Within the Latter Day Saint movement, the "Articles of Faith" is a statement of beliefs composed by Joseph Smith as part of an 1842 letter sent to "Long" John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat, and first published in the Latter Day Saint newspaper Times and Seasons. It is a concise listing of thirteen fundamental doctrines of Mormonism. Most Latter Day Saint denominations view the articles as an authoritative statement of basic theology. Some denominations, such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), have adopted the articles as scripture (see Pearl of Great Price). For some sects, the Articles of Faith are known collectively as "An Epitome of Faith and Doctrine".

Wording

The full text is reproduced here. Later alterations to the text made by the LDS Church are indicated by strikethroughs and brackets.

Articles 1–4

Articles one through four read as follows:

<blockquote style="font-size: 90%"> The first four articles state basic doctrines of the Latter Day Saint movement. The first is often understood to state the doctrine of the [Godhead](https://bliptext.com/articles/god-in-mormonism). The second specifically rejects the teaching of [original sin](https://bliptext.com/articles/original-sin). The third states belief in the [atonement of Christ](https://bliptext.com/articles/atonement-in-christianity) taking effect for potentially all individuals (as opposed to [double predestination](https://bliptext.com/articles/double-predestination)) conditional on following the laws and ordinances of the Gospel (as opposed to [unconditional election](https://bliptext.com/articles/unconditional-election)). The fourth states the core principles and [ordinances](https://bliptext.com/articles/ordinance-latter-day-saints) of [faith](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith), [repentance](https://bliptext.com/articles/repentance), [baptism](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptism-latter-day-saints) and [confirmation for the gift of the Holy Ghost](https://bliptext.com/articles/confirmation-latter-day-saints).

Articles 5–6

The fifth and sixth articles state beliefs regarding how the church should be organized; in particular, the requirement of ordination to the priesthood and prophetic governance through the use of priesthood keys to administer valid and licit ordinances (as opposed to a priesthood of all believers). The belief in a church polity including apostles, prophets and evangelists is also stated.

<blockquote style="font-size: 90%"> 1. 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. 2. We believe in the same organization that existed in the [P]rimitive [C]hurch, viz: [namely,] apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists[,] &c [and so forth].

Articles 7–9

Articles 7–9 state beliefs in sources of revelation: in gifts of the Spirit, in the Bible and Book of Mormon, and in continuing revelation:

<blockquote style="font-size: 100%"> 1. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, &c and so forth. 2. 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. 3. We believe all that God has revealed, all that [H]e does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

Articles 10–12

Articles 10–12 state beliefs in the gathering of Israel, establishes ethics for religious freedom, and proper conduct for church members in society:

<blockquote style="font-size: 100%"> 1. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes[;] [t]hat Zion [(the New Jerusalem)] will be built upon this [the] [American] continent[;] [t]hat Christ will reign personally upon the earth[;] and[,] that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiac[al] glory. 2. 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. 3. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Article 13

The thirteenth article states beliefs in how one should conduct oneself. The "admonition of Paul" referenced appears to be Philippians 4:8.

<blockquote style="font-size: 90%"> 1. 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 [&mdash;] " [W]e 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 praise worthy [praiseworthy,] we seek after these things.

Earlier Latter Day Saint creeds

The Articles of Faith are similar to, and may have been partially derived from, an earlier eight-article creed written by Oliver Cowdery:

<blockquote style="font-size: 90%"> Subsequent early creeds predating the Wentworth Letter included a five-article creed by [Joseph Young](https://bliptext.com/articles/joseph-young), an eighteen-article creed by [Parley P. Pratt](https://bliptext.com/articles/parley-p-pratt), a nineteen-article creed by [Orson Pratt](https://bliptext.com/articles/orson-pratt) and a sixteen-article creed by [Orson Hyde](https://bliptext.com/articles/orson-hyde).

Other versions

A similar but altered version of the creed with fourteen articles was published by James H. Flanigan in April 1849 in England, and quoted in some other nineteenth-century sources. This inserted an additional article after the tenth ("We believe in the literal resurrection of the body, and that the dead in Christ will rise first, and that the rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years are expired."), and made various other changes, such as giving a longer list of gifts of the spirit in the seventh article, appending "the Lord's supper" to the list of ordinances in the fourth article, mentioning "all other good books" in the eighth article, and appending "looking forward to the 'recompense of reward.'" to the last article, amongst other changes. This version is sometimes mistaken as being the original. A significantly longer, extended revision of the creed, which contains twenty-five articles and is known as the Articles of Faith and Practice, is used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), the Church of Christ (Fettingite), the Church of Christ with the Elijah Message and the Church of Christ with the Elijah Message (Assured Way). The Word of the Lord, regarded as scriptural by the Fettingites and by both Elijah Message groups, declares these articles to be inspired and forbids changing their wording. The version currently published by the Temple Lot group has a different version of Article 20 to the version used by the other groups, denouncing cohabitation and same-sex marriage in addition to plural marriage.