LDS Mormon Religion "...come unto me and have everlasting life"

[Rescued One]

Doctrine and Covenants 48
5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.

Salvation from Physical Death. All people eventually die. But through the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, all people will be resurrected—saved from physical death...

Eternal Life, or Exaltation. In the scriptures, the words saved and salvation often refer to eternal life, or exaltation (see Abraham 2:11). Eternal life is to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and dwell with Them forever—to inherit a place in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom (see John 17:3; D&C 131:1–4; 132:21–24). This exaltation requires that men receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, and that all Church members make and keep sacred covenants in the temple, including the covenant of eternal marriage. If the word salvation is used in this sense, no one is saved in mortality. That glorious gift comes only after the Final Judgment.
Salvation

The plan of salvation is taught most clearly in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
Using the Plan of Salvation to Answer Questions - ensign

Mormons invite Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Non-denominational Christians to come to Christ.

Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual(c. 1981), Enrichment G, p. 395


The just as well as the unjust are given a priceless and incomprehensible gift: immortality. Because of Jesus the Christ, we will live forever. We are immortal.
Eternal life, however, is something altogether different. Immortality is about quantity. Eternal life is about quality.
Timely Topics:What Is the Difference between Immortality and Eternal Life? - new-era


Immortality and everlasting life must be different if people believe Doctrine and Covenants 48:5. Everlasting life requires faith in Christ according to D&C 48:5. And Mormons teach that everyone is immortal.

 

[Rescued One]

3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
Articles of Faith 1

"The Gospel" refers to Mormonism; the laws are not all those in the Old Testament.

 

[truefiction1]

Doctrine and Covenants 48
5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.

Salvation from Physical Death. All people eventually die. But through the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, all people will be resurrected—saved from physical death...

Eternal Life, or Exaltation. In the scriptures, the words saved and salvation often refer to eternal life, or exaltation (see Abraham 2:11). Eternal life is to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and dwell with Them forever—to inherit a place in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom (see John 17:3; D&C 131:1–4; 132:21–24). This exaltation requires that men receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, and that all Church members make and keep sacred covenants in the temple, including the covenant of eternal marriage. If the word salvation is used in this sense, no one is saved in mortality. That glorious gift comes only after the Final Judgment.
Salvation

The plan of salvation is taught most clearly in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
Using the Plan of Salvation to Answer Questions - ensign

Mormons invite Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Non-denominational Christians to come to Christ.
View attachment 226318
Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual(c. 1981), Enrichment G, p. 395


The just as well as the unjust are given a priceless and incomprehensible gift: immortality. Because of Jesus the Christ, we will live forever. We are immortal.
Eternal life, however, is something altogether different. Immortality is about quantity. Eternal life is about quality.
Timely Topics:What Is the Difference between Immortality and Eternal Life? - new-era


Immortality and everlasting life must be different if people believe Doctrine and Covenants 48:5. Everlasting life requires faith in Christ according to D&C 48:5. And Mormons teach that everyone is immortal.

I don't like it.

 

[Ironhold]

The point behind your argument is...?

 

[Jane_Doe]

I don't like it.

Clarification as to actual LDS beliefs:

LDS believe a person is saved through Christ and His gift of salvation. Nothing you do by yourself is going to save you-- such an idea is laughably absurd actually. Again, salvation is a gift from Christ, not something you do yourself. Christ offers this gift to every person, because he loves each person individually. Gifts by definition are something you can either accept or reject, and He lovingly gives us that choice to accept His gift.

3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
Articles of Faith 1

Yes, all mankind may indeed be saved, through His atonement-- Christ didn't just die for some and not others. He loves each and every one. We accept His gift through first having faith in Him-- nothing comes without faith in Him. Second, repentance-- our hearts turn from sin towards His goodness (a change enabled by Him). Then there's baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. This is all stated in the 4th Article of Faith, which elaborates on the 3rd quoted above:

"4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Again, I'm going to stress that the action of baptism by itself never saved anyone (for an example). It did get people wet, but without Christ and faith in Him, getting wet is all you're doing-- you're in no way saving yourself through getting wet. Rather, Christ & His atonement are doing the saving. Baptism is part of you accepting Him & following His command as His disciple. As He said "If you love me, keep my commandments".

