Articles of Faith

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Articles of Faith: Lesson Ideas

Articles of Faith: Activities & Games

Article of Faith: Songs

1st Article of Faith

2nd Article of Faith

3rd Article of Faith

4th Article of Faith

5th Article of Faith

6th Article of Faith

7th Article of Faith

8th Article of Faith

9th Article of Faith

10th Article of Faith

11th Article of Faith

12th Article of Faith

13th Article of Faith


Articles of Faith: Lesson Ideas

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“Lesson 36: Joseph Smith Writes the Articles of Faith,” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Lesson and activity ideas

In 1842 a man named George Barstow was writing a history of the state of New Hampshire, and he wanted to include a chapter about the members of the Church living in New Hampshire. Mr. Barstow did not know much about the Church and wanted to find out what the Latter-day Saints believed. Since the headquarters of the Church were in Nauvoo, Illinois, Mr. Barstow contacted his friend John Wentworth, who was the editor of a newspaper in Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. Wentworth asked Joseph Smith about the beliefs and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Prophet answered with a letter that has become known as the Wentworth Letter. In it he told Mr. Wentworth about the First Vision and how he received and translated the gold plates, and he also described the organization of the Church and the persecution and history of the Saints. In the last part of this important letter, the Prophet listed some of the basic beliefs of the Church. This list has become known as the Articles of Faith.

Joseph Smith wrote the Articles of Faith to help people who are not members of the Church understand how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is different from other churches. The Articles of Faith do not contain all of the teachings and beliefs of the Church, but they do explain some of our most important beliefs. They can help build faith, understanding, and a testimony of the gospel, and they also give us a good foundation for sharing the gospel with others.

The Articles of Faith were never published in Barstow’s history of New Hampshire or in Wentworth’s newspaper, but they were published by a Church newspaper in 1842. In 1880 members of the Church at the October general conference raised their hands in common consent to accept the Articles of Faith as scripture. They are now included as scripture in the Pearl of Great Price.

The Articles of Faith Teach Simple Truths of the Gospel.

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2”

Sometimes the gospel can seem big and complicated, especially to children. The Articles of Faith can help the children understand, in a simple way, some of the basic truths we believe as Latter-day Saints.

  • Choose a few articles of faith that you feel are especially important for the children you teach. For each article of faith, share a picture (see this week’s activity page) or a story (from the scriptures or your life) that illustrates or clarifies a truth taught in that article. Tell the children why that truth is important to you, and let them share why it is important to them.
  • Find hymns or children’s songs that can help the children understand one or more of the articles of faith. Perhaps the children can help you choose. Sing the songs together, and help the children see how the songs relate to the articles of faith.
  • Invite each child to choose a key word or phrase from one of the articles of faith and share it with the class. Then let the other children guess (or find) which article of faith that word or phrase comes from. Ask the children to share why the word or phrase they picked is important.
  • A few days in advance, ask a few of the children to prepare to share in class a short message about their favorite article of faith. Their message could include a picture, a song, a story or experience, or other scriptures. Invite these children to share why they like the article of faith they chose.
  • Write on the board some questions people might have about our beliefs that could be answered with one of the articles of faith. Ask the children to pick a question and find an article of faith that answers it. Let them practice answering the question using the article of faith.

Friend December 2021 “Articles of Faith Quiz”

Friend December 2021 “Why I Love the Articles of Faith” Elder Thierry K. Mutombo Of the Seventy tells why he loves the Articles of Faith and tells about his favorite, the 13th Article of Faith. It reminds him of how his father taught him about honesty.

Friend December 2021 “Scripture Time Fun”We Believe” Tree

  • Sing “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, 34–35).
  • The Articles of Faith teach what we believe. Joseph Smith wrote the Articles of Faith to explain the gospel to others.
  • (Above) Read “Why I Love the Articles of Faith” on page 26. Cut out 13 circles to make paper ornaments. Number the circles from 1 to 13. Then draw something on the other side that reminds you of that article of faith. You can hang them on your Christmas tree or in another place in your house. As you hang each ornament, say the article of faith that goes with it.

Friend December 2021 “Scripture Time Fun for Little Ones” Choose an article of faith. Ask your little ones to repeat the words as you read it out loud. Help your little ones say, “The scriptures teach me good things.”

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2”

Consider how your family could create “mini-lessons” for the Articles of Faith. For example, throughout the week, each family member could pick one article and find a related scripture, picture, hymn, or children’s song or share a personal experience.

Or family members could take turns asking each other questions about the Church and our beliefs and then answering those questions with an article of faith.

Liahona December 2021 “For Parents: Christmas, Gathering Israel, and Family History” Come, Follow Me Family Fun: Articles of Faith Family Challenge

  1. Memorize one or more of the Articles of Faith with your family.
  2. If you have younger children in your home who haven’t memorized the Articles of Faith yet, give them a buddy to help them.
  3. Try the following activity:
    1. Sit in a circle.
    2. Recite an article of faith, with each person saying only one word at a time (the first person starts with the first word, the next person says the second, and so on).
    3. If a mistake is made, gently correct the mistake and then have the next person say the following word.
    4. See if you can complete the article of faith with as few mistakes as possible. Then try another one.

