Articles of Faith
Overview
The Articles of Faith, originally written by Joseph Smith in 1842 as part of the 'Wentworth Letter' to a Chicago newspaper editor, serve as the most concise and authoritative summary of Latter-day Saint doctrine. Canonized in 1880 as part of the Pearl of Great Price, these thirteen statements outline the foundational beliefs of Mormonism. The text systematically moves from Theology Proper (the Godhead) to Anthropology (the fall and human accountability), Soteriology (the necessity of ordinances and obedience for salvation), Ecclesiology (priesthood authority and restored church organization), Epistemology (an open canon, continuing revelation, and conditional biblical authority), Eschatology (the gathering of Israel and an American Zion), and finally to practical ethics (civic duty and moral aspirations). For the Latter-day Saint, this text functions as a definitive boundary marker of orthodoxy. While it utilizes standard Christian vocabulary (God, Atonement, Gospel, Salvation), it redefines these terms within a restorationist framework that explicitly rejects historical Christian orthodoxy, particularly regarding Original Sin, Sola Fide (justification by faith alone), Sola Scriptura (the sufficiency and finality of the Bible), and the universal priesthood of all believers. It establishes a theological system where human obedience, institutional priesthood authority, and ongoing extra-biblical revelation are absolute prerequisites for experiencing the full benefits of Christ's atonement.
Key Figures
- God, the Eternal Father: The first person of the LDS Godhead, presented as distinct from the Son and Holy Ghost.
- Jesus Christ: The Son of God, whose Atonement provides the basis for salvation, conditioned upon human obedience.
- The Holy Ghost: The third member of the Godhead, whose gift is bestowed exclusively through the laying on of hands by authorized priesthood holders.
- Adam: The first man, whose 'transgression' is viewed as a necessary step in human progression rather than a source of imputed guilt or original sin for mankind.
- Paul: The biblical apostle, whose admonitions in Philippians 4:8 and 1 Corinthians 13:7 are explicitly cited as a moral framework for LDS living.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
The Godhead
Assertion
Belief in three distinct entities: God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
Evidence from Text
[1:1] We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
Evangelical Comparison
Article 1 uses traditional Christian nomenclature but masks a radical departure from orthodox Trinitarianism. Evangelical Christianity, based on passages like Deuteronomy 6:4 and John 4:24, teaches that God is one indivisible essence existing eternally in three distinct persons, and that God is Spirit. In contrast, LDS theology (clarified in D&C 130:22) teaches that the Father and the Son are separate, exalted men with physical bodies of flesh and bone, while the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit. This constitutes Tritheism (belief in three gods) rather than Monotheism, fundamentally violating the Evangelical understanding of Theology Proper.
Rejection of Original Sin
Assertion
Mankind is punished only for their own individual sins, and they do not inherit guilt or a fallen nature from Adam's transgression.
Evidence from Text
[1:2] We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
Evangelical Comparison
Article 2 explicitly denies the doctrine of Original Sin. Evangelical Christianity teaches Federal Headship—that Adam represented all humanity, and through his fall, sin and death entered the world, resulting in a totally depraved human nature and imputed guilt for all descendants (Romans 5:12-19, Ephesians 2:3). By asserting that men are punished solely for their own sins and separating humanity from Adam's transgression, Mormonism adopts a Pelagian or Semi-Pelagian anthropology, suggesting humans are born essentially good or neutral and only become sinners through conscious, individual acts of rebellion.
Conditional Salvation (Synergism)
Assertion
Salvation through Christ's Atonement is strictly conditional upon human obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
Evidence from Text
[1:3] We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
Evangelical Comparison
This is the most critical soteriological divergence in the text. Article 3 teaches that Christ's Atonement merely opens the door, but actual salvation requires human 'obedience to the laws and ordinances.' Evangelical Christianity teaches Sola Fide—that justification is a forensic declaration by God, granted entirely by grace through faith alone, apart from any human works or obedience (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:28, Titus 3:5). In the LDS framework, grace is necessary but insufficient; it must be supplemented by human merit and ritual compliance, rendering the finished work of Christ incomplete on its own.
First Principles and Ordinances
Assertion
The foundational requirements of the Gospel are Faith, Repentance, Baptism by immersion for remission of sins, and the Laying on of hands for the Holy Ghost.
Evidence from Text
[1:4] 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.
