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Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What do Mormon's Believe?
13 Statements Summarizing Our Faith
Historical Background:
In 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote 13 brief statements summarizing some of the basic doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He then delivered the statements to Mr. John Wentworth, publisher of the Chicago Democrat, for publication. However, the statements were never published in the Chicago Democrat. They were instead published in the March edition of the Church newspaper, Times and Seasons.
Then, in 1851, the articles were published in the first edition of the Pearl of Great Price and became official doctrine of the Church in 1880 when the Pearl of Great Price was cannonized.
While the Articles of Faith provide an excellent summary of the basic doctrines of the Church, they are not meant to be comprehensive. Speaking on this Bruce R. McConkie stated:
These articles, of course, do not attempt to summarize all of the basic doctrines of the gospel. For example, the Articles of Faith are silent on such things as celestiral marriage, salvation for the dead, temple work in all its phases, the resurrection, and degrees of glory in the eternal worlds.
The Articles of Faith are as follows:
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
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 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.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
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.
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.
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.
11. 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.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, 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 or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. http://lds.about.com/library/weekly/previousyears/aa060801a.htm
In simple words, here are a few of our Beliefs:
We are Christians. We love and worship Jesus Christ and seek to honor and obey Him and His commandments. We believe in the Bible as do we believe in the Book of Mormon, another Testament of Jesus Christ. We believe in prayer and in modern revelation, and that God speaks to us today as He did in ancient times. We believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who restored His true church in these, the latter days. We believe that God speaks to us today through a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. We believe in the power of the Priesthood, as appointed men are given God's power to act on His behalf here on earth. We believe in Eternal Families and that they can be together forever through sacred ordinances performed in the Temple. We believe that we are all brothers and sisters in God and strive to be good, honest, loving, trusworthy, virtuous, clean, kind, peaceful people.
As Mormons, we fall short of such virtues, but we believe that through obedience, the power of repentence, and the grace of God that we can return to live again with our loving Heavenly Father.
Historical Background:
In 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote 13 brief statements summarizing some of the basic doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He then delivered the statements to Mr. John Wentworth, publisher of the Chicago Democrat, for publication. However, the statements were never published in the Chicago Democrat. They were instead published in the March edition of the Church newspaper, Times and Seasons.
Then, in 1851, the articles were published in the first edition of the Pearl of Great Price and became official doctrine of the Church in 1880 when the Pearl of Great Price was cannonized.
While the Articles of Faith provide an excellent summary of the basic doctrines of the Church, they are not meant to be comprehensive. Speaking on this Bruce R. McConkie stated:
These articles, of course, do not attempt to summarize all of the basic doctrines of the gospel. For example, the Articles of Faith are silent on such things as celestiral marriage, salvation for the dead, temple work in all its phases, the resurrection, and degrees of glory in the eternal worlds.
The Articles of Faith are as follows:
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
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 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.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
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.
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.
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.
11. 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.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, 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 or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. http://lds.about.com/library/weekly/previousyears/aa060801a.htm
In simple words, here are a few of our Beliefs:
We are Christians. We love and worship Jesus Christ and seek to honor and obey Him and His commandments. We believe in the Bible as do we believe in the Book of Mormon, another Testament of Jesus Christ. We believe in prayer and in modern revelation, and that God speaks to us today as He did in ancient times. We believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who restored His true church in these, the latter days. We believe that God speaks to us today through a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. We believe in the power of the Priesthood, as appointed men are given God's power to act on His behalf here on earth. We believe in Eternal Families and that they can be together forever through sacred ordinances performed in the Temple. We believe that we are all brothers and sisters in God and strive to be good, honest, loving, trusworthy, virtuous, clean, kind, peaceful people.
As Mormons, we fall short of such virtues, but we believe that through obedience, the power of repentence, and the grace of God that we can return to live again with our loving Heavenly Father.
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