Continuing with the "What is Mormonism?" series of posts, I now add Article of Faith #13. This is the final Article of Faith. It is as follows:
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.
Number thirteen is my personal favorite of the Articles of Faith. This final point of belief leaves a person with hope of the future. One day there can be found a future of honesty, truth, chastity, benevolence, and virtue, among other good and praiseworthy traits and standards.
I do not pretend to say that hard times won't come. We all know that no matter how righteous a person strives to be, challenges will enter life. Consider the prophets in the scriptures. They were prophets of the Lord but they still had their problems. Think of Joseph Smith, a martyr for the gospel of the Lord. It was the President Joseph Smith that said, "The nearer a person approaches the Lord, the greater power will be manifested by the adversary to prevent the accomplishment of His purposes."
But we have already "endured many things" that the adversary has thrown at us. Elder James E. Faust has given us these words of comfort: "He [the devil] can have no power over us unless we permit it" (The Great Imitator, 1987). So we strive to obtain the good things in life to the greatest of our abilities, with the hope of being able to endure all things, making life better for us and those around us.
If, after reading this series on the Articles of Faith, you have any questions on Mormonism or Joseph Smith or anything else pertaining to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ask the missionaries by clicking the picture below.
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