LDS Scriptures and Other Religious Scriptures

People from all religions in the world depend on their own scripture or book of religious doctrine. Hindus who worship the god Krishna read the Bhagavad Gita. Muslims read the Qur’an, Jews use the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud, and Christians use the Bible. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or the Mormon Church, read their own form of LDS scriptures. The LDS scriptures include the King James version of the Bible, both New and Old Testaments, The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.

All four books of LDS scriptures are often combined into one very large book, which they nickname the “quad.” With all four books and combined, along with a few references including maps and a Bible dictionary, it is quite a large book. The four separate books combined are what make up the LDS scriptures. The text from nearly all religious sects include similar ideas and themes. Though the stories and writing are different, most of them discuss theology, philosophy, history and even mythology.

The story of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Buddha, can be paralleled to stories of texts with many other religions. Just as Siddhartha went on a quest to find peace and tranquility and balance within himself and nature, the LDS scriptures teach of a young boy named Joseph Smith who, at age fourteen, went into the forest to pray and found God. The Buddhist idea of “Nirvana” and the Hindu idea of “Moksha” are closely paralleled to each other, and they can also be compared to Christian beliefs. Nirvana, Moksha, and the Christian notion of “Enlightenment”, or “Salvation”, as the LDS scriptures call it, are all essentially the same thing.

While the texts and theology and practices of each religion are different, they are all essentially working toward the same goal. LDS scriptures can be found in most book stores, and there are even specialty LDS bookstores that can be found, especially in areas where there is a large population of LDS church members. Of course, as most companies have websites, there are also ways to order scriptures or other religious texts online. The Mormon church strives to keep up with technology because it allows the Church leadership to better interact with Church members, young and old. Beginning in 1848, the Church has held a semi-annual General Conference, where Church leaders and others speak to members of the religion worldwide.

The Church has kept up with technology and had its words broadcast via radio, television, magazine, and even over the Internet. Just to emphasize the Church’s continuing advances with technology, they even have an LDS scriptures app. That way, when a person does not want to carry an entire group of books or the huge “quad” of scriptures to church with them, they can read them right on their phone. Many members of the LDS church, especially younger generations, are taking advantage of the LDS scriptures app and carrying the words of God right on their phone.

The app is easy to use, and once the app is downloaded, phone users can have access to the religious texts day and night. It makes using scriptures in church easier too, because rather than passing them around or flipping pages forever, a person can just pull up the scriptures on their cell phone. Since the LDS scriptures are now available for access on cell phones and other technology, maybe other religions will hop on the bandwagon and try the same. Having scriptures or other religious texts on-hand can only benefit church members. Maybe the Hindu Vedic scriptures or the Qu’ran will be available as an app soon.