Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2

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Since Joseph Smith’s First Vision, God has continued to guide His Church by revelation. In some cases, that revelation has included changes to the policies and practices of the Church. Official Declarations 1 and 2 announced this kind of revelation—one led to the end of plural marriage, and the other made the blessings of the priesthood available to people of all races. Changes like these are part of what it means to have a “true and living church” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:30), with a true and living prophet, led by a true and living God.

But eternal truth doesn’t change, though our understanding of it does. And sometimes revelation casts additional light on truth. The Articles of Faith serve this clarifying purpose. The Church is solidly founded on eternal truth yet can grow and change “according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men” (Doctrine and Covenants 46:15). In other words, “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” (Articles of Faith 1:9).

Official Declaration 1: The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that monogamy is God’s standard for marriage unless He declares otherwise (see 2 Samuel 12:7–8 and Jacob 2:27, 30). Following a revelation to Joseph Smith, the practice of plural marriage was instituted among Church members in the early 1840s (see section 132). From the 1860s to the 1880s, the United States government passed laws to make this religious practice illegal. These laws were eventually upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. After receiving revelation, President Wilford Woodruff issued the following Manifesto, which was accepted by the Church as authoritative and binding on October 6, 1890. This led to the end of the practice of plural marriage in the Church.

Official Declaration 2: The Book of Mormon teaches that “all are alike unto God,” including “black and white, bond and free, male and female” (2 Nephi 26:33). Throughout the history of the Church, people of every race and ethnicity in many countries have been baptized and have lived as faithful members of the Church. During Joseph Smith’s lifetime, a few black male members of the Church were ordained to the priesthood. Early in its history, Church leaders stopped conferring the priesthood on black males of African descent. Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice. Church leaders believed that a revelation from God was needed to alter this practice and prayerfully sought guidance. The revelation came to Church President Spencer W. Kimball and was affirmed to other Church leaders in the Salt Lake Temple on June 1, 1978. The revelation removed all restrictions with regard to race that once applied to the priesthood.

As you study the Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2, consider the impact they have had on the Church. What impresses you about the truths they teach?

Official Declaration 1: The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that monogamy is God’s standard for marriage unless He declares otherwise (see 2 Samuel 12:7–8 and Jacob 2:27, 30). Following a revelation to Joseph Smith, the practice of plural marriage was instituted among Church members in the early 1840s (see section 132). From the 1860s to the 1880s, the United States government passed laws to make this religious practice illegal. These laws were eventually upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. After receiving revelation, President Wilford Woodruff issued the following Manifesto, which was accepted by the Church as authoritative and binding on October 6, 1890. This led to the end of the practice of plural marriage in the Church.

Official Declaration 2: The Book of Mormon teaches that “all are alike unto God,” including “black and white, bond and free, male and female” (2 Nephi 26:33). Throughout the history of the Church, people of every race and ethnicity in many countries have been baptized and have lived as faithful members of the Church. During Joseph Smith’s lifetime, a few black male members of the Church were ordained to the priesthood. Early in its history, Church leaders stopped conferring the priesthood on black males of African descent. Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice. Church leaders believed that a revelation from God was needed to alter this practice and prayerfully sought guidance. The revelation came to Church President Spencer W. Kimball and was affirmed to other Church leaders in the Salt Lake Temple on June 1, 1978. The revelation removed all restrictions with regard to race that once applied to the priesthood.

Resources on ChurchofJesusChrist.org

•   Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
•   Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
•   Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
•   Come, Follow Me—For Primary (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
•   “Keep the Commandments,” Children’s Songbook, 146–47.

• Official Declaration 1, Manifesto, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 361–63
• Official Declaration 2, “Every Faithful, Worthy Man”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 364–65
• Chapter 52: Doctrine and Covenants 132:34–66; Official Declaration 1, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
• Chapter 56: Official Declaration 2, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
•   Joseph Smith and the Minister, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos
• The Messenger and the Manifesto, Revelations in Context
• Witnessing the Faithfulness , Revelations in Context
•   Why does Church policy sometimes change? Official Declarations 1 and 2, Liahona – Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants

Resources on Interpreter Foundation

•   Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 50: The Articles of Faith, Official Declarations 1 & 2, Jonn Claybaugh
•     Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 50 (The Articles of Faith, Official Declarations 1 & 2)

Resources on Other Sites

•   Come, Follow Me Week 50 – Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 & 2, FAIR
•   Official Declaration 1, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Official Declaration 2, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Articles of Faith and Official Declaration 1-2, Dec 6-12), Book of Mormon Central
•   PART 1: Come Follow Me Insights (Articles of Faith, Dec 6-12), Book of Mormon Central
•   PART 2: Come Follow Me Insights (Official Declarations 1 & 2, Dec 6-12), Book of Mormon Central
•   Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Articles of Faith and Official Declaration 1-2, December 6-12), Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Official Declaration 1, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Official Declaration 2, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Hard Questions in Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson: Week 50 (Official Declaration 2/Dec 6-12), Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Come Follow Me The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2 (Dec. 6-12) Don’t Miss This, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Come Follow Me – Official Declarations 1 & 2: “Long Promised Day” (polygamy, race & the priesthood), Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   A Great Question: What DO we believe?—Come, Follow Me Podcast #50, Meridian Magazine
•   Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “The Articles of Faith”, Meridian Magazine
•   December 6–12, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
•   The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2 – “We Believe”, BYU Studies