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The Eleventh Article of Faith

© Rebecca Talley

The Eleventh Article of Faith is as follows, "We claim the privilege of worshipping 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."

This Article of Faith is especially poignant when the suffering and intense abuse of the early Latter-day Saints is taken into account. Members of the Church have always believed in and supported freedom of religion, yet, the early members were subjected to beatings, torture, and even death for simply exercising their freedom to worship.

We believe that it is a right of every person to worship as he or she sees fit. In the Book of Mormon, one of King Mosiah's sons, Aaron, taught the Lamanites, " . . . that they might have the liberty of worshipping the Lord their God according to their desires, in whatsoever place they were in, if it were in the land which was under the reign of King Lamoni." (Alma 22:21) We have each been blessed with the ability to choose for ourselves. Heavenly Father has endowed each one of us with free agency, that is, the right to choose for ourselves whom we will serve. "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (2 Nephi 2:27) We each exercise that right everyday.

As we are born into mortality we are each given the light of Christ. "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9) This light of Christ is also called a conscience. Our conscience allows us to know innately the difference between right and wrong. "For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing that inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore, ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God." (Moroni 7:16) Every mortal has been given a conscience and is given the opportunity to use that conscience. When we worship it has to be according to what we feel is true. Every man and woman has the right to worship according to his or her own conscience. Micah 4:5 tells us, "For all people will walk everyone in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of our Lord our God for ever and ever."

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