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The Articles of Faith The Articles of Faith are the thirteen basic statements that outline the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Granted, there is more stuff beyond these, just as there's more math beyond Algebra I, but these are the building blocks upon which everything else is based. I'm going to compare the LDS Church to other churches, but don't take this to mean I think they're bad. I'm just providing a contrast so you can understand how my Church is different. 1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.Pretty simple, huh? This is the building block for all Christian churches, although they view them in different ways. Some believe they are one Being with three different manifestations, but the LDS Church believes they are separate, yet one in intent. This implies that you could see two of the three at the same time if you were to see them at all; other Christian churches would not necessarily support this idea. As for the Holy Ghost, the idea of its purpose varies from church to church. Some churches barely mention it at all. I'll explain its role in the LDS Church following the 4th article. 2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.Remember the Puritan writings from high school english class? Remember how they thought everyone was inherently evil? What a bummer! Some churches believes we are born with the stain of sin upon us from Adam, and that's why they baptize little babies. The LDS Church believes that we don't inherit Adam's original sin; instead, we inherit his state afterward. Since Adam ate the fruit, we are now susceptible to sin when we are old enough to know right from wrong (generally about 8 years old). If children die before they reach that age, they don't go to hell or Purgatory or anything like that under the LDS belief system. That wouldn't make God very loving, would it? In Doctrine and Covenants, a book of latter-day revelations, it says they go straight to the highest degree of heaven. Some Christian churches agree that we're not punished for Adam's sin (I can't remember which ones -- sorry!) 3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
4. We believe the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by remission for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.The first and third are generally held by Christian churches everywhere, but you don't really hear about repentance too much. (Or maybe I don't -- maybe it's just a Methodist thing.) The fourth is unique in the LDS Church. Even though it talks about it in Acts a bunch, no other church gives the gift of the Holy Ghost. What that means is you have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion to guide you and help you. (I'll detail more later.) 5. We believed that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.Basically what this means is that not any old Joe Schmoe can wake up one morning and say "Hey! I think I'll be a high priest today" and start dunking people in his pool to baptize them. It just doesn't work that way. If you examine the chain of priesthood in this Church, you could trace it all the way back to Jesus Christ himself, no matter where you started!!! Pretty impressive, huh? 6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.Most churches have some of their organization drawn from the Bible, but none of them have all of it besides the LDS Church. No other church has apostles and prophets. Otherwise, we're the same as everyone else. 7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.These all come from the Holy Ghost. Other churches believe in some of these -- you've probably seen those faith healing places advertised, right? As for the tongues, I bet you've heard stories of people talking in gibberish and barking like dogs and stuff like that. Well, none of that is LDS. Tongues is the ability to speak another language -- a real language, not some gibberish. LDS missionaries in foreign countries use this one a lot -- they only have three months of training, yet can teach fluently enough to convert people. Prophecy and revelation are primarily gifts for the Prophet, although you can have personal revelations regarding your own life. Visions are fairly self-explanatory, although it's never anything psychedelic. Interpretation of tongues is basically translating. I'll go into more detail later. 8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.Some people think that just because we have the Book of Mormon, we don't use the Bible. (I remember that was a question you had yesterday.) That's not true at all -- in fact, on the 4-year cycle of teaching in the Church, the Bible is the primary focus for two of them. The Book of Mormon gets one year, and Doctrine and Covenants is the fourth year. Some people get all bent out of shape about the "translated correctly" part. Think about how many versions are out there. Think also that the Bible is thousands of years old; it's not the same as it was when it was first written down. There are mistakes -- human mistakes -- handed down from translation to translation. I think the Book of Mormon part is self-explanatory. 9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.What this basically means is that God hasn't stopped talking to us, like most people assume, and He's not going to stop anytime soon. 10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.This is four-fold. First, do you remember from history class how scattered the Jews are all over the world? The LDS Church believes they'll be gathered together again. It's already begun with Israel becoming a country in the 40's. Second, the scriptures talk about a city named Zion that will be built, hence that reference. The third part is the Second Coming of Christ, and the fourth says the earth will be restored to how it was in the Garden of Eden. 11. We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.Translation: We claim our First Amendment rights! And we won't condemn you for doing your own thing; we respect all other religions. 12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.One silly thing some people believe is that since we're establishing God's kingdom, we're rebelling against other forms of government. Not so! This says it right here that we are in total support. 13. We believe in being honest, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we follow the admonition of Paul -- We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.Wow, that's long! When we have to memorize these in Seminary, we usually get up to 12 and stop. So what does this mean in a nutshell? We believe in good old Christian virtues and morals. I wrote these the best that I could, and I know they
are true. I bear my testimony of their truth in the name of Jesus Christ,
amen. All this was written by Beth Siler on October 13,
1999. Please do not use without permission. |
