Mormonism

The Articles of Faith

In March 1841, Joseph Smith—the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints—wrote a short statement in reply to a newspaper's request that he explain Mormonism. Part of his reply outlined 13 [Page 294]of the church's core tenets, which are now known as The Articles of Faith. While The Articles of Faith are best understood when considered as a whole, two in particular capture the essence of Mormonism: first, belief in Jesus Christ as the literal and atoning Son of God; and, second, belief in the modern-day restoration of the church that Christ organized during His mortal ministry.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ

At the very core of Mormonism, one finds belief in Jesus Christ as the Redeemer and Savior of mankind. However, in order to fully understand the Mormon conception of Christ's role and its centrality to Mormonism, one must first understand Mormons'“Plan of Salvation.”

The Plan of Salvation is a summary of the origin, purpose, and final destiny of mankind. Mormons believe that all human beings are God's children, and that they lived in His presence before their birth into this world. In this pre-Earth life, certain differences distinguished God from His children. First, His children existed as spiritual beings who lacked a physical body. Because of this, spiritual progression would be impeded, as they would not have the opportunity to learn to let spiritual desires override carnal desires. Second, they lacked the knowledge gained by experiencing mortality and learning to choose good over evil.

Because of God's love for His children, He implemented a plan that would allow them to gain a physical body and experience mortality. This would, in turn, provide an opportunity for God's children to grow and progress further than if they had remained in the premortal world. This plan was taught to all of God's children in the pre-Earth life, and all were given the opportunity to accept or reject it.

Knowledge of the premortal life would be withheld from God's children as they entered mortality so that each could learn to distinguish between good and evil without the aid of a clear memory of their divine origin. However, in learning to choose good, it was inevitable that mistakes would be made. Sin would make God's children unworthy to return to His presence unless they were first cleansed.

The introduction of mortality into the world and the consequence of sin are illustrated in the Genesis account of Adam and Eve. By eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve transgressed against one of God's laws, and were consequently cast out of the Garden. Thus they became mortal, and physical death entered the world. In addition, they were separated from the presence of God—a separation that Mormons describe as a “spiritual death.”

It is important to understand the relationship between Adam's transgression and its effect on his posterity in Mormon theology. The second article of faith states, “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression” (Intellectual Reserve, 1981). Therefore, the fault for Adam's action is not shared with his posterity. However, the effects that Adam introduced into the world are.

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