Discussion: How can memorizing these important articles help us in our own lives? Reciting these powerful words can help us when our minds are stressed or when we are striving to keep clean or positive thoughts. Knowing these truths can also help us when friends ask us questions about the gospel. (Idea submitted by Brenda Slade and Mitzi Schoneman)

For the Strength Youth December 2021 “Fun Stop: Articles of Faith Activity” This game is a great way to help remember the Articles of Faith. It’s also just the right mix of friendly competition, fun, and laughter.

Here’s how to play.

  1. Divide your group into two or more teams.
  2. Place some sort of a basket on the ground for each team. A bowl, garbage can, or even a hole dug into the ground will do just fine.
  3. Draw a line on the ground far enough away from the baskets to provide a challenge.
  4. Give each team 13 small and numbered objects to toss at the baskets. The simplest might be pieces of paper that they can write a number on and crumple into a ball. Or it could be rocks or sticks. Just write, draw, or paint the numbers 1 through 13 on the objects.
  5. Have somebody read clues from one of the Articles of Faith. As soon as a team thinks they know which Article of Faith it refers to, they try tossing that numbered item toward the basket. If they miss, they have to run and grab the object and return to the line before trying to toss again.
  6. As soon as a team makes a basket, freeze the game.
  7. If that team correctly identified the Article of Faith, they recite it together and earn a point. If they were wrong, they lose a point and the round continues.
  8. Take turns rotating team members who try tossing the objects into the baskets. You can also try moving the baskets closer or farther from the line (keeping the distance the same for each team) to change up the difficulty level.
  9. First team to reach 13 points is the winner!

Additional resources for teaching about the Articles of Faith”

Latter Day Kids “The Articles of Faith” Lesson ideas

Chapter 38: The Wentworth Letter,” in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith,435–47.

“Lesson 36: Joseph Smith Writes the Articles of Faith,” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History

Learning the Articles of Faith

Friend January 2021 “Matt and Mandy” When a friend at school said she had heard that the church Mandy attends doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ, Mandy tells her the First Article of Faith. 

Friend August 2018 “Show and Tell”

When me and my grandma take out the trash, we practice memorizing the Articles of Faith! (Sophie A., age 7, Indiana, USA)

7th Article of Faith

Friend June 2015

Friend August 2021 Matt and Mandy have a new way to memorize the Articles of Faith—with checkers! Before making a move, the first player recites the first few words. The next player repeats it and then adds a few more words before making their move.


12th Article of Faith

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Friend November 2015

Friend November 2015

Friend November 2011 “Article of Faith 12”

Friend December 1987

The Lord Wants Me to Obey the Law.

Doctrine and Covenants 134:5

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 133-134

Young children often have rules to follow at home, at school, and elsewhere. You can help them understand that the Lord expects us to follow the rules and laws in our community and nation.

  • Invite the children to play a simple game without following any rules, and then have them play it with rules. How do rules help us? Express your gratitude for the laws of the land.
  • Help the children repeat the twelfth article of faith. Emphasize key words, like “obeying, honoring, and sustaining,” and talk with the children about what those words mean. Share with them why it is important to obey the law.

Although there are different forms of government around the world, the Lord wants us to “sustain and uphold the … governments in which [we] reside” (Doctrine and Covenants 134:5).

  • Invite the children to list rules or laws they obey. What would life be like if no one obeyed these laws? Read Doctrine and Covenants 134:1–2 with the children, helping them understand any words or phrases they might not understand. Why does the Lord want us to have government and laws?
  • Write each word or phrase from the eleventh and twelfth articles of faith on a separate slip of paper. Mix the papers up, and ask the children to work together to put them in the right order. How do we show that we believe what these articles of faith teach?

Doctrine and Covenants Coloring Book “Religious Freedom”

Friend November 2021 “Matt and Mandy”

Additional teaching ideas about obeying the law:


11th Article of Faith

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Friend October 2015 “Article of Faith 11” Memorization Tip: Eleven rhymes with heaven, and Article of Faith 11 is about our freedom to worship Heavenly Father.

Friend Nov 1987

Friend May 1986

Friend May 1986

Friend October 2021 “Matt and Mandy” Mandy befriends a girl who is being made fun of because of the religious clothing (hijab) she wears. She shows respect for the girl’s faith and beliefs.


8th Article of Faith

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Memorization Tip
Article of Faith 8 is about the scriptures, which include the Pearl of Great Price. Eight rhymes with great.

Friend February 1986
Friend February 1986

Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History “Lesson 20: Joseph Smith Translates the Bible and Other Scriptures,”  See more at link

Have the children stand in a line. Whisper the two- or three-sentence message into the ear of the first child in line. Have each child in turn whisper the message to the next child. Instruct each child to say the message only once. Continue until the message reaches the last child in line. Ask the last child to repeat the message aloud. Compare the message the last child received with the original message to see how the message changed.

