you are Christians and the Bible says you are not. You say you believe what the Bible says, the Bible says you dont.. Please explane to me where I am incorrect. In any of my questions about mormonism...

While Christians view the Bible as the final authority on doctrinal matters, the LDS Church holds that their other books of scripture and their prophets are more reliable than the Bible.



Christian View of the Bible LDS Church View of the Bible
Accurate—
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:17)
Corrupted—
"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." (8th article of faith)


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Sufficient—
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13)
Insufficient—
Joseph Smith taught that "many important points touching the salvation of men, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled " (History of the Church, v. 1, p. 245)


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Complete—
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Gal. 1:8-9)
Need additional revelation—
"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" (9th article of faith)


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Authoritative—
"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." (1 Cor. 14:37)
Subordinate to new revelation—
"In addition to these four books of scripture, the inspired words of our living prophets become scripture to us. Their words come to us through conferences, Church publications, and instructions to local priesthood leaders." (Gospel Principles, p. 51-52)

Answer 1

John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Answer 2

First off, ignore Annsan's answer as it is riddled with errors and has an obvious bias. I grew up Presbyterian and attended many similar Protestant churches during my adulthood. I remember sitting there for all those years and saying to myself that this just doesn't make sense. Why doesn't God talk to us anymore? What is the world is the Trinity all about? How can Jesus be God but we call him the Son and then we turn around and call God the Father every week when we pray? So, I found the LDS church 2 years ago when I was 36 years old and it changed my life. I have a personal connection with God now and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Another thing I could never understand was why people would have to go to Hell if they weren't baptized. I remember asking my Mom what happened to little babies and she had no answer other than God will take care of it. The LDS Church has a beautiful doctrine about the plan of salvation that can give everyone a chance to accept Jesus and obtain a glory in His Kingdom. The LDS Church has changed my life since now I am getting married to a beautiful LDS woman in a few weeks and then in six months we will be sealed for time and eternity. We believe that families can be together forever.

Answer 3

Accurate - that verse just gives the defintion of scripture, it doesn't say that all that has been recorded and handed down is all accurate.

Sufficient - that verse is John explaining why he wrote his letters, so that the people who received them would believe in Jesus Christ. No where does it say the Bible is sufficient.

Complete - If an angel teaches something contraty to what the apostles taught, we aren't supposed to receive it. If an angel teaches additional things that coincide with previous revelations, we should accept it. John received the the Book of Revelation from an angel, should we reject that too?

Authoritative - We do acknowledge that Paul wrote scripture and commandments from God, I don't see a conflict there.

We do not hold the Bible as the definitive authority of doctrine, that is true. We believe that God is the source of doctrine and that the Bible is one of His books, but not the only source.

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

I guess I just want to make a few comments, not an all out discussion:

First off, you said, "...Christians view the Bible as the final authority on doctrinal matters..."
Well, I would imagine that even other Christians would view God as the final authority, not the Bible. A distinction must be made bettween the two. If Heavenly Father wants to give us something more, who are we to argue with Him? I have heard a fellow Latter-day Saint say that a living prophet is always better than a dead prophet. (Of course this shouldn't be taken literally, but the idea holds true. Current revelation to help us understand past revelation is better than only having the past revelation, right?)

Second, you quoted Gal. 1:8-9 as an example of the cannon of scripture being closed. This can't be interpreted this way. That scripture says that if ANOTHER Gospel is preached, don't believe it. It doesn't say we can't listen to an angel (or prophet, Apostle, etc) who is preaching the SAME Gospel. Who are we to close the mouth of God for Him?

Third, your quotation of 1Cor. 14:37 as a condemnation of LDS prophets is not accurate either. LDS prophets DO acknowledge the words of Paul as commandments of The Lord. They would, in fact, be shown more fully to be true prophets because of this...(notice, the quotation you gave after 1Cor. 14:37 says specifically that the FOUR books of scripture are the word of God...that includes the NT)

I'm getting long-winded so I'll stop there! :o) I wanted to do the other two quotations/scriptures you gave but the same general pattern follows for those two as the other two...

