Monday, February 23, 2009

The Thirteen Articles of Faith

It seems that here in Memphis when I have a coworker or someone else start talking to me about the church one of the typical questions that is always asked is something along the lines of "What does your church believe in that makes it different from other religions?" There are a whole slew of different answers I have given when asked that question ranging from "a living prophet" to "the Book of Mormon". When I think about how I answer, the I answer I usually give depends on what I've been thinking about.

Last Sunday there was a talk given by one of our ward members on the Articles of Faith. It hit me during his talk that from now on when someone asks me what we as Mormons believe I don't have to search for an answer to respond with. There are 13 answers that I could give. What do each of the Articles of Faith start off with (minus the "claim" one)? "WE BELIEVE..."! I actually feel quite stupid that I have never thought about this simple thing before. Each of the Articles of Faith delivers a very simple and straightforward look into what we as Latter-Day Saints believe. They are easy to understand and do not delve into doctrine that is "too deep" for questioners to understand.

As I've pondered over this the last week I've come to realize that Joseph Smith wrote the Articles of Faith for us to have as a great missionary tool. The speaker last Sunday quoted some leader of the church (I believe Bruce R. McConkie) who had said something along the lines that we as members of the church don't know the Thirteen Articles of Faith like we should. President Kimball said that "you are always prepared with a sermon when you know the Articles of Faith." In the October 1978 New Era there is an article by President Kimball titled "Articles of Faith: Know What We Believe" that I recommend for reading. It is a great story.

With Aleece learning the Articles of Faith this year in preschool I have been able to brush up on them, but that is all I have been doing - brushing up. I should be studying them and understanding them more, through cross-referenced scriptures and other Gospel teachings. I should, as President Kimball stated, be able to always have "a sermon" because I know and understand the Articles of Faith. I have printed off the Articles of Faith at school and taped them up next to my desk for me to look over and ponder every day. My hope to re-memorize them, learn them, and know them. I hope to be able to share some more thoughts on each Article of Faith throughout the remainder of the year. The Articles of Faith truly are scripture. I believe that Joseph Smith wrote these through the power of inspiration and that we should look upon them as the word of God. They are just as important to be familiar with as the many other wonderful words of God that we have available to us.

So now I challenge you: Do you know the Thirteen Articles of Faith?