The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of ancient manuscripts discovered between 1947 and 1956 in the Qumran caves near the Dead Sea in modern-day Israel. These texts, which date from approximately 250 BCE to 68 CE, are among the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, providing invaluable insights into the religious, cultural, and historical context of the Second Temple period. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Dead Sea Scrolls have not only enriched the understanding of ancient Judaism but have also been seen as a source that supports the antiquity of certain key elements of Latter-day Saint doctrine.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are comprised of over 900 documents, including biblical manuscripts, sectarian writings, and various other texts related to Jewish law, prophecy, and religious practices. They were found in 11 caves near the site of Qumran, a settlement inhabited by a group commonly identified as the Essenes, a Jewish sect that existed during the time of Christ. The scrolls include manuscripts of nearly every book of the Hebrew Bible, with the exception of the Book of Esther, and provide some of the oldest known copies of biblical texts.

The scrolls also contain non-biblical works such as the Community Rule, the War Scroll, and the Thanksgiving Hymns, which offer a unique view of Jewish thought during the Second Temple period. These texts reflect various aspects of Jewish law, prophecy, apocalyptic visions, and theological beliefs that would have been contemporaneous with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the development of early Christianity.

From a Latter-day Saint perspective, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls offers significant confirmation of the antiquity and authenticity of certain doctrinal elements that are central to Latter-day Saint theology. The scrolls provide corroboration of ideas and practices that are remarkably consistent with Latter-day Saint theology. Latter-day Saint scholars have identified similarities with ideas promoted in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the ideas of pre-existence of human spirits, priesthood, the sacrament, the temple, and others.⁴¹

For Latter-day Saints, the Dead Sea Scrolls provide significant historical and doctrinal confirmation of various aspects of their faith, especially in relation to priesthood authority, the gathering of Israel, the role of prophecy, messianic expectations, and the Resurrection. These texts reveal that many principles central to Latter-day Saint theology—such as the importance of priesthood, the expectation of a Messiah, and the ultimate gathering of God's people—are rooted in ancient traditions, thereby confirming the continuity of these doctrines through millennia. The Dead Sea Scrolls, therefore, not only deepen the understanding of Jewish beliefs during the time of Christ but also enrich the theological context for Latter-day Saints, affirming the antiquity and divine authenticity of their teachings.