For Mormons: Are You Saved By God's Graciousness Alone?

Question

Mormons: This is a sincere question, not an attempt to embarrass you or your religion, as many use Y!A for.

Whenever I've asked a LDS person the question "Are you saved by Grace alone" I've pretty well universally been answered:. "No" Some LDS people will go on to explain that a person that has not truly accepted Jesus Christ and thus has no change of heart, with the resultant good works associated, could ever by saved.

I have come to the conclusion that the very question is too full of religiously loaded words to really get at what I am asking. Apparently Mormons have been taught to associate the concept of "Grace Alone" with antinomianism (i.e. salvation irrelevant to a honest acceptance of Christ as Lord and Master where you are saved no matter how sinful you are afterwards.)

So recognizing that the word "grace" is actually a synonym for "graciousness" how do you feel about the question rephrased as "Are you saved by God's graciousness alone?"

(more details to come)

I admit here that the question is someone ambiguous and could probably be answered "yes" or "no" depending on how you happen to take it. Because of this, please take time to answer more than yes or no and to explain your thinking.

And finally, I am well aware that the Bible never uses the term "grace alone" so there is no need to point this out to me. :)

Also, don't confuse "faith alone" with "grace (or graciousness) alone" which is not necessarily the same thing.

If needs be, define your terms as part of your answer.

Oops, meant to say "somewhat ambigous" above.

And as always, please try to avoid pat answers. Pat answers aren't answers, they are a dismissal of the question.

I appreciate the thoughtful answers I am being given. However, if possible, please answer the actual question. I am asking if you, as a Mormon, could in any sense believe that you are saved by God's graciousness alone.

Gumby gave me a definitive answer, so far. I gather from others that the answer might be "yes but with qualifications." Is this what you are saying? (Are you comfortable saying this?)

Let me put this another way. I am not looking for an explanation of what Mormons believe about Grace. I already know this. I'm looking for a Mormon comfort level with the way I worded the question. That's why I am specificially looking for an answer (and explanation) to my specific question.

Answer 1

The short answer is an unqualified "yes."

From the Book of Mormon we read (2 Ne. 2:6,8) "6. Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
• • •
"8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise."

And again (2 Ne. 10:24-25) "24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.
"25 Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen."

And again (Alma 22:14) "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; 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."

Where Mormons are uncomfortable with the answer so far is that some people make the mistake of assuming that God does not require anything of us before He grants salvation. To some being saved by grace alone means that they don't have to be baptized, they don't need to repent of their sins, and they don't need to "reconcile themselves with God" with a desire to do what is right and to grow in faith. That would be ignoring what God asks of us before granting us the gift of salvation.

It is not that we earn salvation in any degree. We can't do that. And in every step of the way we require grace. We need grace to turn our hearts to God. We need grace to overcome our bad habits and sinful natures. We need grace in order to repent of our sins. We need grace to call upon God in prayer with faith. We are always indebted to God no matter what we do in return for his grace. Our "good works" would not be acceptable to God if they were not performed with faith, which is a gift of grace from God.

The grace of God gives us the power to repent and do the necessary good works - all that we can do. "And we know also, that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength." (D&C 20:31) "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)

If you understand all that I will be impressed.

Answer 2

As a LDS man, we are saved by grace of Lord Jesus Christ after all we can do. If we are worthy of the grace of Jesus Christ, we will saved and obtain exaltation.

Saved by Grace alone is a protestant theory and assertion that puts Paul's words over everything else in the bible.

The Catholics and Eastern Orthdox churches before the protestant churches sprang up never taught this.
James 2 has the same authority as Ephesians 2.
The Catholics and Eastern Othrodox churches believe the tradition of the church is more important or authoratative than the bible alone.

So I reject the protestant's claim that grace alone is the way to salvation. Do I believe in grace is needed for salvation, yes. But works is needed too.

Answer 3

It seems to me that typically it comes down to symmantics and terminology. (Which you seem to have concluded as well.) When an LDS person answers no to the question "Are you saved by Grace alone." they are usually trying to point out that there are certain things that we must do in order to be saved. However, as these things wouldn't be possible or effective without Christ, it is still salvation through grace. They usually just want to make the distinction of salvation through saying one prayer.

I like the rewording. I doubt that the responses that you would get would be much different, though. I know I would still feel the need to clarify.

Answer 4

If what you're really looking for is the correct terminology to ask a Christian whether God's grace saves them, then the word "graciousness" wouldn't really work either. Churches use different words to mean different things, so I can understand the confusion.

For example, I was an evangelical "born-again" Christian and when asked to bear my testimony I knew this meant that I was to tell the assembled how I was converted, or born-again - how I came to be a Christian. Now that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when I am asked to bear my testimony it means I am to tell the assembled about the witness of the Holy Spirit which enables me to know the truth of certain doctrines and practices.

I think you would need to ask "Are you saved through the Atonement alone" although that isn't quite the same thing either.

Most Mormons see salvation as more of a covenant than other Christians. When we accept Christ as our saviour we also promise to follow Him, and He promises to help us to do so through the Holy Spirit. We continue to renew this covenant and to live as Jesus would have us live as a form of worship to Him.

