July 13, 2005
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What do Latter-day Saints believe?
Our basic doctrines are contained in the Articles of Faith written by our first President, Joseph Smith. I have pulled from those inspired statements the principles that I believe represent the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and put them into my own words.
We believe in God. We believe in our Father in Heaven. We believe that He is literally the Father of our spirits and is the source of incomprehensible power in the Universe. Despite such eternal power, we believe that God our Father is both knowable and tangible. He has a distinct, physical being. We believe that Jesus Christ is His literal Son not only in spirit but in body. Jesus Christ is the creator of the Earth, the God of the Old Testament, our Advocate with the Father, and the Savior of mankind. We believe in the ministry, atonement, crucifixion, and literal and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe in the Holy Ghost, which is a personage of Spirit whose purpose is to reveal the Father’s will and truth here on Earth. The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus Christ. These three are God, but we believe that they are distinct personalities and individuals.
We believe in God’s Plan for Salvation. We believe that God has a plan for mankind that began before the creation of Earth when we, the spirit children of God, lived in a pre-mortal state. The Plan of God was designed to help us achieve the happiness and potential that God has in store for us. This plan includes the creation of Earth, the Fall of man, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, a Restitution of all things, the Judgment, the Resurrection, and Eternal rewards in the presence of God.
We believe in accountability. Our God is a God of justice. We believe that men are accountable before God for their actions, words, and thoughts. We believe that men should act accordingly and follow God and the truth that the Spirit testifies of. When people fail to live up to the responsibilities entrusted to them, they are stopping their development as children of God and hindering their pursuit of happiness. Happiness comes through responsibility and obedience to Jesus Christ. Happiness comes by following the path that Christ set.
We believe in forgiveness. Our God is a God of mercy. Despite the demands of justice, we believe than men may be forgiven for all inevitable shortcomings through the atonement of Jesus Christ. The atonement of Jesus Christ is the center of Latter-day Saint doctrine. Jesus suffered for our sins so that we might repent and return to live with God. Salvation comes solely through this sacred atonement. We activate the atonement in our lives by repenting and following the laws and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The first principles and ordinances of that 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” (4th Article of Faith).
We believe in Priesthood Authority. We believe there is an order to God’s work here on Earth that includes authority and power from God. God gives this authority, called the priesthood, to men through revelation and the laying on of hands by those who hold the priesthood and are authorized to deliver the ordinances thereof. This priesthood authority was held by men anciently, including Peter, James, and John who, as resurrected beings, gave the priesthood to Joseph Smith as part of the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ. We believe that the order of God’s work includes today the same organization as the first Church established by Jesus Christ. That organization includes prophets, apostles, bishops, teachers, etc.
We believe in the Gifts of the Spirit, including “the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth” (7th Article of Faith).
We believe in the Word of God. We believe in the Bible, accepting it and endorsing it as sacred scripture. We believe that it is not the sole source of God’s word, but that the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is also the word of God. In addition to these sacred books of ancient scripture, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price are regarded as modern revelation and are endorsed as canon. These four standardized works are the only scriptures we use, but we believe that God speaks to men not only through scripture but through direct and personal revelation and prophecy. We believe that the Apostles receive direct revelation pertaining to God’s kingdom today. We believe that God has revealed his will to man, that He does so today, and that He will continue to reveal His will and work through the eternities ahead.
We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We believe that prior to His millennial reign Israel will be gathered and the lost ten tribes will be restored. We believe that a New Jerusalem will be built on the American continent, that Christ will reign personally on the Earth, which will be renewed and glorified. We believe that these are the latter-days when the Kingdom of God has been restored to prepare for this sacred Millennium.
We believe in religious plurality. We believe that people can and should worship according to the dictates of their hearts. We do so and allow all others to do the same. We embrace the truth wherever we find it. We come not to fight against or to deny the truth that is found in other religions or churches, rather we come to add to it the principles of truth that God has revealed to us, hoping that they will recognize its goodness. Religious plurality and the freedom and agency to choose between parties is part of our pre-mortal, mortal, and eternal existence.
We believe in being good citizens. We believe in a common good to society that includes being active members of that society. We believe in being subject to government and in obeying the law. We believe in the pursuit of all things virtuous, lovely, or praiseworthy and in doing good to all men. We strive to be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, and virtuous.
