13 Articles of Faith

I am posting the 13 Articles of Faith. I will be talking about some or all of them in depth over time. Not all non-LDS know what they are or how many there are. So here is the list of 13 and what Bruce R. McConkie has said about them. Mormon Doctrine, pg. 53, under Articles of Faith.

Joseph Smith wrote 13 brief statements which have become known as the Articles of Faith, statements which summarize some of the basic doctrines of the LDS church. These Articles of Faith are scripture and are published as part of the Pearl of Great Price.

For brevity, clearness, and forthrightness of doctrinal presentation, they are unexcelled. When compared with the muddled creeds formulated by the supposedly greatest religious thinkers of Christendom-creeds born amid the strife, bitterness, and debates of councils that struggled at length over every word and comma-the Articles of Faith, coming forth as the spontaneous and inspired writings of one man, are a marked evidence of the spirit of revelation that rested upon the Prophet.

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541



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.
Joseph Smith.

I personally find humor in the Article number 13. I see mormons coming to my blog, forgetting this article even exists and attacking me, my blog, and not obeying the rules. So much for

honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men

But this is to be expected. I also find it rather funny that Bruce said (and many LDS agree with him),

For brevity, clearness, and forthrightness of doctrinal presentation, they are unexcelled. When compared with the muddled creeds formulated by the supposedly greatest religious thinkers of Christendom-creeds born amid the strife, bitterness, and debates of councils that struggled at length over every word and comma-the Articles of Faith, coming forth as the spontaneous and inspired writings of one man, are a marked evidence of the spirit of revelation that rested upon the Prophet

(Emphasis mine.)

The reason I find this funny, not HA HA funny, but strange funny, is that looking at all the problems in mormonism: LDS believed the scripture when it taught about polygamy being given by God, yet now many LDS now deny this teaching, yet the FLDS and RLDS who follow and believe it are told they're not true LDS. But D and C 132 teaches this is an EVERLASTING covenant by and from the Lord. So what Bruce said applies to them, yet they deny it. Anyway I covered Articles of Faith Number 8 in two parts already. You can read them at Articles of Faith, part 2 and Articles of Faith part 1