Articles of Faith
Mormonism — Joseph Smith’s translations and history answered · text: the 1913 edition, edited by James E. Talmage (public domain), as transcribed at Wikisource. Highlighted passages are answered beneath the text.
1We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. ★ REFUTED
It is true that no man is punished for another's personal guilt (Ezekiel 18:20). But this Article is aimed at the fall's consequence, and there the Bible is explicit: 'by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men'; 'by one man's disobedience many were made sinners.' Deny Adam's ruin and Christ's remedy loses its ground — the second Adam saves precisely those the first Adam ruined.
3We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4We 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. ★ REFUTED
The fourth Article makes immersion an essential saving ordinance. Scripture orders it the other way: faith first, then the water — 'he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned' (the condemnation falls on unbelief, never on unbaptism); the Ethiopian believed, confessed Christ, and then was baptized; and Paul, sent 'not to baptize, but to preach the gospel,' thanks God his baptisms were few. Baptism is the believer's obedience and picture of the gospel — it is not the gospel's purchase price.
5We believe that a man must be called by 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.
6We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, viz: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.
7We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc.
8We 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. ★ REFUTED
This clause is the hinge of the whole system: the Bible is God's word only where it agrees with Joseph Smith. Where a verse condemns a Mormon doctrine, the verse, we are told, was mistranslated. Against the escape clause stands God's promise of preservation: 'The words of the LORD are pure words... Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever'; 'my words shall not pass away.' A Bible God could not preserve is a Bible no man can trust anywhere.
9We 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.
10We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon this [the American] continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11We 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.
12We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13We 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.