Evangelical Comparison
While Evangelicals agree on the necessity of faith and repentance, and practice baptism as an outward sign of an inward grace, Article 4 makes baptism a salvific necessity ('for the remission of sins'). Furthermore, it claims the Holy Spirit is only given through a specific physical ritual ('laying on of hands'). Evangelical theology teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells a believer at the exact moment of saving faith (Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 8:9), without the need for human mediation or secondary rituals.
Exclusive Priesthood Authority
Assertion
No one can preach or administer ordinances without being explicitly called by prophecy and ordained by those holding LDS priesthood authority.
Evidence from Text
[1:5] 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.
Evangelical Comparison
Article 5 establishes the LDS claim to exclusive authority. It asserts that without their specific priesthood (Aaronic and Melchizedek), no one has the right to preach or baptize. This directly contradicts the Evangelical doctrine of the Priesthood of All Believers (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6), which teaches that every born-again Christian has direct access to God through the sole mediation of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5) and is authorized by the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) to preach the Gospel, without needing a hierarchical, institutional ordination.
Restored Church Organization
Assertion
The true church must have the exact same hierarchical structure as the primitive church, including living apostles and prophets.
Evidence from Text
[1:6] We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
Evangelical Comparison
Mormonism claims that the early church fell into total apostasy and required a complete restoration of its offices. Evangelical Christianity teaches that the offices of Apostle and Prophet were foundational and ceased with the completion of the New Testament canon (Ephesians 2:20). The Church is now led by qualified elders/pastors and deacons, guided by the completed Scriptures, rather than living apostles receiving new, binding revelations.
Continuation of Spiritual Gifts
Assertion
The miraculous gifts of the Spirit (tongues, prophecy, healing, visions) are active and present in the church today.
Evidence from Text
[1:7] We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
Evangelical Comparison
This article claims the ongoing presence of miraculous spiritual gifts. Within Evangelicalism, there is a spectrum of belief regarding this. Continuationists (Pentecostals/Charismatics) agree that these gifts continue, while Cessationists believe the miraculous sign gifts ceased with the Apostolic age. However, even Continuationist Evangelicals reject the LDS premise that these gifts are channeled exclusively through the LDS priesthood or that modern 'revelations' can add to or supersede the biblical canon.
Conditional Biblical Inerrancy and the Book of Mormon
Assertion
The Bible is the word of God only conditionally (if translated correctly), whereas the Book of Mormon is accepted as the word of God without caveat.
Evidence from Text
[1:8] 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.
Evangelical Comparison
Article 8 is a direct assault on Sola Scriptura. By adding the caveat 'as far as it is translated correctly' (which in LDS usage implies transmission and corruption issues, not just linguistic translation), it allows LDS leadership to dismiss any biblical passage that contradicts their theology as a 'corruption.' Conversely, the Book of Mormon is given no such caveat. Evangelical Christianity holds that the 66-book Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, providentially preserved and entirely sufficient for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Isaiah 40:8).
Open Canon and Continuing Revelation
Assertion
God continues to reveal new, binding truths, and the canon of scripture is permanently open.
Evidence from Text
[1:9] 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.
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine establishes an open canon, meaning the LDS President/Prophet can receive new revelations that are binding on the church, even if they contradict previous scripture. Evangelical Christianity teaches that God's special revelation culminated in Jesus Christ and the apostolic writings (Hebrews 1:1-2, Jude 1:3, Revelation 22:18-19). The canon is closed; while the Holy Spirit illuminates the text and guides believers, He does not give new, universally binding doctrinal revelation.
Literal Gathering and American Zion
Assertion
Israel will be literally gathered, the Ten Tribes restored, and a physical Zion (New Jerusalem) will be built on the American continent prior to Christ's millennial reign.
Evidence from Text
[1:10] 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.
Evangelical Comparison
While many Evangelicals hold to a Premillennial eschatology (a literal earthly reign of Christ and a restoration of Israel), Article 10 introduces a uniquely American-centric eschatology. It claims that the New Jerusalem will be built on the American continent (specifically, Jackson County, Missouri, according to other LDS scriptures). Evangelical eschatology looks to the physical return of Christ to the Mount of Olives in the Middle East (Zechariah 14:4) and the New Jerusalem descending from heaven (Revelation 21), without any theological elevation of the American continent.
