Do the Articles of Faith have a Mystic Numerology
There is a tendency to ascribe mystical or magical meaning to sacred texts or even just to poetry.
Hence practices like gematria, bibliomancy, or sortae virgilinae.
These tendencies probably exist because sacred texts or even just poetry do sometimes have mystical or magical meanings.
On the poetry side, it’s hard not to see a lot of poetry as quasi-revelatory. For us Latter-day Saints, Milton’s Paradise Lost has some distinct hits. Or even Wordsworth ‘trailing clouds of glory.’ It’s probably no coincidence that one of the biggest ‘problem’ phrases in the Book of Mormon is a quote from Shakespeare. I myself have sometimes been strongly, spiritually caught by a line from poetry and when later told ‘that’s not what the poet meant,’ have thought ‘that’s not what the poet thought he meant.’
On the scripture side, the Savior himself repurposed Old Testament scriptures as if they had a deeper meaning than just their surface context. There is clearly something more to how numbers are used in the Bible than just pure counting, as anyone will know if they read Revelation. Nephi more or less admits that there are lots of esoteric layers to scripture, though he doesn’t seem to be a big fan.
Which is a pretty high-falutin’ way of bringing up something weird about the Articles of Faith. They kinda seem to have a number thing going on.
A lot of the articles of faith seem to contain elements that match their numbering
Let’s start with just a basic counting of elements
|
1 |
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. |
|
|
2 |
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression. |
1- men will be punished for their own sins |
|
3 |
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. |
1- through the Atonement of Christ 2- All mankind may be saved 3– 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. |
1- first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 2- second, Repentance; 3- third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4– fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. |
|
5 |
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. |
1- a man must be called of God 3- and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority 4- to preach the Gospel and 5– administer in the ordinances thereof. |
|
6 |
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. |
1- apostles 2- prophets 3- pastors 4- teachers 5- evangelists 6– and so forth. |
|
7 |
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. |
1- tongues 2- prophecy 3- revelation 4- visions 5- healing 6- interpretation of tongues 7– and so forth. |
|
8 |
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. |
|
|
9 |
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. |
|
|
10 |
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. |
Ten Tribes |
|
11 |
We claim the privilege of worshiping 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. |
|
|
12 |
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. |
|
|
13 |
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. |
1-honest 2- true, 3- chaste 4- benevolent, 5- virtuous 6- and in doing good to all men 7- We believe all things, 8- we hope all things, 9- we have endured many things, 10- and hope to be able to endure all things. 11- anything virtuous 12- lovely 13– or of good report or praiseworthy |
Of the correspondences here, 4 through 7 and 10 are very solid. 2, 3, and 13 are judgment calls about how you split up the language and in part rely on where the commas are—which means to take it seriously you might have to do historical research into the original extant copies and the manuscript transmissions. In my literary judgment 2 and 3 do fit the pattern. I’m a lot less confident about 13, I had to work at it to get 13 elements exactly.
There are also five holes. At least a couple of those I think we can fill in, and at least one of those fill-ins is going to add information, as if there were a hidden layer of meaning.
|
1 |
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. |
One God |
|
2 |
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression. |
1- men will be punished for their own sins |
|
3 |
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. |
1- through the Atonement of Christ 2- All mankind may be saved 3– 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. |
1- first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 2- second, Repentance; 3- third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4– fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. |
|
5 |
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. |
1- a man must be called of God 3- and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority 4- to preach the Gospel and 5– administer in the ordinances thereof. |
|
6 |
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. |
1- apostles 2- prophets 3- pastors 4- teachers 5- evangelists 6– and so forth. |
|
7 |
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. |
1- tongues 2- prophecy 3- revelation 4- visions 5- healing 6- interpretation of tongues 7– and so forth. |
|
8 |
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. |
|
|
9 |
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. |
It’s suggestive that we have three elements here and in Hebrew number symbolism squaring a number suggested perfection or totality. 3*3=9. Totalizing fits very well with the content. |
|
10 |
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. |
Ten Tribes |
|
11 |
We claim the privilege of worshiping 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. |
|
|
12 |
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. |
Three obligations to four types of rulers. 3*4=12 |
|
13 |
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. |
1-honest 2- true, 3- chaste 4- benevolent, 5- virtuous 6- and in doing good to all men; 7- We believe all things, 8- we hope all things, 9- we have endured many things, 10- and hope to be able to endure all things. 11- anything virtuous 12- lovely 13- or of good report or praiseworthy |
I feel pretty good about these new suggestions for correspondences, especially 1 and 9 which seem to add deeper meaning. However, that still leaves two holes.
