Friday, December 31, 2010
New Site Updates
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Virtual Computers
Saturday, September 18, 2010
My Talk
The Articles of Faith
The articles of faith are 13 basic principles quantified by Joseph Smith that we, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in.
The Prophet Joseph Smith first wrote them in a letter to John Wentworth, a newspaper editor, in response to Mr. Wentworth's request to know what members of the Church believed. Later they were published in Church periodicals and are now regarded as scripture, in the Pearl of Great Price.
The Articles of Faith are:
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.
The First Article of Faith explains our belief in God, our Eternal Father, in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Elder L. Tom Perry said, "Our belief does not come from the speculations of men about the existence and nature of God, but from firsthand experience from the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. His experience clarified for mankind the existence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Thus to the world came the vision that three personages comprise this great presiding council of the universe and have revealed themselves to mankind as three separate beings, physically distinct from each other as demonstrated by the accepted records of their divine dealings with mankind.
The second and third articles explain our belief in the Atonement, and that through Christ; all mankind will be blessed with immortality. They state that we have the responsibility for accepting Him as our Savior, and we will only be responsible for our "own sins and not for Adam's transgression"
The fourth and fifth articles refer to our belief in the first principles of the gospel: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance. They also explain that the first ordinances of the gospel are baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. These ordinances are bestowed by men "called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those" who have the authority to administer them.
The sixth article tells us that an organization is necessary, and the same organization that existed in the primitive Church has been restored in these latter days. The restored Church exists on the earth today, with the sacred power received through the restoration of the holy priesthood.
The seventh and ninth articles profess that the heavens are not closed, and that God continues to reveal His will to mankind; as He has in the past. Spiritual gifts are also received by mankind today, just as they were in days past. The scripture is not just books, it is the continuing revelation of the prophet.
The eighth article states our belief in the Bible as the "word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." We believe the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, and that it gives to us that second witness of the authenticity of the scriptures as recorded in the Bible.
Article 10 tells of our belief "in the literal gathering of Israel," that Zion will be built again and Christ will return and "reign personally upon the earth. Since Samuel Smith, Joseph Smith's brother, went on the first mission in 1830, the gathering of Israel has continued. When we share the gospel, we too are helping with the literal gathering of Israel.
The 11th and 12th articles profess our belief in religious liberty, tolerance, and agency. Agency is one of God's greatest gifts to man.
It allows all men and women the right to choose for themselves and to earn their own individual salvation. Also declared is our belief in secular governments and "in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law" of the land.
The 13th article provides a special insight into how we should conduct our lives and present ourselves before the peoples of the earth. It is a guide to our behavior. It reads: "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."
The articles of faith aren't just to explain to others what we believe in. It is also to guide us as to how we should live and present ourselves.