LDS Is grace a blessing?

Elisha McFarland

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How can it not!!? Grace is a blessing in all forms! If I give you grace, you will feel blessed, and vice versa. Any grace from God IS a blessing. If it were not a blessing, it was not grace.
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
 
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How can it not!!? Grace is a blessing in all forms! If I give you grace, you will feel blessed, and vice versa. Any grace from God IS a blessing. If it were not a blessing, it was not grace.
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Thanks, but I was hoping to get the LDS view. That's why it's asked here in non-Christian relgions.
 
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He is the way

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Thanks, but I was hoping to get the LDS view. That's why it's asked here in non-Christian relgions.
Grace is not a blessing, grace is a gift:

(New Testament | Ephesians 2:8)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:


(New Testament | Ephesians 4:7)

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
 
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Andrewn

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“And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.” Luke 16.26

How do LDS interpret the above statement in view of the preaching to souls in the Spirit Prison?
 
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How can it not!!? Grace is a blessing in all forms! If I give you grace, you will feel blessed, and vice versa. Any grace from God IS a blessing. If it were not a blessing, it was not grace.
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

That is absolute truth and such a contrast to what He is the way claims. How on earth can anyone deny that grace is a blessing?

However, do they all really believe that all gifts have to be earned?

Mormon Prophet Harold B. Lee taught:

The Savior’s blood, His atonement, will save us, but only after we have done all we can to save ourselves by keeping His commandments. All of the principles of the gospel are principles of promise by which the plans of the Almighty are unfolded to us.8

Each must do all he can to save himself from sin; then he may lay claim to the blessings of redemption by the Holy One of Israel, that all mankind may be saved by obedience to the law and ordinances of the gospel.

8. Stand Ye in Holy Places
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org...pdf/language-materials/35892_eng.pdf?lang=eng


"The Savior’s blood, His atonement, will save us, but only after we have done all we can to save ourselves by keeping His commandments. All of the principles of the gospel are principles of promise by which the plans of the Almighty are unfolded to us."

Grace is not a blessing, grace is a gift:
:eek:
 
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He is the way

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That is absolute truth and such a contrast to what He is the way claims. How on earth can anyone deny that grace is a blessing?

However, do they all really believe that all gifts have to be earned?

Mormon Prophet Harold B. Lee taught:

The Savior’s blood, His atonement, will save us, but only after we have done all we can to save ourselves by keeping His commandments. All of the principles of the gospel are principles of promise by which the plans of the Almighty are unfolded to us.8

Each must do all he can to save himself from sin; then he may lay claim to the blessings of redemption by the Holy One of Israel, that all mankind may be saved by obedience to the law and ordinances of the gospel.

8. Stand Ye in Holy Places
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org...pdf/language-materials/35892_eng.pdf?lang=eng


"The Savior’s blood, His atonement, will save us, but only after we have done all we can to save ourselves by keeping His commandments. All of the principles of the gospel are principles of promise by which the plans of the Almighty are unfolded to us."

:eek:
People are blessed for various reasons:

(Old Testament | Malachi 3:10)

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

(New Testament | Matthew 5:3 - 20)

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 ¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 ¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Blessing is not synonymous with grace. Grace is a gift:

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:33)

33 For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.
 
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Andrewn

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Grace is not a blessing, grace is a gift:
Isn't a gift and a blessing the same thing? Here are definitions from Oxford Dictionary:

A gift is "a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present."

A blessing is "God's favor and protection."

So, the only difference is that that a blessing is a gift given specifically by God.

When you say Grace is a gift but not a blessing, it's like saying it is a gift given by someone other than God!!
 
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Isn't a gift and a blessing the same thing? Here are definitions from Oxford Dictionary:

A gift is "a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present."

A blessing is "God's favor and protection."

So, the only difference is that that a blessing is a gift given specifically by God.

When you say Grace is a gift but not a blessing, it's like saying it is a gift given by someone other than God!!
God gives blessings to those who deserve blessings:

(Old Testament | Genesis 22:18)

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

(Old Testament | Deuteronomy 11:27 - 28)

27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
 
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He is the way

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Mormons don't know what grace is. The author of D&C doesn't understand the Bible either.

Your thoughts are really far out when you deny that grace is a blessing as are all God's gifts!
Blessings are earned, gifts are not.
 
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Blessings are earned, gifts are not.

Mormonism teaches that blessings must be earned. The Bible teaches that what we earn is death.


Romans 9

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
 
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Mormonism teaches that blessings must be earned. The Bible teaches that what we earn is death.


Romans 9

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Yes God does show mercy, not to him that willeth, not him that runneth, but him that obeyeth.

(Old Testament | Genesis 22:18)

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

(Old Testament | Deuteronomy 5:10)

10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

(Old Testament | Deuteronomy 11:26 - 28)

26 ¶ Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

(New Testament | Hebrews 5:9)

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
 
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Everthing we have is from God. We didn't earn our blessings. God chose to give them to us. Why did He give blessings to certain people?
He blessed Israel even though they often disobeyed. And sometimes very good people suffer tremendous hardships.

 
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Everthing we have is from God. We didn't earn our blessings. God chose to give them to us. Why did He give blessings to certain people?
He blessed Israel even though they often disobeyed. And sometimes very good people suffer tremendous hardships.

Blessings, whether in this life or the next life, are earned by obedience as stated in the Bible:

(Old Testament | Proverbs 13:21)

21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

(Old Testament | Proverbs 28:10)

10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

(New Testament | 1 Peter 3:8 - 17)

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
 
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1 John 4
19 We love him, because he first loved us.


Romans 5
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly...

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He blessed us before we had faith or had done anything for Him!

Ephesians 4
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Oh, how I love Jesus
Because He first loved me!
 
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Blessings, whether in this life or the next life, are earned by obedience as stated in the Bible:
Joh 14:15-16 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, that He may be with you forever:

Act 5:32 We are His witnesses to these words, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
 
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Joh 14:15-16 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, that He may be with you forever:

Act 5:32 We are His witnesses to these words, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Who gave us faith? Did we pay for it ourselves? Do unbelievers have faith?

Or are those who have been given faith the ones who obey Him?
 
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