The Articles of Faith and Finding My Own Value Statements

 Yesterday in therapy we were talking about finding my own scripture-based value statements. My therapist recommended I revisit the articles of faith as they are a great guide for core beliefs. There are 13- so it I spend each day going over 4-5, I will finish this off on Friday. 

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father and in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost. 

I won't be doing a personal value statement for each article of faith, but this one I almost feel like I could copy verbatim. Here is my personal core belief statement draft on my belief in God: 

I believe that God is my eternal Father, who knows and loves me throughout the ages. I chose Jesus Christ as my Savior and Redeemer and continue to trust in His grace in my life. I rely on the gift of the Holy Ghost to help ground me in my Savior and to turn my heart to God. (AoF 1:1)

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's Transgression.

3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. 

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, second; Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

These articles of faith have to do with using our agency to chose Christ and about the first principles and ordinances we chose. Here is the first draft of my core belief regarding my agency and what I want to do with this gift: 

I believe that my choices in this life matter. I believe that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I have been given the gift to choose for myself, as have all those around me. I honor this gift as I seek to be obedient to God's commands, come to know God through the scriptures, and participate in the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Joshua 2:24, AoF 1:3)

One final core belief that comes from my childhood experiences and overcoming those that we started in therapy: 

I'm intentional about only keeping objects that support my family in building a home where the spirit of the Lord can dwell. I find peace flows more readily to my heart when our home is kept free of worldly distractions. (Moroni 7:47, 1 Nephi 2:15)