The Articles of Faith play an important role in the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Well, what are the Articles of Faith? And how did they come about? In 1842, when the Mormon Church--properly referred to as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--was still young, John Wentworth, the editor of the Chicago Democrat newspaper, wrote a letter to Joseph Smith, President and prophet of the Church, who was living in Nauvoo, Illinois, at that time. Wentworth requested information on the rise of the young Church and its core beliefs. Joseph was initially reluctant to record or officially state a set of beliefs of the Church, as he believed the restoration of doctrines and teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ were ongoing--a principle that Latter-day Saints today sometimes refer to as continuing revelation. Joseph said, "The Latter-day Saints have no creed, but are ready to believe all true principles that exist, as they are made manifest from time to time." Joseph believed there should be space left for ongoing revelation from God through His prophets. Nevertheless, Joseph wrote a response to John Wentworth, commonly known as the Wentworth Letter, which, it turns out, was never published by Wentworth or by any of his associates. The entire Wentworth Letter Joseph recorded was first published by Joseph Smith in the Latter-day Saints newspaper, Times and Seasons, in March of 1842. The letter concluded with a list of 13 paragraphs that, over the next 40 years, became an important foundation to the doctrine of the Church. In October of 1880, during a general conference of the Church, the list of 13 points of belief were titled "the Articles of Faith" and were canonized as part of a book of scripture called the Pearl of Great Price. So what do the Articles of Faith say about Latter-day Saint belief? Well, for example, they include fundamental beliefs about the nature of the Godhead: "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." The mission and Atonement of Jesus Christ: "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved." Holy scripture and the revealed word of God: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God ... ; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." The future of the house of Israel and missionary work: "We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes." Religious freedom and tolerance for the beliefs of others: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege." These and many other principles and ordinances of the gospel, like baptism, laying on of hands, gifts of the Spirit, obedience to secular laws and governments, and being honest, chaste, virtuous, and in doing good. Taken together, the Articles of Faith are important expressions of Church doctrine and provide a concise summary of many Latter-day Saint beliefs--many, but not all. Through continued revelation from God, much of the restored teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ have since been revealed. One of the Articles of Faith states that Latter-day Saints "believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and ... that He will ... reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God" through His prophets--things like temples, heaven, the eternal nature of families, and more. Rather than viewing them as a definitive creed, the Articles of Faith were and are a foundation of a growing and living gospel. In fewer than 400 words, the 13 articles offer valuable insight to people wanting to know more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But the Articles of Faith offer even more than that. Latter-day Saints believe the doctrines laid out have the power to help change behavior, to help people become better disciples of Jesus Christ. God has a plan for all His children. By understanding and following Jesus, they can return to live with Heavenly Father forever with their families. For Latter-day Saints, the Articles of Faith act as an anchor of sacred belief and, paired with continuing revelation, make the path back to a loving Father in Heaven more clear. Latter-day Saints and the Articles of Faith. Now you know.