What Is the Pearl of Great Price? Moses, Abraham, the Articles of Faith and More

The short answerThe shortest book of Latter-day Saint scripture

Its introduction says: “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 translated and produced by the Prophet Joseph Smith” (Introduction). It’s one of the four standard works, with the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.

Elder Franklin D. Richards first compiled it in England in 1851, and it “became a standard work of the Church by action of the First Presidency and the general conference in Salt Lake City on October 10, 1880” (Introduction). The name comes from Jesus’s parable of the merchant who, “when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45–46). As the Book of Mormon says, “because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written” (2 Nephi 29:10).

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The Book of MosesMoses sees God, and worlds without number

The Book of Moses comes from Joseph Smith’s inspired translation of Genesis, begun in June 1830 (Introduction). It opens with a vision Genesis doesn’t record. God tells Moses, “behold, thou art my son … my works are without end” (Moses 1:4), and shows him the scope of creation: “worlds without number have I created … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:33).

Then comes one of the most quoted verses in Latter-day Saint teaching: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Later chapters expand the story of Enoch, whom the Bible mentions only briefly (Hebrews 11:5; Jude 1:14). His city became Zion, “because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18).

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The Book of AbrahamPremortal life, and the Gods who organized the earth

Joseph Smith began translating it “in 1835 after obtaining some Egyptian papyri,” and it was published in 1842 (Introduction). Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day” (John 8:56), and here Abraham sees the premortal world: “the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones … Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born” (Abraham 3:22–23).

The Lord teaches Abraham that intelligences exist one above another: “there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all” (Abraham 3:19). Joseph built on this in his 1844 Sermon in the Grove, saying “I learned it by translating the papyrus,” and teaching that “God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father” in an endless line (History of the Church 6:476). Abraham’s Creation account is told by “the Gods,” who “organized and formed the heavens and the earth” (Abraham 4:1), and God’s purpose for us is stated plainly: “we will prove them herewith … and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever” (Abraham 3:25–26). For the papyri questions, see What Is the Book of Abraham?.

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Joseph Smith—Matthew and Joseph Smith—HistoryJesus on the last days, and the Restoration

Joseph Smith—Matthew comes from the New Testament translation the Lord told Joseph to begin (D&C 45:60–61). It is his inspired version of Matthew 24, Jesus’s teaching on the last days, with the promise: “whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37).

Joseph Smith—History is his own account, written in 1838–39 (Introduction), of the First Vision, Moroni’s visits, the gold plates and the restoration of the priesthood. It contains the words that began it all: “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17). See What Is the First Vision?.

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The Articles of FaithThirteen statements of belief

The Articles of Faith come from an 1842 letter to Chicago newspaper editor John Wentworth (Introduction). Many children in the Church memorize them. The first reads: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:1).

The thirteenth sums up the Latter-day Saint outlook: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men … If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles of Faith 1:13).

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Check the premiseThe presuppositions baked into the question

Before this question can be answered fairly, the person asking has to justify a few assumptions packed inside it:

1. That the Pearl of Great Price is a secret or hidden book. It’s published free online and printed with the Doctrine and Covenants in every Latter-day Saint triple combination.
2. That it’s one book. It’s five: Moses, Abraham, Joseph Smith—Matthew, Joseph Smith—History and the Articles of Faith.
3. That it adds a different God. Moses 1:6 says “there is no God beside me,” and the Articles of Faith begin with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Articles of Faith 1:1).
4. That its teachings are new inventions. It restores what Jesus and the apostles pointed to: Abraham saw Christ’s day (John 8:56) and Enoch prophesied (Jude 1:14).

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FAQQuick answers

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Sources

• King James Bible (churchofjesuschrist.org): Matthew 13:45–46 · John 8:56 · Hebrews 11:5 · Jude 1:14
• Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 29:10
• Doctrine and Covenants: D&C 45:60–61
• Pearl of Great Price: Introduction · Moses 1:4–6 · Moses 1:33 · Moses 1:39 · Moses 7:18 · Abraham 3:19 · Abraham 3:22–26 · Abraham 4:1 · Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37 · Joseph Smith—History 1:17 · Articles of Faith 1:1 · Articles of Faith 1:13
• History of the Church 6:476 (Sermon in the Grove), BYU Studies

• Featured image and in-article graphic: original graphics by thebookofmormon.ai (painterly backgrounds; no photographs or likenesses of real people).