Do you agree or disagree with the Fourth Article of Faith?

Question

These are the basic beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints.

Here is the Article:

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.

Again, I am looking to see if you agree or disagree with these principles... not any biased "opions" on what people think Mormons believe.

Many people ask what Mormon's believe... these Articles of Faith explain it in it's simplest form. Most Christians will see that we share a lot of the same beliefs.

Let me know if you believe this principle....

ooops. I usually add references...

Acts 2: 38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

2 Ne. 9: 23, "And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God."

MrPeepers,

I am looking for your beliefs... do YOU agree with the article... if not, what part of the Article do you not agree with... but I am very familiar with what you and others like you do... for some reason you find it your calling in life to hunt for any Mormon question and directly poke fun at it or say some misleading biased opinion about what you think Mormon's believe when you really have no knowledge or education in their beliefs. You just wish to twist and destort things to your point of view. I don't mind you having a different point of view... just try telling me about YOUR point of view rather than the "bashing" that you think you are so clever with.

Clear enough on this answer for you?

Cathy,

The defintions are as such. Faith in Christ, (I can't put it much more simple than that), Repentance, this is a principle that is used because none of us are perfect. Through Christ's Atonement, we can repent, have that sin washed away. Baptism, we are baptized as Christ was, by immersion, symbolizing the death of our "old" life and emersing from the water (being "born again") as a deciple of Christ. The ordinance of the Holy Ghost or spirit is performed by one in authority to do so, just as Christ went to John to be Baptized, as John held that authority.

Explain who Christ is? He is my Savior. He is the same Christ as you will read about in the New Testiment. He suffered through out the atonement process and died on the cross for us. He is a part of the God head, the Son of God, who is one in purpose. He is the ONLY Jesus Christ who was perfect and provided us with the fulness of the Gospel and a way to return to our Heavenly Father.

Is this clear enough?

bama... you had the right reference however it is misinterpreted. The Apostles could perform these principles because they had the authority to do so. This authority can not be purchesed or learned. It comes from God only and this is what we teach. God is unchanging. If it required authority back then... it would stand to reason that it requires it now. This authority was restored to the earth in this time. When the apostles were killed, you are correct, it was taken from the earth, as the scriptures prophesied a falling away and an apostacy. We believe that this authority has been restored to earth and that His church has been re-established. We believe we again have the fulness of the Gosple.

Answer 1

Yes I do agree... This is fairly simple stuff. I would think that most Christians would believe in a Faith in Jesus Christ, would believe Repentance and Baptism. Where you tend to lose some is with the Laying on of hands for the Holy Ghost.

However, it is explained that certain "ordinances" need to be performed by one holding the authority to do so. Were this not needed, why did Christ set up His church and His leaders in this manner?

BTW... what is up with Cathy? Does she think that whatever religion she follows that she has the "Market" on Jesus Christ? What other Jesus Christ would we be talking about? As if we just made up our own... call Him Jesus Christ and carry the Bible and study from it.... just to what?... look good?

Give it a rest already... I have seen her answers and can tell she agrees with many of the points but just can't quite get herself to believe that she may hold some of the same beliefs as a Mormon.... that all her anti-Mormon propaganda just might be just that... propaganda.

Answer 2

I disagree with the part of this article of faith that calls for the laying on of hands to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In the New Testament, spiritual gifts were given by the laying on of the Apostles hands. In Acts 8:18, a man names Simon saw the Holy Ghost was given by laying on of the Apostles hands. He not only wanted the spiritual gifts, but he also wanted this power to give it to others and offered money to try to buy this ability. This power, however, was only something the Apostles could do.

Since the Apostles are all dead now, this is not something that can be accomplished today. 1 Corinthians 13 says that such spiritual gifts would cease. After all the apostles, and all of those who the apostles gave gifts to, were gone, then such spiritual gifts ended. That is because the purpose of such gifts was fulfilled.

This purpose was to confirm the Word until the New Testament was complete. 1 Corinthians 13:10 says when “that which is perfect has come” then the age of miraculous gifts would end. In James 1:25, the scriptures are called “the perfect law of liberty”. We have now been given “all things that pertain unto life and godliness”. (2 Peter 1:3)

I realize that the Mormon doctrine disagrees with me in that they teach there are Apostles today, but Acts 1:20-21 says that an apostle must be one who was a witness of the risen Christ. No man today meets that requirement.

The Apostles purpose was to establish the church, to preach the word, and to give us the New Testament. This has been accomplished, therefore, we no longer have living apostles. Instead, we have the New Testament so we can follow the doctrine they taught.

Finally, I disagree with these articles because true faith comes from the word of God (Romans 10:17). Our doctrine should come from the scriptures, and when we use the scriptures for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction; we will be complete and thoroughly furnished with all we need. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) We, therefore, do not need any “articles of Faith” in addition to the inspired Word of God, the Bible!

If such articles teach more than the Bible, they are condemned for adding to the Word of God. If they leave out truth that should be taught, then they are insufficient and also condemned for taking away from the Word. If they teach exactly what the Word teaches, then we don’t need them because we have the Scriptures. In any case, there is no valid purpose for having such articles!

Answer 3

Actually that article does not make any sence, when I was a mormon, the mormons set an age limit you were to get babtized whether you had NOT admitted you had faith in the lord or admitted you were a sinner as of yet. As I understood it, the men only had the holy ghost thru the priesthood, uw women were suppose to be spiritual giants, but still do exactly what the men and the prophet told us to do and just have a testimony and believe the burning, that was the holy ghost for us, just the burning and the testimony that we said over and over again until we believed it.
In a REAL christian tesimony meetings, there are actaul things I have to say that God has done for me, that I can tesify to and talk about, like getting saved and taking my suicidal need to kill myself away, something the mormon faith could never do.
sorry, but I just never saw a miracle or healing when I was a mormon.

Answer 4

I'm not quite sure what is meant by "principles and ordinances," but I don't think I agree with this article. To me, the Gospels preach loving God and your neighbor along side believe in Jesus. Also, the resurrection is missing, which I would think is key.

Also the gift of the Holy Spirit (Ghost) part... on pentecost, the spirit of the Lord decended like tongues of fire... no hands required.

Answer 5

I would have to disagree with it. Which Jesus are you putting faith into? Baptism for immersion for the remission of sins is another one. The same grammatical construction we have today. When someone takes Tylenol for a headache, are they looking to get a headache or do they have one already? It is the latter. When you look at the wording above, you are baptised because you are already saved. That is the opposite of what the Mormon church teaches.

Answer 6

Nope again I cannot agree with article because of the different definitions of the words between how you mean them and how Christianity means them.

baptism is a repentance it washes away sins.

repentance comes with new sins.

plus why don;t you tell us what your concept of Jesus Christ is because you believe in a differently defined Christ then mainstream Christianity.

Answer 7

What's the deal about not wanting opinions, just a yes or no answer? That sounds too traditional 'mormonesque'.
Aren't you aware the prophets and apostles sometimes speak in opinions? And the actual translation of the BoM might have really been Smith's opinion? And the Nephites simply were a political party with a different opinion?

I wish this opinion thing would get defined better.

Answer 8

I believe in this, and the other 12 "Articles of Faith." But then again you would suppose I would, as I am Mormon.