 

[Rescued One]

Clarification as to actual LDS beliefs:

LDS believe a person is saved through Christ and His gift of salvation. Nothing you do by yourself is going to save you-- such an idea is laughably absurd actually. Again, salvation is a gift from Christ, not something you do yourself. Christ offers this gift to every person, because he loves each person individually. Gifts by definition are something you can either accept or reject, and He lovingly gives us that choice to accept His gift.

Salvation per Mormonism has to be earned by "obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."

Doctrine and Covenants 130
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

 

[Rescued One]

"When we need guidance or support or strength, God can help us. But it depends on us too. We have to seek His help and be worthy of it."
Grace and the Atonement of Jesus Christ

To be worthy to have the help of the Holy Ghost, we must seek earnestly to obey the commandments of God. We must keep our thoughts and actions pure.
Chapter 21: The Gift of the Holy Ghost

Doctrine and Covenants 25
15 Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come.

 

[truefiction1]

"Joseph Smith taught: 'It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God. … He was once a man like us; … God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did' (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 345–46).

Our Heavenly Father knows our trials, our weaknesses, and our sins. He has compassion and mercy on us. He wants us to succeed even as He did."

(All of the material quoted above is found in official LDS publication "Gospel Principles", Chapter 47: Exaltation,” (2011), 275–80)

I really don't like it. Maybe someone could offer clarification on this.

 

[Ironhold]

I really don't like it. Maybe someone could offer clarification on this.

The theology *does* hold that at some point, Heavenly Father went through what we ourselves are now going through to get from A to B.

However, no details of what and when have been handed down yet, meaning that when it comes to such matters critics of the church do more speculation than we do.

 

[Ironhold]

double post.

 

[BigDaddy4]

This is all stated in the 4th Article of Faith, which elaborates on the 3rd quoted above:

"4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

This is in direct conflict with Acts 10:44-48. First, Acts 10 shows us that the laying on of hands is not necessary for the gift of the Holy Spirit. As Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon those who were gathered at Cornelius' house and heard the message. No mention of laying on of hands. Second, Acts 10 also shows us that one does not need to be baptized before the Holy Spirit is given to those who receive the message.

This is not the Gospel, or Good News, that Paul clearly lays out in 1 Cor 15:3-6, nor among any of the other numerous Scripture references to the good news.

 

[BigDaddy4]

The theology *does* hold that at some point, Heavenly Father went through what we ourselves are now going through to get from A to B.

However, no details of what and when have been handed down yet, meaning that when it comes to such matters critics of the church do more speculation than we do.

The lds base their theology on "speculation"?? If that's not a huge red flag, I don't know what is!

 

[Ironhold]

The lds base their theology on "speculation"?? If that's not a huge red flag, I don't know what is!

In contrast, I - and others - have literally been told that various elements of mainline Christian theology (such as how God can be 3 persons in 1 yet still be 1 person) are "mysteries" that nobody needs to think about to be saved.

 

[truefiction1]

The theology *does* hold that at some point, Heavenly Father went through what we ourselves are now going through to get from A to B.

However, no details of what and when have been handed down yet, meaning that when it comes to such matters critics of the church do more speculation than we do.

The theology that does hold that at some point, God the Father went through what we ourselves are now going through is very wrong.

 

[BigDaddy4]

In contrast, I - and others - have literally been told that various elements of mainline Christian theology (such as how God can be 3 persons in 1 yet still be 1 person) are "mysteries" that nobody needs to think about to be saved.

Nice deflection. You can't defend your theology so you have to deflect the discussion.

