Mormonism And The Articles Of Faith: A Devout Following?

The Mormon faith is based on 13 Articles of Faith, written by Joseph Smith in 1842. These articles outline the basic doctrines and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While they are not comprehensive, they are considered the best summary of the basic beliefs of the church. The articles cover a range of topics, including the nature of God, the atonement of Christ, the role of the church, and the importance of moral agency and accountability. Mormons follow these articles as a guide to their faith and religious practices.

Mormons believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost

Mormons believe that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three distinct beings. The Father and Jesus have perfected, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost is a spirit without a physical body. They refer to this collective as the Godhead. However, in some contexts, the term God may refer to the Godhead as a whole, or to each member individually.

Mormons believe that God was once a man on another planet before being exalted to Godhood. This is known as the King Follett Discourse, from a sermon given by Joseph Smith in 1844. Mormons believe that God has a physical body, and that he dwells in heaven. This belief is supported by the Mormon scriptural canon, which states: "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's".

The Mormon concept of God differs from the traditional Christian Trinity. Mormonism has not adopted the doctrine of the Nicene Creed, which states that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are of the same substance or being. Instead, Mormons believe that the intelligence dwelling in each human is coeternal with God. They use the term 'omnipotent' to describe God and regard him as the creator, understanding him to be almighty and eternal. However, they also believe that God is subject to eternal natural law, which governs intelligence, justice, and the eternal nature of matter.

Mormons view their concept of the Godhead as a restoration of the original Christian doctrine taught by Christ and the Apostles. They believe that Greek culture and philosophy influenced the early Christian theologians, leading to a departure from the traditional Judeo-Christian view of a corporeal God.

Mormons believe that men will be punished for their own sins, not Adam's

Mormons follow the 13 Articles of Faith, which are 13 statements explaining the basic doctrines and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These were written by Joseph Smith in 1842 as part of a letter to Long John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat, and first published in the Latter-Day Saint newspaper Times and Seasons.

The second Article of Faith states:

> We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

This statement specifically rejects the idea of original sin, which is the Christian belief that all human beings are born into a state of sin due to the fall of man, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Mormons, however, believe that individuals are only accountable for their own sins and not those of Adam.

This belief is reflected in other Mormon teachings as well. For example, in Mormonism, individuals must repent for their own sins to receive salvation. This is done through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

However, it is important to note that there have been criticisms and inconsistencies noted in the application of this belief. Some have pointed out that, despite this statement, women are still considered to be subservient to men and experience painful childbirth due to Eve's transgression. Additionally, in the past, Black people were considered cursed due to Cain's sin, and Native Americans were punished for the transgressions of Laman and Lemuel.

Mormons believe in the Bible and Book of Mormon as the word of God

Mormons, or the Latter-Day Saints (LDS), believe in the Bible and the Book of Mormon as the word of God. The Book of Mormon is a 19th-century text that describes itself as a chronicle of early Indigenous peoples of the Americas and their dealings with God.

The eighth Article of Faith, written by Joseph Smith, states: "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." This suggests that Mormons view the Bible and the Book of Mormon differently, with the Bible's status as God's word being qualified by the phrase "as far as it is translated correctly". This qualification opens the door to doubting the truthfulness of the Bible, with some Mormons believing that all modern translations of the Bible are corrupt.

Mormons believe that the Bible, as it is currently available, is not without error. Joseph Smith commented: "I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers." This suggests that errors were introduced during the compilation, organisation, translation, and transcription of the Bible. These errors can be seen in the numerous and conflicting translations of the Bible that exist today.

The Book of Mormon is considered to be of equal authority to the Bible, and it is believed to restore many lost truths that were present in the original Christian doctrine. In addition to the Bible and the Book of Mormon, Mormons also revere and study the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the words of modern prophets and apostles. These sources of eternal truth work together to establish, clarify, and testify to the plan of God and bring people to Jesus Christ.

Mormons believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, and interpretation of tongues

The 13 Articles of Faith, written by Joseph Smith, outline the basic doctrines and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The seventh Article of Faith states: "We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth."

Spiritual gifts are an important component in both the basic beliefs and daily living of Mormons. They are believed to be spiritual endowments that provide benefits to the recipient and those they serve. Both males and females can receive spiritual gifts, which can be bestowed by God upon an individual through diligent seeking and righteous living.

The gift of tongues is one of many spiritual gifts that Mormons believe in. It is used to share the gospel, particularly in missionary work, and is often used in conjunction with the gift of interpretation of tongues. This gift allows individuals who do not share a common language to understand each other and is seen as a way for God to help his followers share or understand his word.

Mormons believe that spiritual gifts may be received according to an individual's needs and capacity, as well as the needs of those around them. These gifts are seen as signs of true believers and are given to benefit those who love God on their journey towards eternal life.

While spiritual gifts were emphasised more in the early days of the Church, they are still considered an important part of Mormon belief and practice today.

Mormons believe in freedom of worship and of conscience for themselves and all others

> 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.

This belief in religious freedom is also reflected in the Mormon scripture, The Doctrine and Covenants 134:4:

> 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. We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.

Mormons believe that freedom of religion and belief is a core tenet of their faith, and that it is not just a theoretical right but an essential part of a just society. This belief is rooted in the idea that all people are created equal and have the right to worship according to their own beliefs.

In the Book of Mormon, the story of King Mosiah highlights the importance of freedom of religion and belief. King Mosiah establishes a new form of government, rejecting the monarchy and implementing a system of judges who are elected by the people. This "democratic" system of government is designed to protect against the excesses of an unrighteous king and ensure that all people have the same rights and privileges, regardless of their marginalised status.

Mormon leaders, such as Joseph Smith, have also emphasised the importance of religious freedom for all people, not just for Latter-day Saints. Smith stated that he was willing to defend the religious freedom of people from other denominations, as he believed that the same principles that would trample the rights of Latter-day Saints would also trample the rights of others.

Mormons believe that religious freedom is a sacred privilege that allows individuals to believe, act, and define themselves according to their conscience while respecting the rights of others. They see it as their duty to defend their religion and freedom and to promote a peaceful and just society.

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