“I have a busy life. Why should I study anything but God’s canonized scripture?” This is a typical response when someone thinks about reading something outside their accepted canon of scripture.
An ancient prophet also recognized that people in our day would use these statements to close their minds to the possibility that there was something more for them. He noted in a prophesy:
2 Nephi 29:3 “And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.”
“Mainstream” Christians are typically associated with this verse because they use the word Bible, but are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints any better for saying “A Bible and Book of Mormon!…there cannot be any more Bible and Book of Mormon”? Or refusing to investigate other texts simply because they weren’t brought forth by the church? The Lord told Nephi:
2 Nephi 29:11. For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.
Where are those records? Among the nations wherever people have written by inspiration (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and the commandment of God.
Alma seemed to share this understanding.
Alma 13:22. Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us.
Alma 26:37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever.
Alma 29:8. For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.
President Dallin H. Oaks, an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints shared this amazing statement:
New scripture isn’t just going to come from established channels.
One of the early church Christian scholars was Tertullian (155-220 AD). In one of his writings, “On the Apparel of Women,” he inserted a very curious section titled, “Concerning the Genuineness of ‘The Prophecy of Enoch.'” It’s chapter 3 of the document. Here is a short portion of that section: (and special thanks to Jonah Barnes for sharing these next 3 quotes from Tertullian, Joseph Smith, and Hugh Nibley, on pages 228-229 in his excellent book “Key to the Keystone,” available through https://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/. I highly recommend this book.)
“I am aware that the Scripture of Enoch…is not received by some, because it is not admitted into the Jewish canon either… But since Enoch in the same Scripture has preached likewise concerning the Lord, nothing at all must be rejected by us which pertains to us; and we read that ‘every Scripture suitable for edification is divinely inspired.’ By the Jews it may now seem to have been rejected for that (very) reason, just like all the other (portions) nearly which tell of Christ. Nor, of course, is this fact wonderful, that they did not receive some Scriptures which spoke of Him whom even in person, speaking in their presence, they were not to receive. To these considerations is added the fact that Enoch possesses a testimony in the Apostle Jude.”
In other words, the Book of Enoch was rejected by the Jews because it was a Christian text that spoke openly of the Son of God. Yet, the book was definitely regarded as scripture to the early church as it was quoted from directly by Jude (Jude 1:14-15 x-ref 1 Enoch 1:9) and influenced the writings of others as Jonah points out in his book.
I will refrain from trying to explain the history of the Bible and what was chosen (and thus also what was rejected) to be put into a collection of ancient writings, but I will mention just a couple points of interest. Of the books that made it into the Bible, many of the writers directly referred to many other books of scripture. Who would know better what is scripture, than the prophets and record keepers of scripture? Why would we put confidence in a group of men that selected and discarded books of scripture hundreds of years after Christ, when doctrines were diluted and agendas were in motion to support a narrative. We have several warnings from Paul and Peter about the people turning from the truth immediately after their departure. Why would we assume that those who selected books of the Bible were inerrant in some way?
Shortly after publishing the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith wrote this in his journal.
“It may be well to observe here, that the Lord greatly encouraged and strengthened the faith of His little flock, which had embraced the fulness of the everlasting Gospel, as revealed to them in the Book of Mormon, by giving some more extended information upon the Scriptures, a translation of which had already commenced. Much conjecture and conversation frequently occurred among the Saints, concerning the books mentioned, and referred to, in various places in the Old and New Testaments, which were now nowhere to be found. The common remark was, ‘They are lost books;’ but it seems the Apostolic Church had some of these writings, as Jude mentions or quotes the Prophecy of Enoch, the seventh from Adam. To the joy of the little flock…did the Lord reveal the following doings of olden times, from the prophecy of Enoch.” – History of the Church, vol. 1:131-133
Hugh Nibley summarized this by saying:
“The book of Enoch was given to the Saints as a bonus for their willingness to accept the Book of Mormon and as a reward for their sustained and lively interest in all scriptures, including the lost books…” (One Eternal Round, pg. 57)
So what should be our approach to reading apocryphal books or any non-canonized book? The Lord revealed it in the Doctrine & Covenants, section 91. Verse 5 is the key.
1. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha—There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly;
2. There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men.
3. Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated.
4. Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth;
5. And whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom;
6. And whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefited. Therefore it is not needful that it should be translated. Amen.
What the Lord is giving us here is an invitation to practice receiving revelation. Get the Spirit, read other texts keeping your mind open to truth, and receive things that will benefit you.
D&C 88:118 “Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
There are amazing things in apocryphal books, things that enlighten the mind and inspire the heart. The books that have come forth contain much truth. Much more is to come.
