You've probably seen them tucked into the back of a pocket-sized book or hanging in a simple frame on a hallway wall. Thirteen short paragraphs. They aren't long. They don't use flowery, poetic language like the Psalms, and they aren't as dense as a legal contract. But for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the articles of faith mormon history produced are basically the DNA of their entire worldview.
Joseph Smith wrote them in 1842. It wasn't some grand revelation received on a mountaintop. Honestly, it was a response to a newspaper editor named John Wentworth who just wanted to know what these people actually believed. Smith sat down and hammered out a list. He didn't know at the time that these thirteen points would eventually be canonized as scripture in the Pearl of Great Price.
The Wentworth Letter and the Birth of a Creed
It’s kinda funny how history happens. John Wentworth was the editor of the Chicago Democrat. He was writing a history of New Hampshire and wanted a sketch of the "Mormons" to include. Smith obliged, providing a high-level summary of the Church’s rise and a list of beliefs. While the history part of the letter is fascinating, the list at the end—the articles of faith mormon converts now memorize as children—became the enduring legacy.
Before this, the "Mormon" faith was seen by outsiders as a chaotic, fringe movement. People were confused. Were they Christians? Did they believe in the Bible? Smith’s list was a tactical masterstroke of clarity. It anchored the faith in familiar Christian territory (God, Christ, the Bible) while carving out space for their unique claims (the Book of Mormon, modern prophecy, and the gathering of Israel).
Breaking Down the First Few Points
The first article is the heavy hitter. It establishes the Godhead. Most of the Christian world at the time held to the Nicene Creed—the idea of a Trinity where God is three persons in one substance. Smith flipped the script. He wrote that they believe in three distinct beings: God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. This distinction is huge. It defines the "Mormon" concept of God as a personal, embodied Father rather than an abstract spirit.
Then you get into the second and third articles. These deal with the Fall of Adam. Most traditional Christian denominations believe in "original sin"—the idea that you’re born with a "stain" because of what happened in Eden. Smith rejected that. He wrote that men will be punished for their own sins, not for Adam’s transgression. This shifts the focus from inherited guilt to personal accountability. It's a much more optimistic take on human nature. You aren't born bad; you're born into a fallen world, but your slate is clean until you start making your own choices.
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Why the Articles of Faith Mormon History Matters Today
If you walk into a Primary class (that’s the Sunday school for kids) in any LDS meetinghouse today, you’ll hear children reciting these. They use songs to memorize them. It’s ingrained. But it’s not just for kids. These thirteen points serve as a legalistic framework for how the Church operates globally.
Take Article 11. It’s basically the "let’s just get along" clause. It says they claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience and allow all men the same privilege, "let them worship how, where, or what they may." In a world that feels increasingly polarized, this bit of 19th-century writing is surprisingly relevant. It’s a core tenant of religious freedom.
The Weird Stuff (That Isn't Actually That Weird)
People often get hung up on Article 10. It talks about the literal gathering of Israel and the restoration of the Ten Tribes. It mentions Zion being built on the American continent and Christ reigning personally upon the earth. To an outsider, that sounds like a plot from a sci-fi novel. To a believer, it’s a literal roadmap for the future.
It’s important to realize that the articles of faith mormon leaders reference aren't just a list of "we believe this." They are an active declaration of intent. When they talk about the "gathering," they aren't just talking about people moving to Utah anymore. They mean "gathering" people into the faith through missionary work.
- Article 4: Lays out the first principles: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This is the "User Manual" for becoming a member.
- Article 5: Deals with authority. You can’t just decide to be a preacher. You have to be "called of God" by those who already have authority. This is why the Church doesn't have a "professional" clergy in the traditional sense; it's all lay leadership.
- Article 6: Sets up the organization. Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers—basically trying to recreate the New Testament structure.
- Article 8: This one is a bit of a "gotcha" for some. It says they believe the Bible to be the word of God "as far as it is translated correctly." That little caveat is where the Book of Mormon comes in. They believe the Bible is great, but it’s been through a lot of hands over 2,000 years.
The Twelfth and Thirteenth: Being a Good Citizen
The end of the list shifts from theology to sociology. Article 12 says they believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates. Basically: obey the law. This was a big deal in the 1840s because the early Saints were constantly being kicked out of their homes by mobs and felt the government was failing them. Smith was signaling that they weren't rebels; they were citizens.
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Then there’s Article 13. It’s the "Admonition of Paul" remix. It’s long and lists off virtues: honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous. It says, "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." This is the lifestyle clause. It’s why you see so many members of the Church involved in community service or promoting family-friendly media. It’s an obsession with "wholesomeness."
What's Missing?
Interestingly, the articles of faith mormon scholars often point out, don't mention everything. There's nothing in there about temples. Nothing about the "Word of Wisdom" (the health code regarding coffee, tea, and alcohol). Nothing about the priesthood ban that existed until 1978.
Why? Because the list wasn't meant to be an exhaustive theological treatise. It was a summary. It was an elevator pitch for a whole religion. It was Smith saying, "Here is the core. The rest is the 'meat' that comes after the 'milk.'"
Real-World Impact on Member Identity
When you talk to a member of the Church, these articles often bubble up in their speech without them realizing it. When they talk about "personal revelation," they are leaning on Article 9, which says God will "yet reveal many great and important things." This idea that the heavens aren't closed is the engine that drives the whole Church. It allows for change. It’s why they have a living Prophet today.
Without Article 9, the religion would be a museum piece. Because of Article 11, they tend to be big supporters of constitutional law and religious liberty. These aren't just dusty sentences. They are the scaffolding.
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Misconceptions and Nuance
A lot of people think the Articles of Faith are like the Ten Commandments—rules you have to follow. Not really. They are beliefs. You don't "do" Article 1; you accept it.
There's also a misconception that the "translated correctly" part of Article 8 is a way to dismiss parts of the Bible they don't like. In reality, the Church uses the King James Version almost exclusively in English-speaking areas. They study it deeply. The caveat is more about acknowledging that human error exists in transcription and translation over millennia. It’s a scholarly take wrapped in a religious one.
How to Use This Knowledge
If you’re trying to understand your LDS neighbors or researching the faith for a project, don't start with the complicated history of polygamy or the exodus to Utah. Start with these thirteen points. They tell you how the "Mormon" mind is organized.
They prioritize order (Article 5), personal growth (Article 3), and an open-ended future (Article 9).
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to go deeper than just reading a list, here is how to actually digest the articles of faith mormon context:
- Read the Wentworth Letter in full. Don't just look at the 13 points. Read the history Smith wrote before them. It provides the "why" behind the "what." You can find it in the Joseph Smith Papers project online.
- Compare Article 1 with the Nicene Creed. If you want to understand the divide between Latter-day Saints and traditional Christianity, this is the ground zero. Look at the language of "substance" vs. "person."
- Look for Article 13 in action. Watch how the Church handles humanitarian aid or how members interact with their local communities. You’ll see that "seeking after things of good report" isn't just a catchy phrase; it’s a budget line item and a weekend service project.
- Check out the Pearl of Great Price. If you want to see where these live as scripture, grab a copy. They are right at the end. Reading the surrounding text (like the Book of Moses) gives you a sense of the cosmic scale Smith was working with.
The Articles of Faith aren't just a historical artifact. They are a living document that continues to shape the behavior of millions of people. They are simple, yes. But simple things are often the most powerful. They provide a sense of certainty in an uncertain world, and for a believer, that’s worth more than any long-winded theological debate.