So, was this deliberate—did Joseph Smith do it on purpose?
And does it have deeper meaning or was it just having some fun—the 19th C. equivalent of an Easter egg?
To answer that it was deliberate and meaningful I think you would have to fill in the holes and have a few more deeper meanings than I found. My gut tells me that there is too much correspondence to be coincidence but more than that I can’t say.
Probably someone out there has looked into this more than I just did, and if so I would appreciate links.
Filed under: We transcend your bourgeois categories | No Tag
[]
December 15, 2025
11 is two 1’s, and deals with believing in multiple or different of the 1st Article. 8 could be the Bible as Law, Prophets, Gospels, and Epistles, with the Book of Mormon as testimonies of Nephi, Mormon, Moroni, and Joseph Smith.
Also at present time the sidebar renders all over the commentary for me.
G.
December 16, 2025
I will try compressing it more.
Baine
December 19, 2025
What’s the Shakespeare quote in the Book of Mormon?
Zen
December 19, 2025
I didn’t pay much attention to this post at first, but on a closer inspection, you have more here than you realize.
First thought: Interestingly, the USA declared Independence in 1776 (777) and ratified the Constitution in 1788 (888).
7 symbolizes the completeness of Creation, (7 days of creation) and 8 symbolizes covenant and new beginnings. For instance, circumcision was done on the 8th day, and we baptize at 8 years old. The Savior rose not on the 7th day of the week, but on the 8th day, which became our Sunday.
Is this gematria for us? Maybe, maybe not. For us it is obscure and historical. When the Ten Tribes return, this may be massively important and of interest to them.
Second thought:
If we are going to do this though, we need to think about what those numbers symbolize. This is where it really gets interesting.
1 – Unity and Unity of God, not exactly the way the Jews think of it, but still, a strong match
2 – God’s relationship with his people, also choice – strong match
3- Three establishes truth (3 witnesses, etc) Also, divine perfection – strong match for the fundamental truth of the gospel. Also 3 relates to family, like the 3 Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, so this matches with mankind.
4- this needs more thought for the numerical symbolism. 4 symbolizes all the world. Also “Authority, government, rule, dominion, calendar, time, creation, kingdom, fullness, giving of the Torah (Law) and Holy Spirit” – I need to verify that, but that would work very well.
5- there are 5 books of Moses (Torah) – this needs more thought
6- connection, relationship – good match if I can verify this symbolism
7- completion, spiritual perfection – good match
8 – Covenant and New Beginnings – this is a good match for the Old & New Testament (Covenant) and the Book of Mormon, another Testament (covenant). Cf. D&C 84:57 where it is explicitly called a “new covenant”.
9- visitation, prayer – good match if I can verify this symbolism
10- complete congregation – good match if I can verify this symbolism
11 – not sure on this one. Sums of two numbers might work better here. May symbolize imperfection, which is a good match.
12- perfect government – strong match
13 – attributes of God – strong match
I may have to come back to this later because it is late. Symbolism isn’t always clear, and I see a lot of people claim a lot of things I can’t fully back up. Not to say they are wrong necessarily, but I need to delve more deeply.
I do not think for a moment Joseph planned it this way. But the Spirit will guide us in ways we don’t expect or anticipate.