Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)
Encyclopedia
The Pearl of Great Price is part of the standard works
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormonism
) and some other Latter Day Saint
denominations.
The first paragraph of the Introductory Note in the LDS edition of the Pearl of Great Price reads:
", "The Book of Abraham
", "Joseph Smith—Matthew
", "Joseph Smith—History" and "The Articles of Faith
". The Book of Moses and Joseph Smith—Matthew
are portions of the Book of Genesis and the Book of Matthew
(respectively) from the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
. The Book of Moses also contains teachings and prophecies of Enoch
, including his testimony of the Only Begotten, Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith—History is a first-person narrative of Joseph Smith, Jr.'s life before the founding of the church including an account of the First Vision
and other heavenly visitations. The Articles of Faith are a concise listing of thirteen fundamental doctrines of Mormonism composed by Joseph Smith, Jr. as part of a 1842 letter
sent to "Long" John Wentworth
, editor of the Chicago Democrat
.
Smith claims to have translated the Book of Abraham
from purchased papyri
. The book relates Abraham
's journeys in Egypt, containing many distinctive Mormon
doctrines such as exaltation
and the plurality of gods
. Considerable controversy surrounds the surviving papyri
claimed as the source for the translation of the Book of Abraham.
The original contents of the book were slightly different, reproducing material found in the Doctrine and Covenants
and a poem entitled "Oh Say What is Truth?" (which is now found in the LDS Church hymnal
). In 1878 some material from the Book of Moses
was added. The Pearl of Great Price was canonized in 1880. In 1902 the material reproduced in the Doctrine and Covenants was removed. Two other documents, now found as Doctrine and Covenants 137 and 138, were added to the Pearl of Great Price in 1976 and moved to their current location in 1979.
, England. Some items duplicated text that was already available in the Doctrine and Covenants. It contained the following entries (the placement of the text in today's LDS Church publications is noted in brackets):
Standard Works
The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
) and some other Latter Day Saint
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
denominations.
The first paragraph of the Introductory Note in the LDS edition of the Pearl of Great Price reads:
- The Pearl of Great Price is a selection of choice materials touching many significant aspects of the faith and doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These items were produced by Joseph Smith Jr. and were published in the Church periodicals of his day.
Contents
The Pearl of Great Price contains five sections: "Selections from the Book of MosesBook of Moses
The Book of Moses is part of the scriptural canon of Mormonism dictated by founder Joseph Smith, Jr. It is an amalgamation of the "Vision of Moses," which Smith dictated in June 1830, the "Book of Enoch," dictated December 1830, and material deriving from Smith's revision of the Book of Genesis in...
", "The Book of Abraham
Book of Abraham
The Book of Abraham is a 1835 work by Joseph Smith, Jr. that he said was based on Egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. According to Smith, the book was "a translation of some ancient records....purporting to be the writings of Abraham, while he was in Egypt, called the Book...
", "Joseph Smith—Matthew
Joseph Smith—Matthew
Joseph Smith—Matthew is a book in the Pearl of Great Price, a scriptural text used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Latter Day Saint denominations. Joseph Smith—Matthew consists of Joseph Smith, Jr.'s "retranslation" of portions of the Gospel of Matthew...
", "Joseph Smith—History" and "The Articles of Faith
Articles of Faith (Mormonism)
Within the Latter Day Saint movement, the Articles of Faith are a creed composed by Joseph Smith, Jr. as part of an 1842 letter sent to "Long" John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat, and first published in the Latter Day Saint newspaper Times and Seasons. It is a concise listing of thirteen...
". The Book of Moses and Joseph Smith—Matthew
Joseph Smith—Matthew
Joseph Smith—Matthew is a book in the Pearl of Great Price, a scriptural text used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Latter Day Saint denominations. Joseph Smith—Matthew consists of Joseph Smith, Jr.'s "retranslation" of portions of the Gospel of Matthew...
are portions of the Book of Genesis and the Book of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
(respectively) from the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
The Joseph Smith Translation , also called the Inspired Version , was a revision of the Bible by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith considered this work to be "a branch of his calling" as a prophet. Smith was murdered before he ever deemed it complete, though most of...
. The Book of Moses also contains teachings and prophecies of Enoch
Enoch (ancestor of Noah)
Enoch is a figure in the Generations of Adam. Enoch is described as Adam's greatx4 grandson , the son of Jared, the father of Methuselah, and the great-grandfather of Noah...
, including his testimony of the Only Begotten, Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith—History is a first-person narrative of Joseph Smith, Jr.'s life before the founding of the church including an account of the First Vision
First Vision
The First Vision refers to a vision that Joseph Smith, Jr. said he received as a youth in a wooded area in Manchester, New York, which his followers call the Sacred Grove. Smith described it as a personal theophany in which he received a forgiveness of sins...
and other heavenly visitations. The Articles of Faith are a concise listing of thirteen fundamental doctrines of Mormonism composed by Joseph Smith, Jr. as part of a 1842 letter
The Wentworth Letter
The "Wentworth letter" was a letter written in 1842 by Latter Day Saint founder Joseph Smith, Jr. to "Long" John Wentworth, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Democrat...
sent to "Long" John Wentworth
John Wentworth (mayor)
"Long" John Wentworth was the editor of the Chicago Democrat, a two-term mayor of Chicago, and a six-term member of the United States House of Representatives....
, editor of the Chicago Democrat
Chicago Democrat
The Chicago Democrat was the first newspaper in Chicago, Illinois. It was published from 1833 to 1861.-History:Publisher was a Jacksonian Democrat, lured west at the end of 1833 from Watertown, New York to start the Democrat inspired by traveler's stories about Chicago after a series of newspaper...