Answer 5

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. Unlike many Christian religions, we recognize that many plain and precious truths have been lost from the bible. Some were intentionally removed and others were lost due to translation or transcription errors. The Bible contains many valuable teachings and inspiring histories, but it does not, at this time, contain the fullness of the gospel.

As for your quotes and examples...

Accurate/Corrupt - All scripture is given by inspiration, but that doesn't mean it cannot or was not altered.

Sufficient/Insufficient - The Bible is the record of one nation. At one time it was sufficient, but many truths have been lost over time. Just as 2 witnesses are stronger than 1, The Bible is strengthened and supported by The Book of Mormon, which is the record of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas.

Complete/Need additional revelation - God is not dead. He lives and loves his children just like in ancient times. He calls prophets, provides revelation and commands that it be recorded and preserved just like he did in ancient times. After all he is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Authoritative/Subordinate to new revelation - God gives revelation specific to the needs and circumstances of his children. As their need change God provides new valuable insight and direction. Just as new revelation continually replaced old laws throughout the Old and New Testaments.

The heavens were not sealed when Jesus ascended to heaven. Prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc. are signs of the true church of God and have always been and will always be on the Earth as long as the gospel is on the earth. These things were lost after the apostasy which occurred shortly after the death of the apostles and were restored through Joseph Smith Jr. in the early 1800s.

Answer 6

My position as a Latter-day Saint is that the Bible is not an authorized translation of scripture, and so naturally it is not the word of God as "the Bible." What is the word of God are the records which "the Bible" supposedly contains. But since the records which "the Bible" supposedly contains, did not come to the Saints by way of God's authorized servants, the prophets (read Amos 3:7), we cannot suppose that the records as found in "the Bible" are without error, since the Gentiles who translated the records were not authorized by God to do it.

The gem of the Book of Mormon, is that the records which it claims to contain, never passed through the hands of "unauthorized" men, like the Bible has. And so naturally, we feel it is more accurate than any other collection of records could be.

The Saints use the contents found in the Bible, and certainly consider the original writings of those records, which are completely independent from "the Bible" itself, as authorized scripture from the servants of God. But after going from original writings, to copies, to more copies, to finally the records which were collected to fill "the Bible" as we see it today, it is absolutely ridiculous to think all things have been preserved, and could remain "authorized."

Answer 7

It is very arrogant of you to think that you represent all of Christianity and to say that the bible says that we are not Christians when it is you who say it.

Each year we study a book of Scripture. Last year, we read and studied the entire old testament. This year we are studying the New Testament. We are currently in Hebrews. So, not only do we believe in the bible, but we study it and try to follow its teachings.

John 5: 22 "The father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son." Perhaps you should leave the judging to Christ and try to be more Christian.

Your first argument actually supports the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the LDS view. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." If the Book of Mormon was given by the inspiration of God, then it is scripture as you have noted. I believe that your true concern is that the Bible may not be completely accurate. If you are unaware that the bible does not contain all of the writings of all of the prophets and that it was translated by mere men, then you should spend some more time studying it.

Your second scripture has nothing to do with your second LDS "quote." Again, if you think that the bible is complete, then you should do a bit more research.

Your third scripture would be helpful if we were preaching another Gospel. It does not state, however, that there is no need for more scripture or that there will not be any more scripture. That is your personal interpretation. Perhaps Ephesians 4:11-13 will help you see that there is still a need for prophets and therefore, scripture: And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; TILL we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man..." We are clearly not at a unity of faith, as you have clearly demonstrated. The bible, however, is very clear that we still need prophets until we reach this unity of faith.

