Mormon Salvation - What Does It Mean?

 Written by John Carson

MORMON SALVATION:  

Salvation by Works - Exaltation/ Eternal Life

“Although salvation may be defined in many ways to mean many things, in its most pure and perfect definition it is a synonym for exaltation.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 257)

“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.” (LDS Third Article of Faith)

“That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins... They are they who are the church of the Firstborn... Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God.” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:52, 54, 58)

“Grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.” (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697)

“One of the untrue doctrines found in modern Christendom is the concept that men may gain salvation (meaning in the kingdom of God) by grace alone and without obedience.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 671)

“If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 670)

Salvation by Grace - Immortality

“Salvation by Grace - Because of the Fall, everyone will experience temporal death. Through grace, made available by the atoning sacrifice, all people will be resurrected and receive immortality.” (“Grace,” True to the Faith (2004), 77-78)

“Immortality - A state of endless life beyond the power of death, which is obtained following the Resurrection. All mortal souls will eventually become immortal through the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (LDS Gospel Topics - Immortality)

“Immortality is to live forever in the resurrected state with body and spirit inseparably connected… Immortality is a free gift which comes by grace alone without works on man’s part.”(Mormon Doctrine, p.p. 376-77)

”The mere fact of the resurrection is called salvation by grace alone.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 671)

“It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by his atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality.” (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697)

THE BIBLE TEACHES

The teaching that salvation pertains to the exaltation of men and women to the state of becoming gods is not found anywhere is the Bible.

What does the Bible say about mortals becoming gods?

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no god formed, neither shall there be after me.” (Isaiah 43:10)

“Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6)

The only place where it is mentioned that men and women can become gods in the Bible does not come from God, but from the lying lips of the Devil. Here we find Satan in his craftiness, deceiving Eve into eating what God told her not to eat.

“And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5)

“He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

Salvation by grace alone is not an untrue doctrine. The Bible does indeed teach that salvation is solely by grace alone and not by works.

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight… Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus… Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:20, 24, 28)

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5-7)

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works.” (Romans 11:6)

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified… I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.“ (Galatians 2:16, 21)

“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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

MORMONISM TEACHES

Salvation in its full sense pertains to the attainment of godhood.

Godhood can be gained by being obedient to the laws and ordinances stipulated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

It is only through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where people can find salvation.

Salvation by grace alone pertains to the resurrection of the body.

THE BIBLE TEACHES

Godhood cannot be attained because there is and will always be only one God.

The teaching that men may become gods originated from the Devil.

It is only through God’s mercy where one can find salvation and become heirs of eternal life.

Salvation is a gift of God. Those who are saved will sit together in heavenly places.