Articles of Faith: The Godhead

1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

This is the first of the Articles of Faith for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It contains several very simple truths that even a child can understand, yet, the truths are so profound that it can take a lifetime (or longer) to learn what they truly mean.

We believe in God. We believe that He is the Father of our spirits. We believe that He has a body of flesh and bone (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). We believe that He is the creator of all things in our universe (Mosiah 4:9). We believe that He loves us infinitely. We believe that He has made laws for our protection and happiness. We believe that if we follow the laws that He gives us, we can return to live in His presence after we die.

We believe that God is the literal Father of Jesus Christ's mortal body. We believe that as the Son of God, Jesus Christ was able to live a perfect life. We believe that as the Son of Mary, Jesus Christ was then able to die for the sins of the world. We also believe that as the Son of God, He was able to take His body again as a glorified being. We believe that Christ now has a resurrected body of flesh and bone. We believe that He is one with our Heavenly Father in purpose, yet they are two separate beings with distinct roles (Mark 9:7).

We believe that the Holy Ghost testifies of God, the Father and of Jesus Christ, our Savior. We believe that the Holy ghost has a spirit body. In this way, the Spirit can enter our hearts and tell us of the truth of all things (Moroni 10:5).

We believe in the Godhead. We believe that they are three distinct beings. We believe that they share a common purpose, which is to bring all people back to live with them. We believe that our Heavenly Father has a perfect plan that through Jesus Christ's sacrifice, all of us can return to live with them. We believe that we can know that this is a true plan by the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost.

I invite you to pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ. I promise that if you are sincere, the Holy Spirit will give you an answer to your prayer.

Articles of Faith: Introduction

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are 13 statements that give an overview of many important doctrines. These statements are collectively known as the Articles of Faith.

These articles were written with a focus on explaining the church's beliefs in contrast to other churches of the early 19th century. The articles also draw connections to the original Church of Jesus Christ, the one that Christ established while he walked the earth. I plan to write a post on each of these articles. The articles 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.