Your final thought, again, is incomplete and irrelevant to the quote that you provide. Amos 3:7: Surely the Lord GOd will do nothing, be he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Either God is doing nothing, or he has a prophet. Yes, a man cannot appoint himself to be a prophet or even to the Priesthood. So, how does it occur. Hebrews 5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So, how was Aaron called: Exodus 40:12-15: And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and annoint and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office..." Aaron was called of God and then annointed to hold this calling. So, if God chooses to speak to a prophet, the bible says that he merely needs to be called as Aaron.

Your authoritative interpretations are anything but authoritative. The represent a limited view of single scriptures taken out of context, compared to LDS quotes, also taken out of context, with the sole purpose of trying to mislead people with regards to the LDS church.

If you want an audience, I would be more than happy to address any of your concerns regarding our beliefs. Please feel free to e-mail me rather than posting these types of misleading questions on the internet.

[e-mail]

Answer 8

Well you answered your own question really. The Book of Mormon was written by many different prophets, just as the bible was- the Difference is that the Book of Mormon was abridged by one man, the Prophet Mormon, he was also one of the Prophets who wrote in the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith Jr. translated the records that Mormon abridged. The bible on the other hand was compiled by many people and changed over time- I could be wrong, but I believe that it was all put together by the Council of Nicea none of the Members of the Council were authors of the bible. They were also not acting under inspiration from God, as we believe that Mormon was. We all know that something that is done by one person is more likely to be done right and more correctly than something done by a committee. It also fell into the hands of many people who changed it throughout time to fit their needs. If the Bible had been left in the hands of someone with the proper authority and had been compiled by someone of the proper authority, then it would still be pure and would still be the pure Word of God.

I need to say that the council of Nicea compiling the bible is just my understanding, I don't believe that is official LDS doctrine.

Answer 9

Mormons believe in the Bible as do other Christians.

We just believe that some errors have crept in due to multiple translations over time. Ah, if only someone had the original!

FYI - the quote in Revelations about not adding to the book - was written before John wrote some of his other letters in the New Testament. If the books of the Bible were arranged chronologically there would be several books after Revelations. Also, Moses says something very similar in Deuteronomy. So does the rest of the Bible need to be thrown out?

Answer 10

I believe and read the bible..,as long as it is translated correctly. My church has something called"The Articles of Faith" which are our basic beliefs.

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541
1 We abelieve in bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the dHoly Ghost.
2 We believe that men will be apunished for their bown sins, and not for Adam’s ctransgression.
3 We believe that through the aAtonement of Christ, all bmankind may be csaved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and aordinances of the Gospel are: first, bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, cRepentance; third, dBaptism by eimmersion for the fremission of sins; fourth, Laying on of ghands for the hgift of the Holy Ghost.
5 We believe that a man must be acalled of God, by bprophecy, and by the laying on of chands by those who are in dauthority, to epreach the Gospel and administer in the fordinances thereof.
6 We believe in the same aorganization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, bprophets, cpastors, dteachers, eevangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the agift of btongues, cprophecy, drevelation, evisions, fhealing, ginterpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8 We believe the aBible to be the bword of God as far as it is translated ccorrectly; we also believe the dBook of Mormon to be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has arevealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet breveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10 We believe in the literal agathering of Israel and in the restoration of the bTen Tribes; that cZion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will dreign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be erenewed and receive its fparadisiacal gglory.
11 We claim the aprivilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the bdictates of our own cconscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them dworship how, where, or what they may.
12 We believe in being asubject to bkings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in cobeying, honoring, and sustaining the dlaw.
13 aWe believe in being bhonest, true, cchaste, dbenevolent, virtuous, and in doing egood to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we fhope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to gendure all things. If there is anything hvirtuous, ilovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith

Answer 11

The people of the Gospel are about the closest thing to reality that you have here today. Unfortunately there is allot more fingerprints all over that too. Lord has no fingers like ou all think so he didn't do that.
Did you ever wonder what happened to John? Aka Yahay A.s.