The story of how the Standard Works came together is a powerful testament to revelation, preservation, and divine guidance. The term “Standard Works” refers to the four volumes of scripture accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Each of these volumes has a story of its own—a unique journey from revelation to publication—that ultimately converges in one of the most remarkable compilations of sacred scripture in the modern era. This article explores how these books came to be, who helped bring them forth, and why their coming together is both spiritually and historically significant.
The Bible: A Foundation of Faith and Prophecy Fulfilled
The Bible has long been the bedrock of Christian belief and serves as the foundational text within the Standard Works. Comprised of the Old and New Testaments, the Bible spans thousands of years of history, prophecy, poetry, and divine communication. It is a sacred record of God’s dealings with His children through ancient prophets and apostles. The LDS edition of the Bible primarily uses the King James Version (KJV), a translation completed in 1611 by a committee of scholars commissioned by King James I of England.
What sets the Latter-day Saint approach to the Bible apart is the belief in its sacred origin paired with an acknowledgment of potential errors due to centuries of transmission. Joseph Smith was commanded to undertake a “translation” or inspired revision of the Bible, known today as the Joseph Smith Translation (JST). Although not fully published during his lifetime, selections of the JST were later included in the footnotes and appendix of the LDS edition of the Bible. The process of bringing the Bible into the Standard Works was not merely a matter of inclusion, but one of reaffirmation—confirming its role as a witness of Jesus Christ and a precursor to additional scripture.
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is a story unlike any other in religious history. Translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith from ancient gold plates revealed to him by the angel Moroni, the Book of Mormon offers a second witness of Jesus Christ. It chronicles the spiritual journey of peoples in the ancient Americas and their interactions with divine messengers and the resurrected Savior Himself. The translation process took place in a remarkably short time—approximately 65 working days between April and June of 1829. Joseph Smith dictated the text to several scribes, most notably Oliver Cowdery. The manuscript was taken to the printer E. B. Grandin in Palmyra, New York, and the first edition of the Book of Mormon was published in March 1830, just before the formal organization of the Church. Its place in the Standard Works was never in question. From the beginning, Joseph Smith identified it as the “keystone” of the religion. Its theological contributions—clarity on the Atonement, the fall of Adam, the purpose of baptism, and the doctrine of Christ—cemented its value as sacred scripture. In 1981, the subtitle “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” was added to underscore its harmony with the Bible and its divine origin.
The Doctrine and Covenants: Revelation in the Latter Days
Unlike ancient scripture that records past prophetic voices, the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) represents living revelation received in modern times. It is a compilation of divine communications given to Joseph Smith and subsequent prophets, addressing a wide array of topics: Church organization, priesthood authority, temple ordinances, missionary work, and the Second Coming, to name a few. The earliest efforts to publish these revelations came in 1833 with the Book of Commandments, which was abruptly halted when a mob destroyed the printing press in Independence, Missouri. Only a few copies survived. Undeterred, Church leaders regrouped and published the first official edition of the Doctrine and Covenants in 1835, which included an expanded set of revelations as well as a series of theological lectures known as the Lectures on Faith.
Later editions of the D&C would remove the Lectures (in 1921) and add new revelations from subsequent prophets, including significant additions from President Spencer W. Kimball in 1978 (regarding priesthood to all worthy males) and President Joseph F. Smith in 1918 (regarding the spirit world). The Doctrine and Covenants remains a dynamic book of scripture, ever evolving as living prophets continue to receive revelation.
The Pearl of Great Price: Restored Truths and Sacred Insights
The Pearl of Great Price is perhaps the most diverse of the Standard Works in terms of content and origin. It is a compilation of several distinct texts: selections from the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith—Matthew, Joseph Smith—History, and the Articles of Faith. Each component plays a vital role in revealing truths that are otherwise lost or obscured in other scriptural records.
The Book of Moses, for example, is part of the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis and reveals additional details about the Creation, the Fall, and the prophetic role of Enoch. The Book of Abraham was translated from ancient Egyptian papyri that came into Joseph Smith’s possession in 1835 and offers a stunning cosmological and theological narrative. Joseph Smith—Matthew offers clarification of Matthew 24, while Joseph Smith—History recounts key moments in the Restoration, including the First Vision and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. In 1851, Elder Franklin D. Richards of the British Mission compiled these writings into a booklet for the Saints in Europe. The Pearl of Great Price was canonized by a vote of the Church in 1880, becoming the final volume added to the Standard Works. It provided a lens into Joseph Smith’s prophetic role and affirmed the Restoration’s doctrinal distinctiveness.
