What are Scriptures?
The scriptures are written records of God’s dealings with His children as recorded by prophets under the influence of the Holy Ghost.
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said and the Apostle John recorded it:
John 5: 39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
The Apostle Peter, teaching about prophecy and how it comes to the world said this:
2 Peter 1: 20-21
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Holy men or prophets did not think up these things. The Holy Ghost moved upon them and taught them in their minds and heart what was to come. When they recorded these things, they become scripture.
We are here on earth with our memory of our former life in the Spirit world blocked off for the specific reason of learning to live by faith. We show our faith by studying, believing, and obeying God’s revealed word.
We knew our Heavenly Father there. Our spirit wants to remember our former life and so we have the urge to read and study to know the truth.
We also want to know our purpose here on earth like why we are here and what happens after death.
Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from God and comes through studying and living His word and His gospel.
The Prophet Nephi in the Book of Mormon was instructing his brothers from the scriptures or brass plates that they brought with them from Jerusalem:
1 Nephi 19: 22-23
22 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things; and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old.
23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.
Scriptures that are available.
The approved scriptures and sacred books of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.
The Bible is the Word of God written by the Jews or the Tribe of Judah.
The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and Another Witness that Jesus is the Christ; written by the Tribe of Ephraim or Joseph from the time they left Jerusalem about 600 B.C. to the year 421 A.D. when the Prophet Moroni, son of the Prophet Mormon, being inspired by the Lord to bury the plates. The Lord would bring them forth in the Last Days to Restore the Fullness of His Gospel.
The Doctrine and Covenants are revelations given Today, from the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith in establishing His church on the earth for the last time before His Second Coming.
These revelations are instructions to all of us living today on how to live and what is coming and also restoring important information that have been lost in the translations of the Bible over the centuries.
They also tell us many of the mysteries of the kingdom and things which had never been revealed even from the time of Adam to now.
The Peal of Great Price have the Book of Moses which is a direct revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith on what was said to Moses about the creation of the earth and other things.
Another book in the Pearl of Great Price is called the Book of Abraham, which came from scrolls wrapped in a mummy that came from Egypt and was brought to Joseph Smith because of his fame in translating the Book of Mormon.
When Joseph Smith was translating the scroll, he said by inspiration, that the scroll was written by the hand of Abraham himself.
This Book of Abraham gave details on the planets and organization of the Heavens, the Great Council in Heaven where every soul who has lived or will ever live, which includes us, were in attendance and why we are here now.
Today this church has living Prophets and Apostles who receive revelations continually to build the kingdom and guide His children in getting the kingdom ready for His Son’s Second Coming.
For more information, go to www.lds.org
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