CUL:Mormonism's "salvation by works" vs. Salvation by Grace through Christ

   The entire BIBLE points in all directions to the cross. Upon it
God's only begotten Son died that we might have eternal life from God.
Only through Christ can this separation be bridged.

   On the other hand, MORMONISM points in all directions to the "Law of
Eternal Progression". We have seen that Mormon doctrine states that God
was once a man. He progressed to become God. The same law states that
man may become God!

   Let's go to the authorities of the church and hear what they have
said, first on the subject of man's pre-existence as a spirit in a
"spirit world" prior to taking a body here on earth:

   DID WE PRE-EXIST?

   BRUCE R. McCONKIE (Apostle); MORMON DOCTRINE, page 589

   "Pre-existence is the term commonly used to describe the pre-mortal
existence of the spirit children of God the Father ... All men and
women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and we
are literally the sons and daughters of Deity; as spirits they were the
offspring of celestial parentage ... Unless God the father was a
personal Being, He could not have begotten spirits in His image, and if
there had been no self-existent spirit element, there would have been
no substance from which those spirit bodies could have been organized."

   The basis of the Mormon law of progression in Mormonism is that
"intelligences" are eternal. On the other hand, God is not! He started
as a spirit child in another 'spirit world' long ago; entered a body on
another earth as a man; apparently was able to follow the law of
progression perfectly; after death He became God in the 'celestial
kingdom' of that other earth; brought (or was given) many wives;
through sexual union in our spirit world had billions of spirit
children : The first was Jesus, the second Lucifer, the third and on
and on were to enter the earth as you and me.

   No organic difference in the parentage between us and Jesus and
Lucifer! We all have the same literal "Heavenly Father". Note how those
in Mormonism generally refer to Him as "Heavenly Father" -- they mean
just that - LITERALLY!! Just remember that they could say also;
"Heavenly GRANDFATHER", "Heavenly Great-Grandfather", and so on ...!

   MILTON R. HUNTER (1st Council of 70); GOSPEL THROUGH THE AGES; pages
127-129 (1958)

   "In the first stage, man was an eternally existent being termed an
intelligence ... The next realm where man dwelt was the spirit world."

   According to Mormon concept eternally existing intelligences were
clothed with spirit bodies in the mansion of their eternal Father...
"numerous sons and daughters were begotten and born of heavenly parents
into that eternal family in the spirit world ... There ... they were
reared to maturity, becoming grown spirit men and women prior to coming
upon this earth ... Following his stay in the spirit world, man comes
to earth in a probationary state ... receives a physical body and
undergoes the experiences of mortality .. Eventually; however, mortal
death comes upon all. The eternal spirit goes to the spirit world to
wait resurrection and judgement ... there they shall be assigned to the
glory that they have merited ... Some will receive celestial glory;
others terrestrial, while those who are recorded in the 'Lamb's Book of
Life' will enter celestial glory. There some of them will become angels
and others priests and kings, or, in other words, Gods."

   On page 12, Hunter states a basic "truth" of Mormonism, that God is
subordinate to the law of eternal progression.: "Our Eternal Father has
attained His position of exaltation and Godhood by obedience to the
great law of progression."

   JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH; DOCTRINES OF SALVATION; Vol 1, pg 12

   "The intelligent part of man was never created but always existed.
That is true of each of us as well as it is of God, yet we are born
sons and daughters of God in the spirit and are destined to exist
forever. Those who become like God will also be from eternity to
eternity."

   The BIBLE states explicitly that there are no intelligences
co-eternal or co-existent with God. Anything that exists, other than
God, is a "thing". COLOSSIANS 1:16-17 and JOHN 1:1-3 state that ONLY
Jesus is co-eternal with God as the "WORD WAS GOD" (John 1:1). He is
before all "things" and created all "things". His creation did not
pre-exist Him! God knows the beginning and end of all things before
they exist. There are several scriptures stating HE "knew" us before we
were born. They do not imply we existed before we were born.

   "The burden of the word of the Lord of Israel, saith the Lord, which
stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth,
and formeth the spirit of man within him." (ZECHARIAH 12:1)

   SALVATION BY GRACE VERSUS WORKS

   The BIBLE states over and over that we do not merit salvation
(eternal life in God's presence) by our own goodness and system of good
works from or for any organization. You need only to study the Old
Testament and see the hopelessness of a system whereby man was to live
within God's laws with the system of prophets - temples - priests and
ordinances. The purpose of Jesus coming to earth to die for us was to
make provision for our own inability to bridge this separation of man
from God and brought a new covenant. If you choose Mormonism as your
plan of salvation, you have regressed to the old covenant of the
prophet, temple and ordinance which produce only "dead works" in an
attempt to obtain righteousness on your own. If you trust the LDS
church and its prophets; here is what is said:

   MILTON R. HUNTER; THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE AGES; pg 115 JOSEPH F.
SMITH; TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH; pg 348

   "Thus all men who ascend to the glorious status of Godhood can do so
only by one method - by obedience to all the principals and ordinances
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (another way of saying "Mormonism")...
Men are saved no faster than they gain knowledge. The Prophet Joseph
described the process of going toward Godhood as follows: When you
climb a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step,
until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the
Gospel - you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all
of the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you
have passed through the veil before you will have learned them."