Nephi wrote:
“Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.” (2 Nephi 11:3)
There are many other records to come and we need to stay open minded to them and put them to the test mentioned in D&C 91. For a comprehensive list of what we know is missing and what is promised, see the list below.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell said this in October 1986 General Conference.
“Lost books are among the treasures yet to come forth. Over twenty of these are mentioned in the existing scriptures. Perhaps most startling and voluminous will be the records of the lost tribes of Israel (see 2 Nephi 29:13). We would not even know of the impending third witness for Christ except through the precious Book of Mormon, the second witness for Christ! This third set of sacred records will thus complete a triad of truth. Then, just as the Perfect Shepherd has said, “My word also shall be gathered in one” (v. 14). There will be “one fold and one shepherd” (1 Nephi 22:25) in a welding together of all the Christian dispensations of human history (see D&C 128:18).”
Here is a clip of Elder Maxwell stating the day would come when we would need a little red wagon to carry around our scriptures.
And here is a clip of Elder Jeffrey Holland looking forward to more scriptures coming forth, and the LEAST we can do, is read the book that has come forth.
Books mentioned that we don’t have, or were prophesied of that we didn’t have for a long time.
- Book of the covenant (Exo. 24:7)
- Book of the wars of the Lord (Num. 21:14)
- Book of Jasher (Joshua 10:13; 2 Sam. 1:18) (translation available)
- Another book of Samuel (1 Sam. 10:25)
- Book of the acts of Solomon (1 Kings 11:41)
- Book of Samuel the seer (1 Chron. 29:29)
- Book of Nathan the prophet (1 Chron. 29:29)
- Book of Gad the seer (1 Chron. 29:29)
- Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite (2 Chron. 9:29)
- Visions of Iddo the seer (2 Chron. 9:29; 13:22)
- Book of Shemaiah the prophet (2 Chron. 12:15)
- Book of Jehu (2 Chron. 20:34)
- Acts of Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:22)
- Sayings of the seers (2 Chron. 33:19)
- Stick of Joseph – Book of Mormon (Ezek. 37:15-20)(Associated with Isaiah 29:11 book)
- Daniel’s prophesy (Daniel 12:4)
- Missing record declaring Christ would be a Nazarene (Matt. 2:23)
- Many other things Jesus did that John supposes would fill the world with books (John 21:25)
- Paul: missing epistle (1 Cor. 5:9)
- Missing letter to Ephesians (Eph. 3:3)
- Missing epistle to the Laodiceans (Col. 4:16)
- Missing letter (Jude 1:3)
- Book of Enoch (Jude 1:14; D&C 107:57)
- Plates of Brass (1 Nephi 5:10)
- Record of the Jews from the beginning (1 Nephi 5:12)
- Prophesies of all the holy prophets since the beginning (1 Nephi 5:13)
- Other books that prove the Bible (1 Nephi 13:39; 2 Nephi 3:11)
- Book of Zenock (1 Nephi 19:10; Alma 33:15, 34:7; Hel. 8:20; 3 Nep. 10:16)
- Words of Neum (1 Nephi 19:10)
- Words of Zenos (1 Nephi 19:10; Jacob 5:1, 6:1; Alma 33:3, 13, 15, 34:7; Hel. 15:11; 3 Nep. 10:16)
- Covenants of Joseph (2 Nephi 3:4-22)
- Sealed portion of the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 27:22)
- God commanded many nations and islands to keep records of his word (2 Nephi 29:11)
- Lost tribes of Israel (2 Nephi 29:12)
- Other nations of the earth (2 Nephi 29:12)
- Missing record of Jacob (Alma 46:24-26)
- Missing record of Helaman (Alma 63:12)
- Missing record of secret combinations (Alma 63:12)
- Book of Ezias (Hel. 8:20)
- All the Nephite records entrusted to Mormon (Mormon 6:6)
- Full account of the Creation, Adam, and down to the tower of Babel (Ether 1:5)
- Full account of Brother of Jared (Ether 3:17, 21)
- Full book of Ether (Ether 15:33)
- Book of remembrance in the language of Adam (Moses 6:5)
- Other records to be translated (D&C 9:2)
- Record of John the Baptist (D&C 93:18)
Can you imagine having all these records? What an amazing day that will be.
On my mission, I met and taught an atheist who was a student at Texas A&M. It was the early days of online computing and he was in a religious bulletin board forum with other people debating Christianity. In one exchange with others on the forum, he told them something to the effect, “I don’t know why you guys are so upset. Mormons just think God has more words in his mouth than you do.” We should definitely be open to the words God has preserved for us that have come forth. All truth is beneficial.
If you are interested in studying apocryphal texts, Scripture Notes contains over 60 books of apocryphal texts. It’s an excellent way to perform searches on the scriptures and discover truth in ancient texts as well. See our current content library here: https://scripturenotes.com/library
