The word “believe” is used in the
Articles of Faith in an expository sense, to explain the substance of “Mormon”
doctrine. In ordinary Latter-day Saint usage the word has a larger meaning—a conviction
of the truth of a statement made. Indeed, the Prophet could have said
truthfully at the beginning of each statement, “We know.” Knowledge, properly
tested, becomes belief. Belief, put to the test of prayer and human use, in
turn becomes faith, which is the higher, perfected knowledge. Joseph Smith’s
statements to John Wentworth are articles of faith, not merely of belief.
They represent the settled convictions, tried, tested, defensible, of the “Mormon”
people. In that sense do Latter-day Saints read the word” We believe.” (John A.
Widtsoe, The Articles of Faith in Everyday Life [Salt Lake City: The Young
Men’s and Houng Women’s Mutual Improvement Associations of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1949], 9)