   JAMES E. TALMAGE; ARTICLES OF FAITH; pg 480

   "The sectarian dogma of justification by faith alone has exercised
an influence for evil."

   II NEPHI 25:23 (BOOK OF MORMON)

   "For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can
do."

   WHAT THE MORMONS THINK OF CHRIST

   LDS CHURCH TRACT; pg 32,46,47

   "Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing
power. Much that is believed and taught on this subject, however, is
utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose
one's salvation. Many go so far, for instance, as to pretend, at least,
to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we
accept Him as our personal Savior, we are thereby saved ... And no man
can pick the fruit of eternal life off the branches, as these are tied
to the vine, without accepting both Christ and His prophets ... If it
had not been for Joseph Smith, the Prophet, the perfect knowledge of
Christ would not be had in the world in this day. If it had not been
for him and his mission there would be no legal administrators now on
earth to administer in the ordinances of salvation."

   BRUCE R. McCONKIE; MORMON DOCTRINE; pgs 84 & 745

   "The second birth begins when men are legally baptized in water by a
legal administrator ... Those who receive the Gospel (Mormon Doctrine)
and join the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints have power
given them to become sons of God."

   (Compare to John 1:12 -- "But as many as received Him, to them gave
He power to become sons of God..")

   BRUCE R. McCONKIE; MORMON DOCTRINE; pg 149

   "Those things which men are directed to do to attain peace in this
life and gain eternal life in the world to come are collectively called
the commandments."

   BRUCE R. McCONKIE; MORMON DOCTRINE; preface to 1966 Edition; pg 118

   "Man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge -- (See I
Corinthians 1:17,20-23,2:1-5) -- To gain salvation after baptism it is
necessary to keep the commandments of God and endure to the end ... The
most important things that any member of the church of Jesus Christ of
Latter day Saints ever does in this world are: 1. To marry the right
person, in the right place, by the right authority (Mormon Temple
marriage); and 2. to keep the covenant made in connection with this
holy and perfect order of matrimony - thus assuring the obedient
persons of an inheritance of exaltation in the celestial kingdom."

   CHURCH NEWS-EDITORIAL; November 8,1975; page 16

   "There is only one way to become sanctified and perfected, and thus
prepared to live with God. That is by obedience to His laws. There is
no other way ... When will we learn to obey him with all our heart,
mind and strength?

   (Compare with Luke 10:27 - "Thou shalt love the Love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
strength, and with all thy mind....")

   MILTON R. HUNTER, GOSPEL THROUGH THE AGES; pgs 118-120

   "If men and women obey all the other laws of the gospel except that
of celestial marriage (Mormon Temple Marriage), they are appointed
angels ...."

   BENNET; WHY I AM A MORMON; pg 170

   "Once we have been resurrected, it will be our own efforts, and not
Christ's sacrifice, that will be the deciding factor ... A man can be
saved only so fast as he gains knowledge of the laws of God." Prophets
... temples ... Obedience to the Law ... Aaronic Priest .. Legalisms
... Dependent on our own efforts and good works ...

   Sound familiar? Old Testament in a new wrapping? Wrapped in
Christian terminology? Mormonism calls the unsuspecting back under what
amounts to the old covenant. If righteousness could be obtained, earned
or gained by our own efforts to be perfect under the law, there would
have been no need for a "NEW" covenant. If all Christ's death meant was
to conquer death - to pay for Adam's sin as Mormonism teaches - why are
the following among the great number of God's words declaring the TRUTH
of the NEW COVENANT of salvation through Christ, by faith, not works of
the law. Look up these scriptures and review their full context:

   THE LAW AND WORKS DO NOT SAVE

   JOHN 6:28,29,39,40 ... What must we do to be doing the works of God?
This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent.

   ROMANS 3:21,22 ... No one is justified by the works of the law. Now
righteousness of God is manifested apart from the Law.

   ROMANS 4:13-16 ... If it is adherents of the Law that are to be
heirs, then faith is NULL and the promise void.

