Currently on the “Come Unto Christ” site, the official LDS web page for non-members to learn about the church, they have a “Summarized” list of the Articles of Faith. I found this odd as the original Articles of Faith has been touted as a short, concise list of what we believe. So why do they need to be further summarized? Using the Wayback machine internet archive, I determined that this new version of the Articles of Faith showed up sometime between Nov 1st and Nov 12th, 2016

So here is the summarized list

1. We believe in God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost. 2. That men will be punished only for their own sins and not for Adam’s transgression. 3. That through Christ’s Atonement, we can be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. 4. That faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, confirmation, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost are all necessary for salvation. 5. That leaders and teachers in the Church must be chosen and ordained by priesthood power. 6. That Christ’s Church today is organized as it was when He first established it. 7. In modern-day revelation and priesthood healing and blessing. 8. That the Bible and Book of Mormon are both divinely revealed scripture. 9. That God has communicated with and will continue to communicate with humankind. 10. In the literal gathering of Israel and the restoration of the ten tribes, and that Zion will be built on the American continent when Christ reigns on the earth. 11. In worshipping God according to our own dictates and allowing others to do likewise. 12. In sustaining the laws and leaders of the land. 13. In being “honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men.” Come Unto Christ Web Page [1]

Besides the simplified language, and the removal of about half the words, there were a few changes that stood out to me.

For article 6, the words Pastors and Evangelists are left out. Since we don’t use these titles anymore, maybe that is the reason they are left out?

In article 7. The gift of tongues, prophecy, visions, interpretation of tongues is removed. These are not talked about in the church anymore, and kind of make us seem strange.

In article 8, the “translated correctly” is removed. Is this so that people recognize that we treat the bible seriously? What other reason can you see for this removal?

In article 9 the idea that God will yet reveal “many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” is removed. Is this just cleaning things up and making it simple for a world wide audience?

Finally in Article 13, they removed “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” Of course #13 was too long to begin with, and primary children are rejoicing world wide with this change.

So what do you think of these changes? Is the church trying to look more mainstream by taking out the things that set us apart from other Christian denominations, or is this really just a way to make things simple for somebody looking at the church for the first time.

[1] Come Unto Christ.org