We Believe.... Personal Accountability

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

The second article of faith deals with one's personal choice and accountability. There are many Christian views out there which believe we are all born as sinners because of Adam's original sin. The LDS church believes that because of Adam's transgression, we are all subject to sin and death but we are not held accountable for his disobedience. God has given us all the gift of agency, which gives us the ability and right to choose for ourselves. Adam chose to partake of the forbidden fruit, which caused him to be thrown out of the Garden of Eden. We all also have the ability to choose for ourselves whether to keep the commandments or not. Adam suffered for the consequences for his sin and was held accountable. Like Adam, we will all suffer the consequences for our own individual sins. We won't be held accountable for any body's sins but our own. We may be affected in some way or another by some one's decisions, but ultimately, we will be held responsible for our own decisions. I know that God made it this way so we could all be judged fairly and righteously when the day of Judgement comes.