The 1880 Canonization: A Defining Moment in Church History
Though each of the four volumes existed in various forms prior to 1880, it was at the Church’s general conference in Salt Lake City that the collection was officially canonized as the “Standard Works.” This act was monumental—it solidified which texts were recognized as binding doctrine and established the foundation for Church teaching, worship, and governance. The canonization process involved sustained votes from the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the general membership. This process of common consent not only formalized the collection but demonstrated the Church’s pattern of involving its members in spiritual governance. The decision ensured that the Standard Works would be preserved, printed, and disseminated in a consistent format for generations to come.
The 1981 Edition: Unity and Accessibility for a Global Church
One of the most significant moments in the history of the Standard Works came with the 1981 publication of a new English edition of the scriptures. The project took nearly a decade of planning and collaboration among Church leaders, scholars, and editors. The goal was to create a uniform edition that included footnotes, cross-references, study aids, chapter summaries, maps, and topical indexes—all intended to make the scriptures more accessible to members worldwide.
The Book of Mormon received updated chapter headings and punctuation for improved clarity. The Doctrine and Covenants included new sections (137 and 138) and the Official Declarations regarding priesthood and polygamy. The Pearl of Great Price was also standardized and formatted for easier reference. The King James Bible was paired with extensive footnotes and Joseph Smith Translation references.
This edition was monumental not only because of its scholarly rigor but because it reflected a growing Church with a global audience. A unified edition meant that no matter where members lived—New York or Nigeria—they were reading from the same sacred texts, with the same tools for understanding.
Scripture and the Principle of Continuing Revelation
One of the defining characteristics of the Latter-day Saint approach to scripture is the doctrine of continuing revelation. Unlike traditions that view the canon as closed, the Church teaches that God continues to speak through living prophets and apostles. This principle ensures that the Standard Works are not the end of God’s word but a foundation upon which ongoing revelation can build. The Doctrine and Covenants, for example, remains open to new revelations as directed by the President of the Church. The teachings of modern prophets are regularly published in General Conference addresses, and while not all of them are canonized, they carry prophetic authority. The flexibility of the Standard Works to accommodate new truth is one of their greatest strengths.
Translations and the Global Reach of the Scriptures
The spread of the Standard Works across the globe has required extensive translation efforts. The Book of Mormon alone has been translated into over 110 languages, with selected portions in many more. The Bible, already widely available, is paired with footnotes and study aids to reflect Latter-day Saint doctrine. The Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price have likewise been translated to support a global Church.
Translation is more than a linguistic effort; it is a spiritual one. Translators work with prayer, priesthood guidance, and prophetic direction to preserve doctrinal integrity. These efforts have allowed members in dozens of countries and cultures to access the same truths in their native languages, empowering personal study and missionary work alike.
Digital Revolution and Modern Access to the Standard Works
In recent years, the scriptures have become more accessible than ever before through digital platforms. The Church’s Gospel Library app and website allow members to read, search, annotate, and share the Standard Works from any device. Audio versions, interactive footnotes, and linked cross-references offer a depth of study previously unimaginable. This digital evolution is not merely technological—it reflects the prophetic mandate to “flood the earth” with the Book of Mormon and other scriptures. In areas with limited access to printed materials, mobile devices have become tools of spiritual empowerment. The digital standardization of scripture means that whether someone is studying on a phone in rural Africa or on a laptop in a Utah seminary classroom, the experience is unified and enriching.
Why the Standard Works Matter Today
The Standard Works are not just historical records or doctrinal manuals—they are living witnesses of Jesus Christ. Together, they form a sacred symphony of prophetic voices, converging to testify of the plan of salvation, the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Restoration of His Church, and the path back to our Heavenly Father. They teach us who we are, where we came from, and what our eternal potential is.
They guide the Church and the individual. They provide patterns for prayer, repentance, service, and revelation. They unify millions of members across the globe in belief and purpose. Their coming together—through ancient miracles and modern revelations, through translation, canonization, and technological advancement—is a divine orchestration of sacred truth in a modern world.
A Work That Will Continue to Grow
The story of the Standard Works is still unfolding. As the Restoration continues and the Church expands, so too will the reach and understanding of these sacred texts. New languages will receive translations. New readers will find light in their pages. New revelation may add to the canon, as directed by living prophets. In the end, the Standard Works are more than books—they are spiritual lifelines. They are evidence that God speaks, that He has always spoken, and that He will continue to speak to His children. The journey of how these scriptures came together is not just a story from the past—it is an invitation to each of us today to read, believe, and act.
