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Wednesday, September 3, 2008

WE BELIEVE: Fourth & Fifth Articles of Faith


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The fourth and fifth articles refer to our belief in the first principles of the gospel. They are faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance. We also learn that the first ordinances of the gospel are baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. These ordinances are bestowed by men “called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those” who have the authority to administer them (A of F 5).

We believe that from the very beginning the Lord established a plan for His children on earth. He would, in times and seasons, have the priesthood on earth to bless mankind with the authority to perform the sacred ordinances that would prove man’s obedience to His will. There were tests to be conducted as we progressed in each step towards achieving God’s greatest gift, the gift of life eternal. Fundamental, then, is having faith in His plan, in His law, to be clean and holy and to repent of our sins, and to partake of the sacred ordinance of baptism required for admission into His celestial kingdom. And after baptism to be given the great gift, that Comforter, to abide with us, to lead and guide and direct us as we progress through mortality—all of these done under the authority given to mankind from God. Each man who officiates can trace that authority directly back to the Lord Himself, who bestowed that right on mankind. by Elder L. Tom Perry

My Thoughts:
Christ's Church, as organized by himself, has outlined the way we are to live and how to be. He established that we must first have Faith in Him and then repent, because of that faith; he then said that with that repentance be baptized by immersion and then receive the Holy Ghost. All this was to be done by someone who had the authority given to him from God in order to do God's work in God's Church. Not just anyone could do it, he MUST have the authority to do so. These principles, faith and repentance and these ordinances, baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost, has been established as the pattern we must follow to put us on the path back to God.

To me there is so much comfort in knowing what I must do. There is no confusion in the matter and that I so much appreciate. It is very clear and concise, no questions at all. It all begins with a Belief or Faith in the One who is mighty to save, our Savior Jesus Christ!

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