What are the Articles of Faith?
What are the Articles of Faith?
Personal Response by Bethany
Background:
In 1842, John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat, wrote to Joseph Smith requesting information for a friend who was writing a history of New Hampshire. Joseph Smith’s response to this inquiry has become known as the “Wentworth Letter.” The letter includes a brief history of the Church and significant events in its restoration. It ends with thirteen statements that have become known as the Articles of Faith and are published in the Pearl of Great Price.
Summary of the articles:
- The first article declares that the Godhead is made up of three personages: the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
- The second concentrates on the beginning of mortality and establishes that humans have moral agency and are accountable for their own actions.
- The third article focuses on the Atonement of Christ and how mankind benefits in relation to it.
- The fourth article states four foundational principles and ordinances which are faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- The next two articles focus on authority and organization of the Church that existed primitively as established by Jesus Christ. It includes apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, Evangelists etc.
- The seventh article addresses the Latter-day Saint belief in the gifts of the spirit, for example those found in 1 Corinthians 12:10.
- The eighth article prophecies the place of sacred scripture as found in Ezekiel 37:16 and John 10:16.
- The ninth article states that the restored gospel proclaims the principle of ongoing revelation. Latter-day Saints believe in all past and present revelation, and they look forward to future revelations.
- Article ten goes over great events that were prophesied to happen in the last days: the literal gathering of Israel and the restoration of the Ten Tribes; the building of Zion, the New Jerusalem, in the Western Hemisphere; Christ’s personal reign on earth; and the renewal of the earth itself.
- The eleventh article declares the LDS belief in freedom of worship for both themselves and all others.
- The twelfth article states the political position of the LDS as law-abiding citizens.
- The final declaration offers a general view for life and an invitation to the LDS approach to it.
The Articles of Faith are a wonderful summary of the basic beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They include straightforward and simple statements of the principles of our religion and bless the lives of those who follow them.
Tags: Articles of Faith, Joseph Smith, Mormon Beliefs
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 at 10:49 am and is filed under Basic Beliefs, Joseph Smith, Mormon Beliefs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.