living your faith
means
breaking the law.
The Story
Set in 1930s Hamburg, "An Article of Faith" follows Friedrich Weber, a Mormon civil servant working in the city's records office. As Nazi persecution of Jews intensifies, Friedrich makes the dangerous decision to forge documents to help his Jewish friend David Cohen and other families escape Germany.
Inspired by real historical events, this novel explores the moral choices faced by ordinary people in extraordinary times. Friedrich's faith becomes both his anchor and his challenge as he navigates between religious obedience and moral conscience.
As the noose tightens around Hamburg's Jewish community, Friedrich's secret work becomes increasingly perilous. With each document he forges, he puts himself and his family at greater risk, forcing him to question how far he's willing to go to save others.
Audio Experience
Experience "An Article of Faith" as a professionally narrated podcast series, bringing the characters and historical setting to life.
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Episode List
Chapter 1: The Weight Of Paper
4/20/2025 • 00:23:18
Chapter 2: Dancing In The Dark
4/20/2025 • 00:44:11
Chapter 3: Saints and Shadows
4/20/2025 • 00:44:24
Chapter 4: The Long Way Home
4/20/2025 • 00:10:09
Chapter 5: Marks of Defiance
4/20/2025 • 00:09:45
Chapter 6: Strudel and Secrets
4/20/2025 • 00:11:42
Chapter 7: Meeting Max
4/20/2025 • 00:31:39
Chapter 8: No Escape from Sacred Ground
4/20/2025 • 00:30:49
Chapter 9: Bridges
5/16/2025 • 00:09:25
Chapter 10: Paper Trails
5/17/2025 • 00:08:32
Chapter 11: Harmonies of Resistance
5/17/2025 • 00:27:41
Chapter 12: The Exchange
5/17/2025 • 00:26:57
Chapter 13: Brief Light
5/17/2025 • 00:10:37
Chapter 14: Night of Broken Glass
5/17/2025 • 00:22:06
Chapter 15: Betrayal
5/19/2025 • 00:18:52
Chapter 16: The Cost of Compassion
5/19/2025 • 00:12:21
Chapter 17: The Price of Light
5/19/2025 • 00:19:55
Before the Story: Faith, Fascism, and the Fight for Conscience
4/20/2025 • 00:05:32
Trailer: An Article Of Faith
4/22/2025 • 00:01:09
Epilogue
5/19/2025 • 00:14:14
Historical Context
"An Article of Faith" is inspired by documented history explored in "Moroni and the Swastika," which examines the complex relationship between the Mormon Church and Nazi Germany during the 1930s.
While the Church as an institution sought accommodation with the Nazi regime to protect its German members, individual Mormons like our fictional Friedrich Weber faced profound moral dilemmas when their religious values conflicted with the state's persecution of Jews.
The novel explores this tension between institutional compliance and individual conscience, drawing on historical records of both collaboration and resistance during this dark period.
"When faced with evil, faith demands not just prayer, but action."
Through Friedrich's story, readers confront questions that remain relevant today: How do religious communities respond to authoritarian regimes? What is the responsibility of the individual when institutions fail to protect the vulnerable?
Characters
Friedrich Weber
A Mormon civil servant working in Hamburg's records office who risks everything to forge documents.
David Cohen
A Jewish convert to Mormonism caught between worlds when Nazi persecution intensifies.
Greta Hoffmann
A talented singer who uses her performances as cover to transport messages for the resistance.
Arthur Zander
The Mormon branch president who enthusiastically aligns the congregation with Nazi ideology.
Thomas Clark
An American Mormon diplomat struggling to balance religious loyalty with moral conscience.
Erich Krause
An SS officer and Mormon church leader whose methodical brutality masks behind cultured charm.
About the Author
Justin Rich is a software engineer based in San Francisco whose writing draws from his journey growing up in a devout Mormon household through his eventual departure from the faith. After completing degrees at Brigham Young University and Carnegie Mellon University, Justin's professional path in tech paralleled his personal evolution as he navigated the complexities of religious identity, mental health challenges including OCD, and the search for authenticity beyond the confines of high-demand religion.
With a narrative voice that balances vulnerability, intellectual curiosity, and occasional humor, Justin offers readers an intimate exploration of faith transitions and self-discovery. His perspective bridges multiple worlds—from religious orthodoxy to secular humanism, from the structured environment of Mormon culture to the open exploration of life's possibilities—providing insights for anyone questioning inherited beliefs or seeking to build a meaningful life on their own terms.
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