Patrick Curl: LDS, Network Marketer, and Entrepreneur: Joseph Smith

I'm going to start as part of this blog to not only blog about political aspirations but also things of my faith.

This week I'm going to focus on the articles of faith.

The articles of faith were written by Joseph Smith, and lay out our 13 core beliefs.

These are the very basics that our church was built upon.

Here they are:[I'll go over each one more in depth in a later post :)]

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541

1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

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

3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4 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.

5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

7 We believe in the gift of btongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal gglory.

11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13 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 gendure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

-Joseph Smith

Image via Wikipedia It states in the Book of Mormon that we are to have free agency, and that there is an opposition in all things. In fact it is God's plan that we should have the freedom to make our own decisions.

Further it was Satan's plan that we would NOT be able to make our own decisions and instead we would be compelled to do what is right. Or in other words that morality would be forced upon us.

If we had no choice in the matter we would all make it back to heavenly father but not as individuals with purpose but as drones with no free will or agency.

Heavenly Father wants us to make choices, without making choices we cannot grow or progress. Each of us has our own weaknesses. Many of the choices we make whether good or bad affect the lessons we learn in life.

The republican party is about taking control of all moral issues like same sex marriage(I don't belive in or condone it - but if someone else's faith per se does then it's their own choice) it doesn't affect me what someone else chooses, it doesn't hurt my life. It isn't right, that's for sure - but it's not right for us as Latter-day saints or American's to FORCE other's to do what is right.

The beauty of freedom is that people can do what they please as long as it doesn't hurt another person, I believe in that fully. I believe the government has already crossed many fine lines on this matter. As long as someone is not a danger to someone they should be allowed to do what they choose.

This is how God planned it, and the democratic party is much more open to this belief, which is why I associate with it.

Another issue many bring up about democrats is that of Abortion, I am a democrat and don't support nor condone abortion, there are many of us... I don't believe in banning it either though, I believe that the situation is a grave and delicate one, and that there should be a lengthy process of education before abortion. I think there should be a government program focusing on adoption over abortion but in the end that it is that person's choice, as are all choices. I know if abortion weren't legal that there would be many back-door abortions.

What about instead of abortions, transferring the baby to be aborted into the womb of those who can't conceive? Is that an option?

There are many discussions that we could have but I honestly believe that the democrat party is one that is more open an honest and less in favor of large corporations.

What say you? Should we be compelled to be moral by the government - or have the option to choose for ourselves?

Patrick Curl: LDS, Network Marketer, and Entrepreneur

The Articles of Faith

Why Mormons Should be Democrats