Category: Salvation
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Do Christians Believe That They Can Say a Prayer for Salvation and Then Sin Any Way they Like?
En Espanol A false stereotype some may have about Evangelical Christianity is that good works are not important. Hence, it is thought by those outside Christianity that all a person needs to do is walk down a church aisle, say a little prayer, and presto, salvation is secure and a person can now live like…
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What must I do to be saved?
What must I do to be saved? By Eric Johnson In the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Acts, a story is told about Paul and Silas that proves to be very interesting. The two men had been arrested in Philippi. While they were in jail “praying and singing hymns to God,” there was a…
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How Good is Good Enough?
About a week after the April 2014 General Conference of the Mormon Church the (Provo, Utah) Daily Herald published an article by correspondent Steve Densley titled, “How Good is Good Enough?” Mr. Densley began, “The semiannual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to a close last week. I watched intently…
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What if I forget to ask for forgiveness of a certain sin?
What if I forget to ask for forgiveness of a certain sin? By Eric Johnson
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Thomas Monson’s Explanation of Luke 9:23-26
Thomas Monson’s explanation of Luke 9:23-26 By Sharon Lindbloom The following was originally printed in the May-June 2010 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here.
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James 2:20, 26: Are Good Works a Requirement for Heaven?
Some use this verse to show how works are a requirement for heaven. However, James was addressing those who claimed to be Christian but minimized the importance of works. Such a view is contrary to the words of both Jesus (Matt 7:16-20) and Paul (Gal 5:16-26). The writer of Hebrews explains that faith, not works,…
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How Can a Person Get Into Heaven?
How can a person get into heaven? By Eric Johnson
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How Can I Be Sure that I am Saved?
How Can I Be Sure that I am Saved? By Eric JohnsonIt is common for Christians to sometimes doubt their salvation and think they may no longer be accepted by God. These doubts may occur after they have sinned or struggled with their faith. At one time or another, many faithful Christians have asked, “What…
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Justification by Faith and the Book of James
When the subject of salvation comes up, many Mormons use certain biblical passages to support the LDS idea that good works are necessary for a person to receive salvation. It is clear Mormonism is a religion that stresses good works. Latter-day Saints are generally good people who are known for clean, wholesome living, volunteer service, and…
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Covenants: The (Unkept) Promises
Covenants: The (Unkept) Promises By Eric Johnson An article (with no listed author) was the main attraction in the July 2012 Ensign magazine. Titled “Covenants: Our Most Important Promises,” it describes an ordinance as “a sacred, formal act performed by the authority of the priesthood. Some ordinances are essential to our salvation. As part of…
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Matthew 5:48: Perfection
By Bill McKeever and Eric JohnsonPresident Spencer W. Kimball told of a man who wanted to make sure he had made final spiritual preparations before undergoing “radical surgery.” Kimball wrote,
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Plan of Salvation (Defined)
Plan of Salvation. The: A plan given by God the Father to allow the Children of God to become like Him (see Godhood). As a Spirit Child in the Preexistence, a person who rightly choses Jesus as Savior is given the chance to be born onto the earth with a physical body and has the opportunity…
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Is Jesus’ Grace Sufficient in Mormonism?
Brad Wilcox is a religion professor at LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University who also serves on the Sunday School board. He gave a devotional address at BYU on July 12, 2011 that has been widely circulated on the Internet. The talk, titled “His Grace is Sufficient: How does God’s Grace really work?” tries to make…
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Matthew 19:16-22: Becoming Perfect?
By Eric JohnsonMany Latter-day Saints have pointed to the story of the rich young ruler to show that perfection is required in order to obtain salvation. The passage reads: 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”17 “Why do you ask me…
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Review, The Plan of Salvation
The Plan of Salvation booklet was produced in 2008 and is apparently used by Mormon missionaries to explain the three questions that potential converts commonly ask: Where did I come from? What is my purpose in life? And where am I going? This 24-page booklet (measuring 5×7 inches) 8 pages of pictures, taking up one-third of…
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Salvation (Defined)
Salvation: Broken down into two categories: Individual or personal salvation (more correctly termed “exaltation“) and general salvation that everyone receives through the Atonement and grace. According to tenth LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith: “Salvation is twofold: General – that which comes to all men irrespective of a belief (in this life) in Christ- and, Individual…
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Perfection (Defined)
Perfection. The idea that a Mormon must keep all the commandments. Often Matthew 5:48 (“be ye perfect”) is quoted to show that this standard must be met by the faithful Latter-day Saint. According to twelfth President Spencer Kimball: “This progress toward eternal life is a matter of achieving perfection. Living all the commandments guarantees total…
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Obedience (Defined)
Obedience. The necessity to keep the commandments of God. Many LDS leaders have commented on this issue and how vital it is if a person hopes to attain the Celestial Kingdom. According to D&C 25:15 says, “Keep my commandments continually. … And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come.” D&C 130:21 addes, “There is…
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Moroni’s Promise (Defined)
Moroni’s Promise. Moroni 10:4 in the Book of Mormon reads, “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith if Christ,…
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Mercy (Defined)
Mercy. God gives a reprieve for justice to only those sinners who earn this right by keeping their end of the agreement and doing good works. As thirteenth President Ezra Taft Benson explained, “We go to our chapels each week to worship the Lord and renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament. We thereby…