Religious Liberty
Assertion
All people have the inherent right to worship according to their own conscience without coercion.
Evidence from Text
[1:11] 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.
Evangelical Comparison
This article expresses a shared value with Evangelical Christianity, particularly the Baptist tradition of 'soul competency' or religious liberty. Evangelicals believe that faith cannot be coerced by the state and that every individual must be free to respond to God according to their conscience, even if that means choosing a false religion, as God alone is the Lord of the conscience.
Civic Submission
Assertion
Believers are obligated to submit to secular governments and obey the laws of the land.
Evidence from Text
[1:12] We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine is entirely consistent with Evangelical teaching based on Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17, which instruct Christians to be law-abiding citizens and to submit to secular authorities, recognizing that government is an institution ordained by God for the maintenance of order.
Moral Aspiration
Assertion
Believers are called to a life of strict moral purity, honesty, benevolence, and the pursuit of all things virtuous.
Evidence from Text
[1:13] 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.
Evangelical Comparison
The ethical standards listed here (honesty, chastity, benevolence) are universally affirmed by Evangelical Christianity as the necessary fruit of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life (Galatians 5:22-23). The text explicitly quotes the Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13:7). The theological divergence lies not in the *content* of the morality, but in its *function*. For the Evangelical, these virtues are the *result* of salvation already secured by grace. For the Latter-day Saint, enduring to the end in these virtues is a *requirement* to achieve ultimate salvation (exaltation).
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
While utilizing Christian vocabulary, the Articles of Faith outline a synergistic, works-based salvation system, deny the sufficiency and inerrancy of the Bible, reject the doctrine of Original Sin, and establish an exclusive, mediating human priesthood.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between the Articles of Faith and Evangelical Christianity is vast, primarily because Mormonism employs a Christian lexicon while attaching entirely different definitions to those words. The most critical divergence is Soteriological. Article 3 explicitly states that salvation is achieved 'by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.' This is a direct repudiation of Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone). In Evangelical theology, Christ's atonement is entirely sufficient; human works are the fruit of salvation, never the root. By making salvation conditional upon human performance and ritual compliance, Mormonism preaches a different gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Furthermore, the text creates an unbridgeable Epistemological and Ecclesiological gap. Articles 8 and 9 deny Sola Scriptura by casting doubt on the Bible's reliability, elevating the Book of Mormon, and leaving the canon open to ongoing, binding revelation from LDS leaders. Articles 5 and 6 destroy the biblical doctrine of the Priesthood of All Believers by inserting a necessary, mediating human hierarchy between the believer and God. Finally, Article 2's denial of Original Sin reveals a fundamentally different Anthropology; if humanity is not totally depraved and dead in sin, then a synergistic salvation (where man cooperates with God to earn exaltation) becomes logically possible, whereas biblical theology demands a monergistic rescue of spiritually dead sinners by grace alone.
For All Ages
Imagine you are given a free, VIP ticket to the best amusement park ever. The person who gave it to you paid for it completely. All you have to do is trust them and walk through the gates. That is what Evangelical Christians believe about Jesus—He paid for our sins completely, and we get to go to heaven just by trusting Him (Faith Alone). Now imagine someone else hands you a ticket, but says, 'This ticket only gets you to the parking lot. To get inside the park, you have to wash my car, follow a list of rules perfectly, and only use my special guides to show you the way.' That is what the Articles of Faith teach. They say Jesus did His part, but to actually be saved, you have to do a bunch of rituals (ordinances), obey all the rules, and follow their specific leaders. It changes a free gift into something you have to work really hard to earn.
Friction Points
Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone)
Articles 3 and 4 make salvation explicitly contingent upon human obedience to laws and the performance of physical ordinances (baptism).
Sola Scriptura (Sufficiency of Scripture)
Articles 8 and 9 cast doubt on biblical reliability, elevate the Book of Mormon, and declare the canon open to new revelations.
Original Sin / Total Depravity
Article 2 explicitly denies that humanity inherits guilt or a fallen nature from Adam's transgression.
Universal Priesthood of Believers
Articles 5 and 6 require a specific, hierarchical human priesthood to mediate ordinances and validate ministry.
Theology Proper (The Trinity)
While using Trinitarian language in Article 1, the underlying LDS theology (established elsewhere but foundational here) is Tritheistic.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"God, the Eternal Father"
In This Text
An exalted, perfected man with a physical body of flesh and bone who progressed to godhood.
