Ready Always / Who we are / Scripture

Do you even believe in the Bible?

1

The hallway answer

About 15 seconds

“Yes, we do! It’s the word of God and we study it all the time. My seminary class is spending a whole year on it. We just also have more scripture, like the Book of Mormon, that teaches about Jesus too.”

Then ask them: What’s your favorite story in the Bible? Mine’s probably…
2

The real answer

About 5 minutes

The Church’s Topics and Questions page on the Bible begins, “The Bible is the word of God. It is a witness for God the Father and Jesus Christ.” Latter-day Saints study the Old and New Testaments in Sunday School, in seminary and at home through Come, Follow Me.

Our 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.” That phrase “as far as it is translated correctly” recognizes that the Bible came to us through many copies and translations over centuries. Scholars of every faith agree on that.

Some friends quote Revelation 22:18 (“if any man shall add”). That verse is about the book of Revelation itself, and Deuteronomy 4:2 says nearly the same thing long before most of the Bible was written. God has always been able to speak again.

Scriptures to know. Tap to read.

2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Read in New Testament, Connected →
2 Nephi 29:3-10“A Bible! A Bible!”
3And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible. 4But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? 5O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people. 6Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? 7Know 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? 8Wherefore 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. 9And 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. 10Wherefore, 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. Read in Book of Mormon, Connected →
Ezekiel 37:16-17The stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph
16Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. Read in Old Testament, Connected →
Amos 3:7God reveals His secrets to the prophets
7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Read in Old Testament, Connected →
3

Go deeper

Research room

What’s behind the question

For many Christians, believing in the Bible means believing in the Bible alone. Having more scripture can feel to them like adding to God’s word.

Source labels: Official = published by the Church. Scripture = the standard works. Faithful scholarship = independent Latter-day Saint researchers. Helpful, but not official.

4

For me

Think it through
  1. What Bible passage has helped me most?
  2. How do the Bible and Book of Mormon work together for me?
  3. Could I explain one Bible story about Jesus in my own words?
Act in faithWhat do I already know and believe here?
Eternal perspectiveHow does God’s plan change how I see this?
Good sourcesWho could I ask: a parent, a leader, the scriptures?

Notes stay on this page while it’s open and aren’t saved or sent anywhere.

5

Practice this one

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Friends also ask

Weak Things is an independent site, not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Answers are written to match the Church’s published teachings, and every answer links to its sources.

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