Lesson 36: Joseph Smith Writes the Articles of Faith

“Lesson 36: Joseph Smith Writes the Articles of Faith,” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, (1997),204

To strengthen the children’s desire to understand and

memorize the Articles of Faith.

Purpose

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OUR OPENING PRAYER WILL BE GIVEN BY

►What kind of mathematics are you studying in school?

►Why might this problem be difficult for you to solve?

a2 + b2 = 25

►Before you can do algebra problems, what do you first need to learn?

a2 + b2 = 25

►Before you learn how to do algebra problems, you need to learn basic mathematical principles.

►Similarly, to learn and understand the gospel, we must first learn the basic principles of the gospel.

►The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote thirteen statements that briefly summarize some of the basic principles and beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

►Members of the Church and others who are learning about the Church can study these statements to help them understand and remember the basic beliefs of the Church.

What are these thirteen statements called?

What letter comes next in this sequence?

O T T F F S S E N T E T

The letters are the first letters of the words “one,” “two,” “three,” and so on through

“twelve.”

O T T F F S S E N T E T

The next letter in the sequence would be T for “thirteen.”

O T T F F S S E N T E T T

Just like understanding the patten of these letters lets you

determine the next letter, Understanding the Articles of Faith with help you to grow

your testimony and understanding of the church.

This is what today’s lesson is about.

Lesson 36: Joseph Smith Writes the Articles of Faith

“Lesson 36: Joseph Smith Writes the Articles of Faith,” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, (1997),204

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In 1842 a man named George Barstow was writing a history of the

state of New Hampshire, and he wanted to include a chapter about

the members of the Church living in New Hampshire.

Mr. Barstow did not know much about the Church and wanted to find

out what the Latter-day Saints believed.

Since the headquarters of the Church were in Nauvoo, Illinois, Mr. Barstow contacted his friend John

Wentworth, who was the editor of a newspaper in Chicago, Illinois.

►Since Mr. Wentworth asked Joseph Smith about the beliefs and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

►The Prophet answered with a letter that has become known as the Wentworth Letter.

►In it he told Mr. Wentworth about the First Vision and how he received and translated the gold plates, and he also described the organization of the Church and the persecution and history of the Saints.

►In the last part of this important letter, the Prophet listed some of the basic beliefs of the Church.

►This list has become known as the Articles of Faith.

►Joseph Smith wrote the Articles of Faith to help people who are not members of the Church understand how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is different from other churches.

►The Articles of Faith do not contain all of the teachings and beliefs of the Church, but they do explain some of our most important beliefs.

►They can help build faith, understanding, and a testimony of the gospel, and they also give us a good foundation for sharing the gospel with others.

►The Articles of Faith were never published in Barstow’s history of New Hampshire or in Wentworth’s newspaper, but they were published by a Church newspaper in 1842.

►In 1880 members of the Church at the October general conference raised their hands in common consent to accept the Articles of Faith as scripture.

►They are now included as scripture in the Pearl of Great Price.

The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. 2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression. 3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

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. 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.

6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. 7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, drevelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. 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.

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. 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.

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. 12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

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.

Discussion Time

►What are the Articles of Faith?

►Why did Joseph Smith write them?

►Why is it important for members of the Church to be familiar with the Articles of Faith?

►How do the Articles of Faith help us understand and live the gospel?

►Why is it helpful to memorize the Articles of Faith?

►How can knowing the Articles of Faith help us share the gospel with others?

►Would any one like to share a time when you shared the Articles of Faith with someone who was not a member of the Church?

►Listen to this story told by President Thomas S. Monson, when he was the 1st Councilor in the First Presidency?

►By the way, what is the first presidency?

►A man was traveling by bus across the United States to California.

►When the bus stopped in Salt Lake City, a young girl got on and sat next to the man.

►They started talking, and he asked her if she was a Mormon.

►When she answered, “Yes, sir,” he asked her what Mormons believe.

►The girl recited the first article of faith and explained it to the man.

►1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

►She then recited and explained the rest of the Articles of Faith.

►The man was very impressed with the young girl’s knowledge, and when she got off the bus, he kept thinking about what she had told him.

►When he arrived in California, he called the local mission president.

►The mission president sent missionaries to teach the man, and eventually the man’s entire family was baptized, thanks to a young Primary girl who understood and shared the Articles of Faith. (From “Primary Days,” Ensign, Apr. 1994, pp. 67–68.)

►I am grateful that we have the Articles of Faith to help us understand and remember some of the basic beliefs of the Church.

►I want to encourage you to study and memorize the Articles of Faith.

►I want to challenge you to share one article of faith with a non-member friend.

TESTIMONY

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OUR CLOSING PRAYER WILL BE GIVEN BY

THE END

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