Article of Faith 8: Scripture and Authority

At First Glance

This statement appears to affirm the Bible.

And at first reading, it sounds reassuring:
“Yes—we believe the Bible is the word of God.”

But there is an important qualifier: “as far as it is translated correctly.”

That phrase changes everything.

Why This Matters

This article answers a foundational question:

 What happens when the Bible and another authority disagree?

Because eventually, they will.

And when they do, something has to take precedence.

• The Bible?
• Another book?
• A modern prophet?

Whichever one you choose becomes your final authority.

What This Means in LDS Teaching

In Mormonism, the Bible is respected—but not fully trusted.

It is considered the word of God only to the extent that it has been preserved correctly.

Joseph Smith taught:

“Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors.”
(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 327)

He also claimed that essential truths had been removed:

“Many important points… had been taken from the Bible.”
(Ibid., p. 10)

As a result, the Bible is not viewed as a complete or fully reliable source on its own.

Additional Scriptures

Mormonism includes multiple sources of authority:

• The Book of Mormon
• The Doctrine and Covenants
• The Pearl of Great Price
• The Bible (with limitations)

In addition, the teachings of LDS prophets and apostles—especially in official settings—are considered authoritative.

“One of the great heresies… is the assumption that the Bible contains all of the inspired teachings…”
(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine)

The Functional Outcome

In practice, this means:

• If the Bible appears to conflict with LDS teaching,
  it is assumed the Bible is in error—or misunderstood
• LDS scriptures and modern prophetic teachings are used
  to interpret or correct the Bible

So while the Bible is affirmed in theory… it is redefined in practice.

The Critical Difference

This is one of the clearest dividing lines.

This is not just about adding books. It is about which voice has the final say.

What Scripture Reveals

God’s Word Is Preserved

“The words of the Lord are pure words… You shall keep them, O Lord, You shall preserve them…”
(Psalm 12:6–7)

God is not only able to speak… He is able to preserve what He has spoken.

Scripture Is Sufficient

“All Scripture is God-breathed… so that the man of God may be complete…”
(2 Timothy 3:16–17)

Scripture is not described as partial or incomplete. It is described as sufficient.

God’s Word Is Not to Be Added To

“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it…”
(Deuteronomy 4:2)

“If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues…”
(Revelation 22:18)

These warnings are strong—and intentional.

A Common Question About “Adding to Scripture”

At this point, some may wonder how to understand biblical warnings about adding to God’s Word.

If the Bible warns against adding to God’s Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18),
wouldn’t that mean the rest of the Bible itself violates that command—since more Scripture was written after those verses?

That’s a fair question—and it deserves a clear answer.

Those warnings are not saying that God can never speak again. If they were, then the prophets who came after Moses—and even the New Testament writers—would have been violating Scripture themselves.

Instead, those passages are warning against something very specific:

Not adding to, removing from, or altering what God has already revealed.

Moses was instructing Israel not to tamper with the Law God had given them.
John was warning against altering the prophetic message recorded in Revelation.

In both cases, the issue is not future revelation—it is corrupting existing revelation.

Truth Is Not Subject to Revision

“God is not a man, that He should lie…”
(Numbers 23:19)

God does not need to correct Himself later. What He reveals is true from the beginning.

So the issue is not: Can God speak again?

Of course He can.

The real question is:  Does new revelation agree with what God has already revealed?

Because Scripture is clear on this point:

“God is not a man, that He should lie…” (Numbers 23:19)

God does not change His nature or contradict His truth. So if a later teaching:

• redefines who God is
• changes the nature of Jesus
• or alters the way salvation works

then it is not a clarification of truth—it is a contradiction of what was already revealed.

Why This Matters

This is why the Bible is not just one source among many. It is the standard by which all other claims are tested.

Not because God cannot speak… but because He does not contradict Himself.

Why This Changes Everything

If the Bible is incomplete or corrupted… then you must rely on another authority to fix it. But if the Bible is trustworthy… then it becomes the standard by which everything else is tested.

This is the difference between:

A Moving Authority

Truth can be updated, clarified, or redefined

vs.

A Fixed Foundation

Truth has been revealed—and stands

A Gentle but Important Question

When two sources disagree… which one do you trust to be right? And what standard are you using to decide?

Final Thought

It is not wrong to seek understanding, clarity, or deeper insight. But it is dangerous to believe that God’s Word has been so corrupted… that it requires another system to restore it. Because once that belief is in place, you are no longer testing truth by Scripture. You are testing Scripture by something else.

And that is a shift that changes everything.