I’m starting a new series. Whereas the majority of my posts have been about topics spoken in General Conference. This series will focus on the 13 Articles of Faith found in The Pearl of Great Price.
What are the Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? What inspired them to be written? When were they canonized? Why are they important in understanding the beliefs and doctrine of the church?
What are the Articles of Faith?
The Articles of Faith are 13 statements describing the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the Spring of 1842, Joseph Smith received a request from John Wentworth, the editor of the Chicago Democrat. The request was for a history of the church and a description of the church’s beliefs. Joseph complied with the request, but Wentworth never published the letter. The church published it in The Times and Seasons in 1842. Read the letter in full here.
When and where were they canonized?
The Articles of Faith are part of The Pearl of Great Price. They were published in the first edition of The Pearl of Great Price. The edition was published in the British mission. In 1880, The Pearl of Great Price was canonized, and the Articles of Faith became part of the church’s doctrine.
Why are they important?
The Articles of Faith are 13 short statements describing what we believe as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They touch on topics such as God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost, Adam, the Atonement, principles and ordinances of the gospel, church organization, freedom of religion, and more.
These statements, given by inspiration to the prophet Joseph Smith, are easily understandable by members and non-members alike. They express the church’s basic beliefs.
Joseph Smith taught: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 121). The Articles of Faith succinctly describe the appendages referenced by Joseph.
What do the Articles of Faith mean to me?
For me, the Articles of Faith are anchors which I can hold on to when life gets hard. If I don’t feel worthy, I can look at the third Article of Faith and know that through Jesus Christ’s Atonement, I can be saved. If I fear the future, the ninth Article of Faith reminds me that God still has much to reveal and that when the time is right, He will reveal it.
Come with me on this journey as I look at the 13 Articles of Faith. I will explain the meaning of each one and what that belief means to me. Along the way, I hope that readers will gain a better knowledge of what Latter-day Saints believe, which supports Joseph Smith’s statement regarding appendages to our religion’s fundamental principles.
Whether By Mine Own Voice 
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