The Gospel is that simple. There were no "hundreds of different ways that Christians believe that Jesus saves." Where JS got that is in his own confused mind was when he couldn't comprehend that the Gospel's central core remained the same no matter the church name or doctrines they promoted. Christians have always recognized the basis for the Gospel is Jesus saves and that He is Lord. JS became stuck on doctrine doing the saving, which it never can. Jesus saves, alone. (A person can have perfect knowledge of all doctrine, but not accept Jesus as Savior or Lord. Their knowledge will never save them. So what does that imply about doctrine to you?) The core of the Gospel has always united all Christianity. Doctrine was never meant to "unite", because doctrine doesn't save, nor do various creeds aka "summaries of belief". We know that, too. What JS claimed that "God revealed to him" about various creeds floating around are essentially empty words, considering Christians have never trusted in "creeds" for salvation to begin with. We trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. Alone. JS never could grasp that elemental point.
There remains, as always, two views of salvation in the world. One is salvation through Jesus Christ alone, and the opposite is salvation through Jesus Christ plus human works. You are correct. There is only one way, because one of the above is partially based upon human power. And if JS was so confused by all these "hundreds of different ways" of salvation you presume there are, then why did he go and create yet another "way"? Why did he insist on tacking on requirements no one had ever heard of, including the Jews in all their history? But you wouldn't know, would you, not being him and therefore unable to understand the workings of his mind.
Mormonism does not believe that "Jesus saves". Mormonism, in all its various branches, promotes that Jesus Christ "PLUS works" saves. Please be more succinct when sharing Mormon beliefs.
I think you are trying to make something which isn't there.
This is what the Book of Mormon teaches, can you find something in there which is not biblical?
2 Nephi 11
4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.
5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.
6 And my soul delighteth
in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish.
Without Christ we are nothing, we can not save ourselves in any matter at all,
Alma 22, can you find something in here which is un-biblical
13 And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name.
"14
And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth (baptism); and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king.
15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.
16 But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest."
Where we differ is how Jesus implements his grace. You seem to want to say it just happens, you confess Jesus and suddenly you are saved.
We believe God makes a covenant with us and that covenant is brought about through the blessing of baptism.
Act 2
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for there mission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Do you not believe Peter or
is this passage not in your Bible? It is in mine, how do you explain it away?
Is there anything in this next passage which contradicts the Bible?
2Nephi 31:17
17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him,
relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
Paul said the same thing in Philp 3
"9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded...."
There is a danger when we start to think that we have already achieved "the prize" and stop reaching for the mark.
I think there must be a great deal of pride in those who proclaim there own salvation.
John 5:26-27
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
You do not have the right to declare yourself saved only Jesus can do that.
