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The Articles of Faith are thirteen statements of basic belief for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (referred to as the Mormons). They were written as a part of a document called the Wentworth Letter, which Joseph Smith wrote in 1842 to John Wentworth of the Chicago Democrat. Later, these brief statements were set to music by American composer Vanja Watkins. In this series, we will examine the truths presented in the Articles of Faith.

Article of Faith 2:

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

(Articles of Faith)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news, glad tidings, and much more. It is the message of salvation as repeatedly announced by Jesus Christ and His apostles and prophets. It is my firm belief that all truth and light originating with God is embraced in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God, our Savior and Redeemer, has said that it is His work and glory “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39) God the Father is the author of the gospel; it is a key part of God’s plan of salvation, or plan of redemption. It is called the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that makes redemption and salvation possible. Through the Atonement all men, women, and children are unconditionally redeemed from physical death, and all will be redeemed from their own sins on the condition of accepting and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I thank God for giving us freedom from the transgression of Adam. I also praise Him for giving us responsibility for our own choices. He is truly both merciful and just.

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The Articles of Faith are thirteen statements of basic belief for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (referred to as the Mormons). They were written as a part of a document called the Wentworth Letter, which Joseph Smith wrote in 1842 to John Wentworth of the Chicago Democrat. Later, these brief statements were set to music by American composer Vanja Watkins. In this series, we will examine the truths presented in the Articles of Faith.

Article of Faith 2:

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

(Articles of Faith)

The doctrine presented in this Article of Faith is vital in two ways. First, it shows that God will not punish us because of the actions of another. Second, it affirms that we are responsible for our own sins.

The Fall of Adam was necessary in the plan of God. It enabled our Heavenly Father to put us in a place where we were exposed to temptation in order to prove ourselves. We also became subject to physical death. Mercifully, He provided a Savior to atone for our imperfections. Through Jesus Christ, we can overcome the effects of the fall of Adam. He provides for all men and women to be resurrected and receive immortal bodies, and for those who choose to follow him to receive Eternal Life as well.

President Deiter F. Uchtdorf, who was recently called to the First Presidency of the Church, said:

The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news, glad tidings, and much more. It is the message of salvation as repeatedly announced by Jesus Christ and His apostles and prophets. It is my firm belief that all truth and light originating with God is embraced in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God, our loving Father in Heaven, has said that it is His work and glory “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” God the Father is the author of the gospel; it is a key part of God’s plan of salvation, or plan of redemption. It is called the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that makes redemption and salvation possible. Through the Atonement all men, women, and children are unconditionally redeemed from physical death, and all will be redeemed from their own sins on the condition of accepting and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(Have We Not Reason to Rejoice? October 2007)

I thank God for giving us freedom from the transgression of Adam. I also praise Him for giving us responsibility for our own choices. He is truly both merciful and just.

MP3 Recording of The Second Article of Faith children's song