 

[Ironhold]

Nice deflection. You can't defend your theology so you have to deflect the discussion.

So you're fine with mainline Christianity holding itself to a lower standard than it holds us?

Mote and beam.

 

[Jane_Doe]

The theology *does* hold that at some point, Heavenly Father went through what we ourselves are now going through to get from A to B.

Those statements (the whole grand 2 of them) are also speculative in nature, not actually taught in LDS church, doesn't play any role in active theology, and an LDS person is 100% free to do whatever about them and be in good standing (agree, disagree, no care, not know, etc). There's also a BOATLOAD of very relevant background to even get to the LDS understanding (for those that do agree) of these 2 speculations.

Still, anti-Mormon sites and other places LOVE to quote these two statements and blatantly misrepresent LDS beliefs and hence lie to other Christians.

 

[withwonderingawe]

This is in direct conflict with Acts 10:44-48. First, Acts 10 shows us that the laying on of hands is not necessary for the gift of the Holy Spirit. As Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon those who were gathered at Cornelius' house and heard the message. No mention of laying on of hands. Second, Acts 10 also shows us that one does not need to be baptized before the Holy Spirit is given to those who receive the message.

This is not the Gospel, or Good News, that Paul clearly lays out in 1 Cor 15:3-6, nor among any of the other numerous Scripture references to the good news.

Act 2
37 ¶ 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?

38 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.

Geeee did he plagiarize Peter?

 

[Rescued One]

Those statements (the whole grand 2 of them) are also speculative in nature, not actually taught in LDS church, doesn't play any role in active theology, and an LDS person is 100% free to do whatever about them and be in good standing (agree, disagree, no care, not know, etc). There's also a BOATLOAD of very relevant background to even get to the LDS understanding (for those that do agree) of these 2 speculations.

Still, anti-Mormon sites and other places LOVE to quote these two statements and blatantly misrepresent LDS beliefs and hence lie to other Christians.

Mormon manuals provide the information. Mormons who are called as teachers teach what is in the manuals.

God Became God by Obedience to Law

It was late afternoon as we sat in my office, but I felt the time had been well spent. He sat silently now, obviously contemplating the ramifications of the things we had been discussing. We had talked of God, of how he had become God, and of what that meant in terms of our own exaltation. Finally he spoke,

"What is this law of exaltation of which you keep speaking?"

"Well, it involves the whole of the gospel law. Everything required of us by God is associated with this law which man must obey is eternal marriage. Therein lies the keys of eternal life or, as the Doctrine and Covenants puts it, 'eternal lives.' In other words, an eternal increase of posterity."

"Then what you're saying is that God became God by obedience to the gospel program, which culminates in eternal marriage."
Achieving a Celestial Marriage Student Manual, p. 4

 

[truefiction1]

Those statements (the whole grand 2 of them) are also speculative in nature, not actually taught in LDS church, doesn't play any role in active theology, and an LDS person is 100% free to do whatever about them and be in good standing (agree, disagree, no care, not know, etc). There's also a BOATLOAD of very relevant background to even get to the LDS understanding (for those that do agree) of these 2 speculations.

Still, anti-Mormon sites and other places LOVE to quote these two statements and blatantly misrepresent LDS beliefs and hence lie to other Christians.

It's not a representation of LDS beliefs. It's not a speculation. It's clearly stated in "Gospel Principles" to be a teaching of Joseph Smith that God the father was once a man like us, and "Gospel Principles" affirms the teaching. It's obviously not true that God the father was ever like us, and it's obvious that not only the founder of the Mormon religion taught this and that the LDS church does not unanimously reject it, although if they are of the Truth they would utterly reject and denounce it, except that they can't because to do so would be to admit that Joseph Smith, and his newly fabricated religion is wrong about things that we must not be wrong about.

If you don't mind, point me to official LDS literature that defines what is believed about the Divine nature of the Holy Trinity and/or where I can find it.