Standard works

The Standard Works are the canonical scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), recognized as authoritative and binding for doctrine, faith, and practice. Consisting of four volumes—the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price—they collectively form the written foundation of the Church’s teachings, alongside continuing revelation through living prophets. The term “standard” derives from the concept of a fixed, authoritative measure against which all teachings and practices are to be gauged. Within the LDS tradition, these works are considered the word of God, given through ancient and modern prophets, and are used extensively in personal study, worship, and ecclesiastical instruction.

Components

The Holy Bible

The LDS Church uses the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible as its official English text, regarding it as the word of God “as far as it is translated correctly” (Articles of Faith 1:8). The Church’s published edition includes extensive footnotes, cross-references to other Standard Works, a Topical Guide, a Bible Dictionary, and excerpts from the Joseph Smith Translation—a revision by Joseph Smith that clarifies or restores certain passages. The Bible comprises two testaments: the Old Testament, containing the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings, and the New Testament, which records the life, teachings, and resurrection of Jesus Christ along with the early apostolic ministry.

The Book of Mormon

Subtitled “Another Testament of Jesus Christ,” the Book of Mormon is accepted by the LDS Church as a sacred record of ancient inhabitants of the Americas, spanning roughly 600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in 1830 in Palmyra, New York, after Joseph Smith translated it from gold plates by the gift and power of God. The text is organized into books named after primary prophets—such as Nephi, Alma, and Mormon—who compiled and abridged the records. It centers on the appearance of the resurrected Christ to the Nephite people and contains teachings on the plan of salvation, faith, repentance, baptism, and the gathering of Israel. It is considered a companion scripture to the Bible, testifying that Jesus is the Christ and clarifying doctrines that have been lost or altered over time.

The Doctrine and Covenants

Unlike the other Standard Works, the Doctrine and Covenants is composed primarily of modern revelations received by Joseph Smith and subsequent prophets of the Restoration. First assembled in 1835, it contains divine instructions, covenants, and administrative principles for the Church. Sections include revelations on the organization of the priesthood, temple ordinances, the law of consecration, the Word of Wisdom (a health code), and doctrinal expositions such as the three degrees of glory. A number of sections have been added over the years, with Official Declarations 1 and 2 addressing the cessation of plural marriage and the extension of priesthood ordination to all worthy male members regardless of race, respectively. The book is seen as an open canon, subject to further expansion through the receipt of continuing revelation.

The Pearl of Great Price

The Pearl of Great Price is the smallest of the Standard Works and a compilation of several distinct texts. It was first published in 1851 and canonized in 1880. Its contents include the Book of Moses (a selection from Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible), the Book of Abraham (a translation of Egyptian papyri by Joseph Smith, accompanied by facsimiles), Joseph Smith—Matthew (a revised version of Matthew chapter 24), Joseph Smith—History (an autobiographical account of the prophet’s early visions and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon), and the Articles of Faith (thirteen concise statements of LDS belief). The Pearl of Great Price is valued for its insights into pre-mortal life, the Creation, the nature of God, and the foundational events of the Restoration.

Canonicity and the Process of Canonization

The Standard Works acquired their canonical status not through a single ecclesiastical council but by a process of acceptance by the membership and leadership of the Church. The Bible was inherited from existing Christian tradition and was affirmed by early revelations. The Book of Mormon was presented to the world as a new volume of scripture and was formally accepted by a vote of the Church at its organization on April 6, 1830. The Doctrine and Covenants was first compiled and approved at a general assembly in 1835, and subsequent sections were added after being presented to and sustained by the general body of the Church. The Pearl of Great Price, originally a pamphlet for missionary work, was canonized by action of the First Presidency and sustained at the October 1880 general conference. Today, a two-thirds vote of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, followed by a sustaining vote at a general conference, is required to add new canon. All Standard Works are regarded as binding only when properly interpreted under the authority of the presiding priesthood quorums.

Role in Church Doctrine and Practice

In LDS theology, scripture is not the sole source of authority but functions in harmony with ongoing prophetic revelation and personal inspiration. The Standard Works serve as the standard of doctrine; all official teachings are expected to align with their content. They are used as the curriculum for Sunday School, seminary, and institute classes, and members are encouraged to study them daily. Missionaries proselytize primarily from the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Official publications, such as lesson manuals and general conference addresses, draw heavily upon the Standard Works to support and expound principles. Disputes over doctrine are typically resolved by appeal to these texts, though they are understood to be interpreted through the lens of modern prophets and apostles.

Publication and Translation

The LDS Church publishes the Standard Works in a single volume, commonly referred to as the “quadruple combination,” which integrates all four books with cross-references, study aids, and maps. In English, the text adheres to the authorized editions fixed by the Church’s Scriptures Committee. The Church has undertaken the monumental task of translating the Standard Works into over 120 languages; the Book of Mormon was the first to be fully translated into many languages. Efforts to standardize translations follow a rigorous process to ensure faithfulness to the original languages and consistency with approved doctrine. Electronic versions are available through the Gospel Library app and the Church’s official website, offering extensive search capabilities and hyperlinking.

Relationship to Other Latter Day Saint Denominations

While the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and other Restoration movement groups also regard the Book of Mormon, Bible, and a form of the Doctrine and Covenants as scripture, their canons differ significantly. The Community of Christ’s Doctrine and Covenants includes revelations given through its own prophetic leaders and does not contain all sections present in the LDS version. Some smaller denominations reject the Pearl of Great Price or certain portions of the LDS Doctrine and Covenants. Nonetheless, the concept of a body of “standard works” as an authoritative scriptural basis is shared broadly across the Latter Day Saint movement, reflecting the foundational principle of an open but bounded scriptural canon.