  • How had the message changed by the time it reached the end of the line? What was left out? What was added?
  • Why do you think the message changed as it passed from person to person?

Explain to the children that just as their message changed as it was passed from person to person, over many years some of the scriptures in the Bible had been changed as people translated the Bible and made copies of it by hand. Mistakes were made: some incorrect teachings had been added to the Bible, and some important teachings had been left out. The Lord commanded Joseph Smith to prepare a translation of the Bible that would restore the correct teachings (see Articles of Faith 1:8).

Friend July 2021 “Matt and Mandy”


13th Article of Faith

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Friend January 1988

Friend January 1987

Friend December 2015

Friend December 2015

Friend December 2021 “Matt and Mandy”

Read Philippians 4:8 together, and help the children think of things that fit the descriptions in the verse (see also Articles of Faith 1:13). Invite the children to draw pictures of these things. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Philippians; Colossians” )

Ask the children to name things that fit the descriptions in Philippians 4:8. Invite them to keep a list this week of anything they notice that fits these descriptions. Encourage them to bring their lists to Primary next week and share what they found. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Philippians; Colossians” )

See also:

LDS Living “FHE: The Thirteenth Article of Faith” Great lesson ideas

Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “The Admonition of Paul” Lesson ideas


10th Article of Faith

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

Friend September 2015

In the Old Testament, the prophet Jacob (or Israel) had 12 sons. Their families, or tribes, were scattered across the earth. Heavenly Father wants all of them to come back together and learn the gospel.

Zion is a name for those who love God and for the place where they live. The New Jerusalem is the city that faithful people will build before Jesus returns to earth. When Jesus returns, He will be our King. The earth will be beautiful and clean again, like a paradise (or paradisiacal).

Memorization Tip
Article of Faith 10 talks about 10 of the tribes of Israel. (Friend September 2015)

Friend Oct 1987

Friend September 2021 “Matt and Mandy”


5th Article of Faith

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 Friend April 2021 “Matt and Mandy” Matt and Mandy and their parents discuss sustaining during conference. They also discuss how they can know that the prophet is called of God like the fifth Article of Faith states.

Friend May 1987

Friend May 1987

Friend March 1984  Word Search

Friend April 2015 “Article of Faith 5”

Friend April 2015

Those who serve in the Church are called by God.

1 Samuel CHAPTER 9

Saul, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, is a choice and goodly person—He is sent to seek his father’s asses—The Lord reveals to Samuel the seer that Saul is to be king—Saul goes to Samuel and is entertained by him.).

1 Samuel 8:69:15–1710:1–2416:1–13

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–18” The accounts of God choosing Saul and David to be kings can help your class understand how people are called to serve in the Church today. These accounts can build faith that callings come from God through His authorized servants.

  • On separate strips of paper, write the following statements and scriptures: the people wanted a king (1 Samuel 8:6); the Lord told Samuel that Saul would be king (1 Samuel 9:15–17); Samuel anointed Saul (1 Samuel 10:1); Samuel presented Saul to the people (1 Samuel 10:24). Ask the children to read the scripture passages and put them in the correct order.
  • Learn together the fifth article of faith. Briefly tell the children how you received your calling to teach in Primary. How do you know that you were called of God? Testify that God inspires leaders to call people to serve.

“Article of Faith 5” (May 2011 Friend) Number pictures relating to how a person receives a calling in the right order.


7th Article of Faith

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

Friend June 2021 “Matt and Mandy” In FHE the family discusses the seventh article of faith about gifts of the spirit.

Friend July 1987

Friend July 1987

Scripture Stories Coloring Book: Pearl of Great Price “7th Article of Faith: Spiritual Gifts” Match each picture to its spiritual gift.

Friend June 2015

Memorization Tip: Article of Faith 7 is about gifts of the Spirit. Seven and Spiritboth begin with s!

Articles of Faith in Action: When I was seven, I was sick with a fever for a few days. I prayed about what to do. A warm feeling came to me, and the Holy Ghost told me to ask for a blessing. I asked my dad for a blessing. He called our home teacher to come help. When my dad gave the blessing, I felt the Spirit. At the end of the day, I felt much better. Faith M., age 11, Minnesota, USA


9th Article of Faith

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“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.”

Friend August 2015 – Reveal means to tell something that was not known before. The scriptures contain many things Heavenly Father revealed in the past and events that will happen in the future. He continues to reveal things now to the prophet and apostles. We hear these truths at general conference.

Pertain means “about” or “relating to.”

Memorization Tip
God has revealed many things throughout time—past, present, and future. Nine sounds like time, so Article of Faith 9 is about revelation over time.

Friend Sept 1987

Friend Sept 1987

Friend August 2021 “Matt and Mandy”

Scripture Story Coloring Book: Pearl of Great Price Ninth Article of Faith