   ROMANS 7:4-6 ... Died to the Law through the body of Christ.
Discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we
serve not under the old written code but in new life of the Spirit.

   ROMANS 8:1-4 ... God has done what the law could not do!

   ROMANS 9:30-32 ... Israel who pursued righteousness based on the law
did not succeed. WHY? They did not pursue it through faith, but as if
it were based on works.

   ROMANS 10:1-4 ... A zeal for God - but not enlightened. Seeking to
establish their own righteousness. Christ is the end of the law. Romans
14:1-23 and Colossians 3:8-23 are clear refutations of the point made
by Joseph Smith in "Words of Wisdom" to not drink and eat certain
things is nothing more than MAN'S regulation and NOT from God. Read and
see what God said through the Apostle Paul!

   GALATIANS 2:16 ... Man is not justified by works of the law but is
through faith!

   GALATIANS 2:19-21 ... Died to the law, that I might live to God. I
do not nullify the Grace of God; for if righteousness were through the
law, then Christ is dead in vain.

   GALATIANS 3:10 ... As many as are under the works of the law are
under the curse!

   GALATIANS 3:23-28 ... Before faith came, we were under the law - our
schoolmaster (Custodian) until Christ came. Now that faith is come, we
are no longer under a schoolmaster.

   GALATIANS 5:18 ... If led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

   II TIMOTHY 1:8-10 ... Who saved us, not according to our works, but
according to His own purpose and grace.

   TITUS 3:3-9 ... He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to His mercy. Being justified by grace.

   HOW IS MAN (or WE ) SAVED ?

   If salvation is not by works of our own under the law and
ordinances, HOW IS MAN SAVED? Just a few of the scriptures God has
given us are:

   JOHN 3:1-18 ... YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! In context Jesus, Himself,
explains that, not only do we have a natural birth (Flesh) but a
spiritual birth! "Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have
everlasting life (ETERNAL)!

   ROMANS 5:1-11 ... Christ died for us, sinners, who are now justified
by His blood. We are reconciled through Him.

   ROMANS 5:15-17 ... The free gift of righteousness by the grace of
God.

   ROMANS 10:9-17 ... Confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

   GALATIANS 2:16-21 ... We are justified by faith. Our old nature is
crucified with Christ; Christ now lives in us; we live by faith --- not
the law!

   EPHESIANS 2:8-10 ... "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any
man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them."

   Works have nothing to do with our justifying eternal life. The
Mormon will be quick to point out James 2:17 - "Even so faith, if it
hath not works, is dead, being alone." AMEN! That is not denying
salvation by faith. What it is saying is this: "You say you are saved?
Saving faith will naturally flow into a life that will show evidence of
it. Your 'works' will testify of your faith. If none, there is reason
to question whether there really was a saving faith to start with." To
quote Ed Decker in his tract "To Moroni with Love"; You do not bark to
become a dog nor "baa" to become a sheep. You bark because you are a
dog or "baa" because you are a sheep! Christians, when born-again and
indwelt by the Holy Spirit, have a never ending desire to follow the
Lord Jesus in their daily life behavior. "Works" is not an appropriate
name as it suggests payment after the work has been done. Christ made
the payment IN FULL for our sins by His blood for us; if only we REPENT
of our sins and ACCEPT Him by faith. It is available only through God's
grace for an eternal life.

   I JOHN 1:7 ... Blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin.

   HEBREW 9:23-28,10:10-18 ... Jesus was the sacrifice, once, to
perfect forever those who are sanctified.

   ROMANS 5:6-11 ... We are reconciled by His blood.

   ISAIAH 53:6-11 & I CORINTHIANS 5:17-21 ... Our iniquity was laid on
Jesus; to die for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in
Him.

   I PETER 2:24 ... "Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on
the tree, that we, being dead to sins should live unto righteousness:
By whose stripes ye are healed."

   You will never (Well, We won't say never because God may have His
plan for their salvation that We are not aware of at this moment) see a
cross on a Mormon structure. They will say call it a "graven image";
yet "Moroni" stands on top of their temples. Moroni didn't die for
them. Joseph Smith, Jr. didn't die for them. The church didn't die for
them. JESUS DIED FOR THEM, if they would only cling to His cross and
reach out to claim His blood for their sins. They're told they can earn
their own righteousness based on the law of the church which is based
on "prophets, seers and revelators" proven -TIME AND AGAIN- to be
false. Wouldn't you rather lay your eternal life in the hands of the
ETERNAL GOD; the SON who, personally, died for you - than, say, a
"prophet" in Salt Lake City?

   Our prayer is that this comparison of the Bible vs: the LDS Mormon
church will show you the LIGHT of CHRIST.

   Computers For Christ - San Jose