In Evangelicalism
The uncreated, eternal, immutable Spirit who is the Creator of all things and has never been a man (Numbers 23:19, John 4:24).
"Atonement"
In This Text
Christ's suffering (primarily in Gethsemane) that guarantees universal resurrection for all, but only opens the possibility for individual exaltation based on human obedience.
In Evangelicalism
Christ's substitutionary death on the cross that fully paid the penalty for sin and definitively secures eternal life for all who believe (Hebrews 10:14).
"Salvation"
In This Text
Often divided into 'General Salvation' (resurrection given to everyone) and 'Exaltation' (eternal life in the highest heaven, requiring strict obedience and temple ordinances).
In Evangelicalism
Deliverance from the wrath of God and the penalty of sin, resulting in eternal life in God's presence, granted freely by grace through faith.
"The Gospel"
In This Text
The laws, ordinances, and institutional requirements of the LDS Church (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Laying on of hands, Temple works).
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Christ's sinless life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection, which justifies the ungodly by faith alone (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: General salvation means universal resurrection. Ultimate salvation (Exaltation) means becoming like God and living in His presence eternally.
How Attained: Through a combination of Christ's Atonement AND strict human obedience to the laws and ordinances of the LDS Gospel (synergism).
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is highly elusive, as it is based on one's ongoing performance, worthiness, and completion of required ordinances.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The Articles of Faith represent a total rejection of Sola Fide. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.' Article 3 directly contradicts this by stating mankind is saved 'by obedience to the laws and ordinances.'
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Exercise faith in Jesus Christ
- Repent of sins
- Be baptized by immersion for the remission of sins
- Receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost
- Obey the laws and ordinances of the Gospel
- Submit to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates
- Obey, honor, and sustain the law
- Be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, and virtuous
- Do good to all men
- Seek after things that are virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy
Implicit Obligations
- Reject the doctrine of Original Sin and infant baptism
- Submit to the authority of LDS priesthood leaders
- Accept Joseph Smith as a true prophet who restored the primitive church
- Accept the Book of Mormon as scripture equal to or greater than the Bible
- Accept ongoing revelations from the current LDS President/Prophet
- Doubt the absolute reliability of the biblical text ('as far as it is translated correctly')
Ritual Requirements
- Baptism by immersion
- Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost
- Laying on of hands for priesthood ordination
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In Article 3, it says we are saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances. How do you know when you have obeyed enough to be truly forgiven?
- Article 8 says the Bible is the word of God 'as far as it is translated correctly.' How do you determine which verses are translated correctly and which ones aren't?
- If the Atonement of Christ is infinite and powerful, why does it require our obedience to be effective for our salvation?
- Article 13 talks about seeking after things that are virtuous and pure. Have you ever felt the weight of trying to maintain that purity on your own?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for moral purity and virtue (Article 13)
Latter-day Saints have a deep, genuine desire for righteousness and moral beauty. This exhaustion of trying to achieve it can be bridged to the Gospel by offering them the imputed righteousness of Christ—the ultimate 'virtuous and lovely' thing, given as a free gift.
The renewal of the earth (Article 10)
The longing for a restored, perfect world without sin or death is a deeply biblical hope. We can agree on the beauty of the New Heavens and New Earth, shifting the focus from an American Zion to the universal reign of Christ.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
Because Article 3 conditions salvation on 'obedience to the laws and ordinances,' the LDS believer is placed on an endless treadmill of performance. There is no resting in the finished work of Christ. The psychological toll is a constant, underlying anxiety: 'Have I done enough? Am I worthy?' This breeds either self-righteous pride (if they think they are succeeding) or crushing despair and shame (when they inevitably fail).
Article 8 teaches believers to inherently distrust the Bible ('as far as it is translated correctly'). This robs the believer of the objective anchor of God's Word. They cannot simply read a promise in the Bible and rest in it; they must always wonder if it was 'corrupted.' This forces absolute dependence on the current LDS leadership to tell them what is true.
Articles 4, 5, and 6 bind the believer's relationship with God entirely to the LDS institution. They cannot receive the Holy Ghost, be forgiven, or serve God without the permission and mediation of the LDS priesthood hierarchy. This creates a fear of excommunication that is tantamount to a fear of losing eternal life.