.
Smith claims to have translated the Book of Abraham
Book of Abraham
The Book of Abraham is a 1835 work by Joseph Smith, Jr. that he said was based on Egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. According to Smith, the book was "a translation of some ancient records....purporting to be the writings of Abraham, while he was in Egypt, called the Book...
from purchased papyri
Papyrus
Papyrus is a thick paper-like material produced from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge that was once abundant in the Nile Delta of Egypt....
. The book relates Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
's journeys in Egypt, containing many distinctive Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
doctrines such as exaltation
Exaltation (Mormonism)
Exaltation or Eternal Life is a belief among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that mankind can return to live in God's presence and continue as families. Exaltation is believed to be what God desires for all humankind. The LDS Church teaches that through exaltation...
and the plurality of gods
Plurality of gods
Plurality of gods usually refers to a unique concept taught by Joseph Smith and several other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is believed to be based on interpretations of the Bible, the Book of Abraham, the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr...
. Considerable controversy surrounds the surviving papyri
Joseph Smith Papyri
The Joseph Smith Papyri are eleven Egyptian papyrus fragments which were once owned by Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism...
claimed as the source for the translation of the Book of Abraham.
The original contents of the book were slightly different, reproducing material found in the Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
and a poem entitled "Oh Say What is Truth?" (which is now found in the LDS Church hymnal
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
). In 1878 some material from the Book of Moses
Book of Moses
The Book of Moses is part of the scriptural canon of Mormonism dictated by founder Joseph Smith, Jr. It is an amalgamation of the "Vision of Moses," which Smith dictated in June 1830, the "Book of Enoch," dictated December 1830, and material deriving from Smith's revision of the Book of Genesis in...
was added. The Pearl of Great Price was canonized in 1880. In 1902 the material reproduced in the Doctrine and Covenants was removed. Two other documents, now found as Doctrine and Covenants 137 and 138, were added to the Pearl of Great Price in 1976 and moved to their current location in 1979.
1851 edition
The Pearl of Great Price was first compiled by Franklin D. Richards in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England. Some items duplicated text that was already available in the Doctrine and Covenants. It contained the following entries (the placement of the text in today's LDS Church publications is noted in brackets):
- Extracts from the Prophecy of EnochEnoch (ancestor of Noah)Enoch is a figure in the Generations of Adam. Enoch is described as Adam's greatx4 grandson , the son of Jared, the father of Methuselah, and the great-grandfather of Noah...
[Moses 6:43–7:69] - The words of God, which he spake unto MosesMosesMoses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
[Moses 1:1–42] - Untitled [Moses 2:1–5, 40; 8:13–30]
- The Book of Abraham including Facsimile 1, 2 and 3 from the Book of Abraham [Book of Abraham]
- An extract from a TranslationJoseph Smith Translation of the BibleThe Joseph Smith Translation , also called the Inspired Version , was a revision of the Bible by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith considered this work to be "a branch of his calling" as a prophet. Smith was murdered before he ever deemed it complete, though most of...
of the Bible [Joseph Smith—Matthew] - A Key to the Revelations of St. JohnJohn of PatmosJohn of Patmos is the name given, in the Book of Revelation, as the author of the apocalyptic text that is traditionally cannonized in the New Testament...
[Doctrine and Covenants 77] - A Revelation and Prophecy [Doctrine and Covenants 87]
- Extracts from the History of Joseph Smith [Joseph Smith—History]
- From the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church Commandment to the Church concerning baptism [Doctrine and Covenants 20:71, 37, 72–75]
- The duties of members after they are received by baptism [Doctrine and Covenants 20:68-69]
- Method of administering the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper [Doctrine and Covenants 20:75–79]
- The Duties of the Elders, Priests, Teachers, Deacons, and Members of the Church of Christ [Doctrine and Covenants 20:38–44; 107:11; 20:45–59, 70, 80]
- On Priesthood [Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–10, 12–20]
- The Calling and Duties of the Twelve ApostlesQuorum of the TwelveIn the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve was one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy organized by the movement's founder Joseph Smith, Jr., and patterned after the twelve apostles of Christ In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve (also known as the...
[Doctrine and Covenants 107:23, 33] - The Calling and Duties of the Seventy [Doctrine and Covenants 107:34, 93–100]
- Extract from a revelation given July, 1830 [Doctrine and Covenants 27:5–18]
- Rise of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Doctrine and Covenants 20:1–36]
- Times and SeasonsTimes and SeasonsTimes and Seasons was a 19th-century Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly or twice-monthly at Nauvoo, Illinois, from November 1839 to February 15, 1846...
, vol. III, p. 709 [Articles of Faith] - "Truth" (a poem by John JaquesJohn Jaques (Mormon)John Jaques was a Latter Day Saint hymnwriter and missionary and an Assistant Church Historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....
) ["O Say, What is Truth?", #272 in LDS Church hymnalHymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
]
External links
- The Pearl of Great Price, full HTML text, official LDS Church edition, lds.org
- The Pearl of Great Price into a single file full HTML text, official LDS Church edition
- Introductory note to The Pearl of Great Price, lds.org
- The at WikisourceWikisourceWikisource is an online digital library of free content textual sources on a wiki, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aims are to host all forms of free text, in many languages, and translations. Originally conceived as an archive to store useful or important historical texts, it has...
. - "historical notes on The Pearl of Great Price", boap.org
- Summary of the Pearl of Great Price, lightplanet.com
- Pearl of Great Price - Contents listed by edition