Outline of some of the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints called The Articles of Faith

1. The Articles of Faith
Basic beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ben Stout
OIT 160
Online Class

2. What are the
Articles of Faith?
Today, many people ask common questions of
what do “Mormons” believe. These same
questions were being asked when The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints started in April
of 1830.
Mr. John Wentworth, editor and proprietor of
the Chicago Democrat, desired to know the
basic beliefs of the LDS Church, that he might
publish it in his newspaper. Joseph Smith, the
prophet, compiled a simple and clear letter in
response to Mr. Wentworth’s request March of
1942 that is now called the Articles of Faith.
The Thirteen Articles of Faith are by no means all
inclusive of the Christian doctrine of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but they do
give a glimpse of key declarations.

3. 1st Article of Faith
“We believe in God, the Eternal
Father, and in His Son, Jesus
Christ, and in the Holy Ghost”
We believe that God the Father, Jesus
Christ, and the Holy Ghost, are three distinct
glorious beings.
Joseph Smith prayed to know which church was
correct. His prayer was answered by a personal
visitation from God the Father and his Son
Jesus Christ.
“I saw a pillar of light over my head, above the
brightness of the sun, which descended
gradually until it fell upon me. When the light
rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose
brightness and glory defy all
description, standing above me in the air. One
of them spake unto me calling me by name and
said pointing to the other – This is My Beloved
Son. Hear Him!”
- Joseph Smith

4. 2nd Article of Faith
“We believe that men will
be punished for their own
sins, and not for Adam’s
transgression”
Through this we learn that the
human race, the sons and
daughters of God, will not suffer
for Adam’s fall or what some call
“Original Sin”.
Joy in this life, and our glorious
eternal reward, will be based on
our own personal faith in Jesus
Christ and our actions that are
directed by our faith.

5. 3rd Article of Faith
“We believe that through the
Atonement of Christ, all
mankind may be saved, by
obedience to the laws and
ordinances of the Gospel”
People regardless of gender,
race, marital status,
education, finances, or any
other status symbol from
which people try to gain
identity, may enter into
heaven by obeying the laws of
God and through the mercy,
grace, and forgiveness that
the Atonement of Jesus
Christ offers.

6. 4th Article of Faith
“We Believe that the first
principles and ordinances of
the gospel are: first, Faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ; second,
Repentance; third, Baptism by
immersion for the remission of
sins; fourth , Laying on of
hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost.”
We must have faith in Jesus Christ. That
faith should call us to action. The Lord
has called the human race to
repentance that he may forgive us our
sins and receive the blessings He has in
store for us. Baptism is a required
outward ordinance that manifests our
inner commitment to follow in the path
of the Savior. Through those having
authority, we may receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead,
to guide us through revelation in our
personal mission and purpose in life.

7. 5th Article of Faith
“We believe that a man must
be called of God, by
prophecy, and the laying on
of hands by those who are in
authority, to preach the
Gospel and administer in the
ordinances thereof.”
In the kingdom of God on the
Earth, man cannot declare authority
unto himself. He must be called of
God, and set apart just as Jesus did
with the Apostles of Old. Once Jesus
had ordained them through His power
and authority then the apostles did go
forth to declare the Gospel.

8. 6th Article of Faith
“We believe in the same
organization that existed in
the Primitive Church, namely,
apostles, prophets, pastors,
teachers, evangelists, and so
forth.”
The Lord is a God of order. In His
church, He ordained The Prophet Peter,
The Twelve Apostles, The quorum of
the Seventy, and other teachers and
leaders to guide smaller congregations.
Today in The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints, these same callings
and governing bodies exist as a gift
from God to guide and direct the
world. These twelve apostles stand as
witnesses of Jesus Christ and testify
that Jesus Christ lives and that God
does communicate with the human
race.

9. 7th Article of Faith
“We believe in the gift of
tongues, prophecy, revelation,
visions, healing, interpretation
of tongues and so forth.”
Spiritual gifts come from the goodness
of God to improve our lives. If we use
the gifts that God has granted each
person, in humility and with a desire to
help our fellow man, then the Lord will
use us as a tool in His hand to edify the
world and build up His kingdom on
Earth.

10. 8th Article of Faith
“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.”
The Holy Bible is a compilation of the
words, teachings, manifestations, and
revelations of the prophets in the Near
East or “Old World” as some would
say.
The Book of Mormon is a compilation
of the same importance. It is a record
of the prophets in the “New World” or
what we now know as North and
South America. The Book of Mormon
does not supersede the words of the
Bible; it only enhances or
complements. Hence it is called
“Another Testament of Jesus Christ”

11. 9th Article of Faith
“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”
Communication between God and his
children has not ceased. The children
of God in ancient times are as
important to Him as His children in
the present and future times.
It essential for the children of the Lord
to receive direction from God to guide
us. There is a living prophet who
communicates with God, even
President Thomas S. Monson, with his
two counselors President Henry B.
Eyring, and President Dieter F.
Uchtdorf.

12. 10th Article of Faith
“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”
Jesus Christ will return to rule this
Earth as King of Kings and Lord of
Lords. Those who choose to live in
righteousness will once again enjoy
peace, tranquility, and love.

13. 11th Article of Faith
“We claim the privilege of
worshiping 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.”
Men and women though out time and
around the world have been persecuted,
at times even unto death. The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will take
no part in religious persecutions as it is
unbecoming of a disciple of Jesus Christ

14. 12th Article of Faith
“We believe in being subject
to kings, presidents, rulers,
and magistrates, in obeying,
honoring, and sustaining the
law.”
Jesus said ,”…render therefore unto
Caesar the things which are Caesar’s;
and unto God the things that are
God’s.” – Matthew 22:21
The Christian world and the LDS
Church learn from this the need to be
obedient to mortal rulers until the
Lord God rules supreme.

15. 13th Article of Faith
“We believe in being
honest, true, chaste, benevole
nt, virtuous, and in doing
good to all men; indeed, we
may say that 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 of praiseworthy, we
seek after these things.”

16. The End
or just the beginning
Since the beginning of the Church in April of 1830 the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has grown to a total of
13,508,509 members – 31 Dec. 2008
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have quoted the
“Articles of Faith”, but the explanations are entirely mine and do not represent any
official representation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.