Part of the problem is that we see other Christians who seem to think that because the confession of Christ alone is enough to save them, they almost don't have to even try to live a Christlike life. We very much belive that "by their fruits ye shall know them" and therefore reject any suggestion that God's Grace alone is enough, although technically we believe that it is. The atonement of Jesus Christ makes up the shortfall and enables us to be forgiven, but we must also live according to God's will.

Answer 5

Well this is an interesting question that can lead to days and days of discussion.

It's obvious to us that if it wasn't for God's grace and the atonement performed by Jesus Christ, salvation wouldn't be possible at all, no matter how good our works were.

I think a simplified way we put it is "Grace saves us after all we can do." It's sort of our way of saying that God wants us to do the very best we can (which is obviously different for different people), and then where we fall short (which is inevitably a huge gap) the Atonement of Christ can fill that hole, and make salvation possible.

I hope that makes sense.

Answer 6

Yes, No, and "sort of". Let me explain.

Every man who ever was born will be resurrected (i.e. "saved" from Death). This is 100% grace alone. There is nothing that you can do to NOT be resurrected. You are 100% saved from Death by grace and grace alone.

The other barrier from "exaltation" is spiritual death created by sin. Without Christs atonement we CANNOT be cleansed of our sins. No amount of work can get us into heaven if we don't accept his atonement. Had christ not come, we would have been eternally damned. All of us sin, therefore could not be saved.

So....we are saved (from sin) by Grace AFTER all that we can do.

So if you regularly repent (using the atonement) and strive to keep God's commandments, you can be "saved".

So it's not works alone, nor is it Grace alone. Any questions???

Answer 7

The more I read of your explanation, the more uncertain I am of what to answer you.
In the final analysis, it is the work of Christ that will return us to the Father's presence. He alone made resurrection possible. He alone atoned for our sins making it possible for us to repent and cleans ourselves in his blood. While we must repent, have a change of heart and obey Him faithfully to the end, we still cannot enter His kingdom without His atoning grace. Because, after all that we can do, we are still unprofitable servants and need His atonement to bridge the gap between His purety and our poor level of righteousness. Thus, faith without works is dead being alone, yet works without faith is equally dead, being vain.
If I understand you correctly, and having gone through my thinking process, I would answer in the affirmative that yes, it is by His graciousness that we are saved, as long as we have done our part to merit that grace. The sinner who flaunts God's grace, will not be kindly received.

Answer 8

Are You Saved By God's Graciousness Alone?
From physical death, yes.
Saved meaning eterrnal exaltation (Celestial living for eternity) - no.

The penalty of sin must be satisfied. In the book "Jesus the Christ", James E. Talmage says "Justice cannot be dethroned by mercy." That to me says volumes.
Jesus Christ atoned for our sins IF and only IF we repent. IF we do NOT repent, his atonement is meaningless to that person. Those who DO repent can attain eternal life. We think of immortality and exaltation in two different ways: immortality is a free gift to all, Christ made that possible by giving his life on the cross, being resurrected and breaking the bonds of death for us all. Exaltation, which includes resurrection obviously, is different - it is eternal life with Jesus Christ and God the Father in the Celestial Kingdom, which not all will attain to. There are certain requirements to gain exaltation and if those requirements are not met, the person will inhabit a lower kingdom - Terrestrial or Telestial.
Hopefully I somewhat answered your question.

Answer 9

Being LDS and completely understanding what it is that you are asking, I'll take a bash at answering it:-)

Using the question exactly as it was originally asked, the answer that is taught is NO. Some Christian groups feel that just simply saying" OK God, I believe, so save me" is enough. We, the LDS people, are not taught that simplly telling God to save you is enough. By Jesus' atonement, we are all saved. That is biblical.

The important part of what you are really asking is, by my interpretation of the complete question, "Do you believe that you have to do more than accept God into your life to be saved"? Yes, we do. It is not enough to just "accept" Him. You must show by your actions that you truly want to follow Him and "do unto others" also. Just telling Him to save you and going on by your merry way is like telling him, thank you for bailing me out of jail, now scram!

I can't speak for everyone of my faith on this part, because even in the LDS faith, there is different levels of understanding, learning and acceptance of principles. I truly believe that Jesus died for EVERYONE, thorughout time. That is the power of the Atonement. Everyone will be saved IF they want it. Some don't and because of that, they will not make the choice to accept Him into their lives. That is between them and Him and its not our job to judge. I know that by my accepting Him into my life and accepting the Atonement as my saving "grace", I now have an obligation to respect the sacrifice that was made for me and I must honor it in my words and actions or I am spitting in the face of the one who made that sacrifice.

Hope that helps...

Answer 10

We are 'saved' only because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. By 'saved' I mean freed and forgiven of our sins.

Is there more than being 'saved' that Heavenly Father expects of us? I am so grateful for the Grace provided for us that I now seek to do His will and obey His commandments. I now avail myself of any opportunity to serve Him and others. I know from the scriptures that He has provided blessings when we do. Anything I do in the way of works is not because it erases my sin. It is because I love Him.

Answer 11

There is a difference between salvation and exaltation.

We are saved by grace, and we are judged by our works. Not the works of the Law of Moses, as is what is talked abouto in the NT, but the works that Christ commanded His discpiles.