The 11th article of faith

[Anonymous]

I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit lately. The 11th article of faith says,

“We claim the priveledge of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience and allow all men the same privledge, let them worship how where or what they may.”

It doesn’t say the dictates of our own bishops conscience, our own apostles conscience, or even our own prophets conscience. It says our own. I just feel like this is something that we are lacking in our current church structure, and maybe that we even forget as a church that we have that privledge. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

When I get asked about my stance in the church I like to reply, “I am a 3rd Nephi 18:22-25, Alma 33, 11th article of faith gal.”

I don’t get to say it often, but I do try to reference these in public discourse because I believe the repetition will begin to re kindle the far reaching potential of the church as it moves forward.

I also like to push the envelope on the 3rd Nephi passage with the comment that we love to recite – “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded. Verse 25 the Savior states that verses 22-24 are a commandment, he also points out how he practices this himself.

I have also decided that if I expect the church to be a certain way – then I better be that way myself – inwardly and outwardly. I find that hard because I love to fix “latter-day saint” things.

Clearly I have a ways to go before I exemplify my stance.

[Anonymous]

HSAB wrote:

I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit lately. The 11th article of faith says,

“We claim the priveledge of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience and allow all men the same privledge, let them worship how where or what they may.”

It doesn’t say the dictates of our own bishops conscience, our own apostles conscience, or even our own prophets conscience. It says our own. I just feel like this is something that we are lacking in our current church structure, and maybe that we even forget as a church that we have that privledge. Thoughts?

I think the church feels that way except the 11th article forgot the part, “as long as you don’t step on my toes”, or “just keep it to yourself, then it’s oaky”

Today I feel annoyed so my response will probably reflect that.

[Anonymous]

I have said often, in lots of settings (including multiple threads here), that I believe that Article of Faith is universal – inside and outside the LDS Church. In many ways, for me, it’s the most fundamental statement ever spoken by any prophet in the history of the world. It’s one of my favorite statements within “pure Mormonism”.

I think there is an assumption by most members that “we” refers to the Church as a collective body, but I don’t read it that way, given the use of the term “all men, everywhere” having the same privilege.

I also take it as a near command – that I must worship according to the dictates of my own conscience and that I will be judged almost exclusively by that standard and almost nothing else, since I define “worship” to include my actions toward my spiritual brothers and sisters and not just God, individually.

[Author]

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