Introduction
An understanding of what God requires is essential for
believers. Various faiths and
denominations teach widely different doctrines that have been at the center of
religious debate for centuries. Those
without a correct understanding of God’s expectations are at a serious
disadvantage, as it is difficult to achieve that which one does not strive for
or recognize as a necessary goal.
Scriptures teach clearly what God requires for us to be saved.
Do Many Paths Lead to God?
Some claim that “many paths lead to God” and that an
individual can achieve salvation by following basically good principles of any
religion, making the choice of denomination insignificant. Certainly those who live up to an incomplete
set of principles tower spiritually over those who are in possession of greater
truth but do not live by it (Jacob 3:5-9).
Christ teaches that with greater knowledge comes greater accountability:
“But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten
with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more”
(Luke 12:48).
The Book of Mormon teaches that “the Lord doth grant
unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in
wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the
Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true” (Alma
29:8). Those of other faiths who honor
their consciences and earnestly seek truth are able to use the positive aspects
of their faith as stepping stones to acceptance of the restored Church of Jesus
Christ.
The claims of thousands of different churches and
faiths cannot all simultaneously be correct. While other faiths offer different
degrees of truth, they lack the fullness of the gospel found in the “only true
and living church on the face of all the earth” (D&C 1:30). God is a God of order and has established
laws by which all will be judged. A
variety of paths may allow a person to avoid some egregious sins and make
limited spiritual progress, but lack the full truths and ordinances necessary
for us to more fully follow Christ’s commandments.
For those who wish to do right, there are great
spiritual advantages to having the full gospel.
Paul explains that the advantage of those with access to God’s word
through living prophets is “much every way: chiefly, because that unto them
were committed the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2). Christ proclaims: “I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). He taught that “Enter ye in at the strait
gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is]
the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew
7:13-14). If our goal is something other
than eternal life, any path will do, but there is only one path that leads back
to our Heavenly Father.
False Doctrines on Salvation
“The Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook,” a
manual widely used by many Protestant and Evangelical faiths, claims that all
those who state that they accept Christ are saved, and that no one is
authorized to add anything to this requirement for salvation. Those literate in scripture find clear
teachings contradicting such Evangelical and “born again” views that trivialize
or reject God’s commandments.
First, the scriptures are replete with statements that
sinners will not inherit the
Second, Evangelical beliefs neglect the power of
repentance. While all have fallen short
of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and we sometimes make mistakes despite our
best efforts, the power of the atonement allows us to repent. It is only through Christ’s grace that
repentance is possible, as otherwise the law would exact full punishment. To
deny the necessity and power of repentance is to deny Christ’s word (Matthew
4:17, 9:13, etc).
Finally, the belief that salvation is an event
achieved by claiming to accept Christ rather than a lifelong process
contradicts the repeated teachings of the Savior that only those who “endure to
the end” are saved (Matthew 10:22, 24:13).
Those who initially receive the word under favorable circumstances but
fall away when trials arise will not be saved (Matthew 13:3-30).
Much more is required to pass the final judgment than
simply claiming to accept Christ as a one-time event. The reader can judge for
himself or herself who is authorized to define the conditions of salvation –
Jesus Christ, or Billy Graham and other evangelicals. Christ taught: “Search the scriptures, for in
them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me”
(John 5:39).
Life is a Test
This life is a “probationary state; a time to prepare
to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of
by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead” (
Accountability
All those of accountable age will be judged according
to their obedience to God’s commandments.
Alma states: “Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all
men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good
and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good
or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience” (Alma 29:5). With greater knowledge and opportunities
comes greater accountability (Luke 12:48).
Small children are not accountable and do not require baptism. Mormon instructs: “Behold I say unto you that
this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable
and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be
baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be
saved with their little children…But little children are alive in Christ, even
from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a
changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have
died without baptism!” (
Degrees of Salvation
Ancient and modern scripture teach that there are
different degrees of salvation. Christ
taught: “In my father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2). Paul taught: “There are also celestial
bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the
glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another
glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from
another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in
corruption; it is raised in incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:40-42).
The degree to which we benefit from atonement will
depend on our obedience. The term
eternal life is used to describe only the highest degree of salvation, where
families will be together and we will receive a fullness of joy.
Removing Barriers to God
When the rich young man asked Christ, “what good thing
shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Christ replied: “if thou wilt enter
into life, keep the commandments.” After
answering that he had observed specific commandments, the young man asked:
“what lack I yet?” Jesus replied: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that
thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and
come and follow me.” The scripture records that the young man could not part with
his possessions and went away sorrowing (Matthew 19:16-21).
It is not enough to avoid major sin; we must place
Christ first in our lives. Many
otherwise good people fall short of salvation because of being unwilling to
give up a favorite sin or make a required sacrifice. The most important commandment for us is the
one that we have the most trouble with, as if not overcome, it will limit our
eternal progress. Jesus taught: “Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with
all thy mind. This is the first and
great commandment. And the second is
like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law
and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). When we love and serve God with all of
our heart, soul, and mind, it is easy for us to make the necessary sacrifices.
