1 This expression, Pearl of Great Price, has also been adopted as the title of a volume of latter-day scripture, a volume containing a choice selection of the revelations, translations, and narrations of the Prophet Joseph Smith. As now published the Pearl of Great Price contains the following:
a. Book of Moses-Contrary to the false notions of the higher critics, Moses personally is the author of the Pentateuch or first five books of the Old Testament. (I Ne. 5: II.) In their present form, however, these five books no longer contain many of the teachings and doctrines originally placed in them by the great lawgiver of ancient Israel. But by direct revelation in modern times the Lord has restored through the Prophet many of the great truths lost from the early Mosaic scriptures.
The Book of Moses, a work containing eight chapters and covering the same general period and events as are found in the first six chapters of Genesis, contains much of this restored truth. The 1st and 7th chapters of Moses are entirely new revelations having no counterpart in Genesis. The other chapters in Moses cover the same events recorded in the first six chapters of Genesis, but the account revealed in latter-days has been so enlarged, contains so much new material, and so radically changes the whole perspective of the Lord’s dealings with Adam and the early patriarchs that for all practical purposes it may be considered as entirely new matter. The whole view of the creation of all things; of pre-existence and the purpose of life; of Adam and his fall; of the primeval revelation of the gospel to man; of the terms and conditions in accordance with which salvation is offered to the living and the dead; of Enoch, his ministry and his establishment of Zion; and of Noah, his priesthood and ministry -the whole view and perspective
relative to all these things is radically changed by the new revelations in the Book of Moses. This book, which is also contained in the Prophet’s Inspired Version of the Bible, is one of the most important documents the Lord has ever revealed.
b. Book of Abraham-This work was translated by the Prophet from a papyrus record taken from the catacombs of Egypt, a record preserved by the Lord to come forth in this day of restoration. (Milton R. Hunter, Pearl of Great Price Commentary, pp. 6-35.) Abraham was the original author, and the scriptural account contains priceless information about the gospel, pre-existence, the nature of Deity, the creation, and priesthood, information which is not otherwise available in any other revelation now extant.
c. Writings of Joseph Smith-Three extracts from the Prophet’s writings are here included: one, an extract from the Inspired Version of the Bible; the second, extracts from the history of Joseph Smith; and the third, the statement of belief now called the Articles of Faith. The quotation from the Inspired Version is our Lord’s discourse on the Second Coming and signs of the times, which
begins with the last verse of the 23rd chapter of Matthew and continues through the 24th chapter. The account of the Prophet’s own history records his ancestry; recites the events incident to the religious revivalism around Palmyra in the spring of 1820; tells of the appearance of the Father
and the Son to him; reports the appearances of Moroni and tells of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon; and records the visitation of John the Baptist and the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood. The Articles of Faith are a brief summary of some of the basic doctrines of the Church.
Some added items were published in early editions of the Pearl of Great Price. The first edition, published in 1851 in England by Elder Franklin D. Richards, also contained sections 77 and 87 of the Doctrine and Covenants, and extracts from sections 20, 27, and 107, and the hymn, “0 Say
at Is Truth?” The first American edition, published in 1878, also contained the revelation on marriage, section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It should be remembered that in the early days of the Church the revelations were not published and disseminated as widely as at present. After the Doctrine and Covenants was brought up to date, it was no longer necessary to publish duplicating items in the Pearl of Great Price. All editions since 1902 of this latter scripture have contained only the books of Moses and Abraham and the extracts from the Prophet’s writings. (Milton R. Hunter, Pearl of Great Price Commentary, pp. 41-47.) (Taken from Mormon Doctrine, pp. 509-510.)