What is the Pearl of Great Price?
Latter-day Saints, like other Christians, accept both the Old and New
Testaments as Holy Scripture. Additionally, members of the Church of
Jesus Christ accept the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and
the Pearl of Great Price as part of their Standard Works (canonized
scripture). The Pearl of Great Price received its names from Jesus‘
parable (see Matthew 13:44-46). Compiled after the death of Joseph
Smith (1805-44), the current book contains several different types of
inspired documents including extracts from Joseph Smith‘s translation
of Genesis and Matthew, known as the Book of Moses and Joseph Smith–
Matthew; Joseph Smith’s translation of ancient Egyptians papyri, known
as the Book of Abraham; Joseph Smith’s 1838 history of the Church, and
the Articles of Faith-thirteen declarations highlighting LDS central
beliefs composed by Joseph Smith in 1842.The Pearl of Great Price discusses the great questions and issues of
human existence, including the existence of suffering, evil and death
in the world and the nature of fallen humanity and its redemption by
Jesus Christ. Additionally, this sacred book provides more details
about the life and ministry of Adam, Eve, Enoch, Moses and Abraham.
Additionally, the Pearl of Great Price includes a brief personal and
institutional history written by Joseph Smith which provides an
important account of the First Vision (1830), the visit of the Angel
Moroni (1823), the coming forth of the Book of Mormon (1827-1829), and
the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood (1829). Finally, this
collection includes the Articles of Faith, which identify Mormon core
beliefs, including a witness of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
and the central role of the atoning death of Jesus Christ. Covering a
breath of sacred history from the beginning of time through the
beginning of the nineteenth century, the Pearl of Great Price is
exactly that, “a pearl of great worth.”
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