Keep the Commandments
Christ taught: “If ye love me, keep my commandments”
(John 14:15). Those who stray from the commandments grow cold and lose their
love of God. Christ taught: “If you keep
not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you,
therefore you shall walk in darkness” (D&C 95:12).
Scriptures teach that “no man receiveth a fulness
unless he keepeth his commandments” (D&C 93:27). The prophet Alma taught, “Have ye walked,
keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die
at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That
your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ,
who will come to redeem his people from their sins? Behold, are ye stripped of
pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye
must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an
one hath not eternal life. Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not
stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would
that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth
not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless” (Alma
5:27-29).
The Book of Mormon teaches: “No unclean thing can
inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye
inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins” (
Gospel Ordinances
Gospel ordinances are required for salvation. Jesus taught: “Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter
into the
All Expected to Come to Christ in His Church
All are expected to come to Christ in His Church, even
with varying backgrounds and difficult personal situations. Christ taught: “And the whole world lieth in
sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin. And by this you may know they are under the
bondage of sin, because they come not unto me. For whoso cometh not unto me is
under the bondage of sin. And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted
with my voice, and is not of me. And by
this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world
groaneth under sin and darkness even now” (D&C 84:39-53).
Continuing Progress
Jesus taught: “man shall not live by bread alone, but
by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Yet many faiths today claim to accept certain
truths while rejecting others. Jews
recognize the Old Testament law and prophets as containing God’s words, while
sectarian Christians claim to accept the Old and New Testament while rejecting
the possibility of additional scripture.
Latter-day Saints recognize that God loves all his children, not just
those who lived in ancient
God’s word is given to us
according to our heed and diligence (
Perfection
Christ commanded his disciples, “be ye therefore
perfect, even as your father which is in
heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Many
individuals view this as an impossible task, but such views are founded in a
misunderstanding of the word perfection as used in a gospel sense. The Greek word “teleos” translated as
“perfection” in the King James bible means whole or complete. It does not imply limitless understanding or
flawless mastery, but rather that we become whole in Christ and fill the
measure of our creation. To become
whole, we must repent of our sins and obey God’s laws. In this sense, Antoine de St. Exupery stated:
“perfection is achieved not when there is nothing left to add, but when there
is nothing left to take away.” Moroni
teaches how this perfection can be achieved: “Come unto Christ, and be
perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny
yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and
strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be
perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can
in nowise deny the power of God” (Moroni 10:32).
Endure to the End
God will evaluate current and past performance in
light of future actions. The Book of
Mormon prophet King Benjamin teaches that we must live righteously to “always
retain a remission of your sins” (Mosiah 4:11-12). John admonishes, “Look to yourselves, that we
lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward”
(2 John 1:8), while the Doctrine and Covenants admonishes us to “pray always,
lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward” (D&C 31:12). The Lord states: “unto that soul who sinneth
shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God” (D&C 82:7). When an individual returns to sin, any prior
remission of his sins is lost. This is
because the repentance includes forsaking the sin from that time forward, and
return to sinning demonstrates that prior repentance was incomplete.
Our current actions affect not only the present, but
the future. Every choice we make,
whether right or wrong, make us more likely to repeat that same choice in the
future, until patterns become habit and habit becomes character. Choice is therefore a transient gift, and the
value of the opportunity to choose to do right in each moment is immeasurable
and far exceeds our present vision.
There is a cumulative benefit to living God’s
word. The reward for acting righteously
for the hundredth or thousandth time is much greater than the first time. As we
obey God’s commandments in spite of trials and endure to the end, we
demonstrate that the commandments are “written in our hearts” and have become
part of our nature in harmony with God’s covenant: “I will put my law in their
inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they
shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
God Strengthens the Faithful
The Book of Mormon teaches: “if it so be that the
children of men keep the commandments of God, he doth nourish them, and
strengthen them, and provide a means whereby they can accomplish the thing
which he has commanded them” (1 Nephi 17:3).
God promises that his grace will be sufficient for the trials we are
called to face. God will not always take
away our burdens, but if we turn to him, he can make them light: “I will also
ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel
them upon your backs” (Mosiah 24:14).
Christ grants the faithful his peace (John 14:27) and the gift of the
Holy Spirit. Scriptures teach: “he that
is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of
heaven” (D&C 58:2).
Human Debt to God is Immeasurable
Man is the only one of God’s creations that does not
always obey His laws. The Book of Mormon
teaches: “How great is the nothingness of the children of men; yea, even they
are less than the dust of the earth. For
behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the dividing
asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God” (Helaman
12:7-8). Man has nothing to boast of in
himself. King Benjamin taught: “And now
I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye
are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of
the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you” (Mosiah 2:25). After seeing a vision of the worlds and the
eternities, Moses stated: “man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed”
(Moses 1:10). It is only in and through
Christ that man can overcome the burden of sin and receive eternal life, the
greatest of all of the gifts of God.
God’s love for us is so great we represent the central purpose of His
work: “For this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal
life of man” (Moses 1:39).
We will be in God’s debt forever (Mosiah 2:20-24). When we obey God’s commands, they glory belongs to God alone as we are only doing our duty and can merit nothing of ourselves. Jesus taught: “Which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do” (Luke 17:7-10).