Articles of Faith

Articles of faith are sets of doctrines or precepts, the belief in which is fundamental to the followers of a given religion and/or church. Formal examples can be found throughout Christian tradition. Other religions such as Islam possess basic beliefs as well.

In the Angiclan church, the Thirty-Nine Articles are the defining statements of Anglican doctrine. They were issued by the Convocation of clergy of the Church of England in 1571. The Nicene Creed and the shorter Apostle's Creed are articles, or professions of Faith said by members of the Roman Catholic Church. The Nicene is predominantly recited during the Catholic mass while the Apostle's is typically used for other occassions. In Mormonism, the Articles of Faith are a creed composed by Joseph Smith, Jr. as part of a 1842 letter sent to 'Long' John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat. It is a concise listing of thirteen fundamental doctrines of Mormonism. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Articles of Faith are canonized as part of the Church's Standard Works, in The Pearl of Great Price.