21 replies to this topic

[Log]

I pose a question to the active LDS members.

What is a minimal statement of the teachings of the Church pertaining specifically to salvation?

My understanding is that it is simply faith in Jesus Christ, repentance from sins and entering into a covenant of obedience with God, authoritative baptism by immersion, the bestowal of the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying of hands and the corresponding baptism by fire which is the receipt of this gift and which brings the remission of sins, and endurance to the end of mortal life in obedience to the commandments of God.

Is there more?

[BCSpace]

Quote

What is a minimal statement of the teachings of the Church pertaining specifically to salvation?

Minimal?  All you have to do is go through life like a bump on a log and you will eventually be saved with a Telestial Glory.  And that because you kept your first estate; sided with Christ in the pre mortal-existence.

Any higher than that and you must become a member of the LDS Church (or nearest ancient equivalent) in this life or the next which does include authoritative bapism, gift of the Holy Ghost etc.  Obedience, valiancy, and being married/sealed will obtain the highest degree of glory in the Celestial, whcih is eternal life.

When one asks "What more?", I generally think of what is required to be obedient.  The scriptures mention many things.  Charity, marriage, being good with money, etc. are all requirements for salvation.

Edited by BCSpace, 26 April 2012 - 01:24 PM.

[LDSGuy]

Everyone will be saved to a degree.  Salvation from death is available to all through the Resurrection.  However, that is quite different from Exaltation.  Exaltation requires faith in Christ, repentance, baptism by authority, and confirmation/Gift of Holy Ghost.  Then one must receive the ordinances of the Temple, and then remain faithful until the end.  Which would include obedience and service to others and God.

[Benjamin McGuire]

There is no fixed list of requirements for salvation (or even exaltation). For some, there is no need even for baptism. For others, there may well be such a requirement and more. As Joseph Smith said, "God judges men according to the use they make of the light which He gives them."

Ben M.

[mbh26]

In a way I suppose the requirements are infinite.  No matter how much you've done, a priesthood authority can always tack on more requirements.  And on the flip side no matter how little you've done, you can always repent.  It's kind of disheartening when you think about it, but it is what it is.

[zerinus]

Log, on 26 April 2012 - 12:57 PM, said:

I pose a question to the active LDS members.

What is a minimal statement of the teachings of the Church pertaining specifically to salvation?

My understanding is that it is simply faith in Jesus Christ, repentance from sins and entering into a covenant of obedience with God, authoritative baptism by immersion, the bestowal of the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying of hands and the corresponding baptism by fire which is the receipt of this gift and which brings the remission of sins, and endurance to the end of mortal life in obedience to the commandments of God.

Is there more?

That is about right:

Mark 16:
  
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mormon 9:

22 For behold, thus said Jesus Christ, the Son of God, unto his disciples who should tarry, yea, and also to all his disciples, in the hearing of the multitude: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature;
23 And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned;
24 And these signs shall follow them that believe—in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover;
25 And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth.

Ether 4:

18 Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name.
19 And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen.

D&C 68:

8 Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
9 And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned.
10 And he that believeth shall be blest with signs following, even as it is written.

D&C 112:

28 But purify your hearts before me; and then go ye into all the world, and preach my gospel unto every creature who has not received it;
29 And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not, and is not baptized, shall be damned.

[The Nehor]

Benjamin McGuire, on 26 April 2012 - 02:07 PM, said:

There is no fixed list of requirements for salvation (or even exaltation). For some, there is no need even for baptism. For others, there may well be such a requirement and more. As Joseph Smith said, "God judges men according to the use they make of the light which He gives them."

Ben M.

Then why are we doing all this temple work?

[Mark Beesley]

The Nehor, on 26 April 2012 - 03:12 PM, said:

Then why are we doing all this temple work?

It's more for our own benefit than for the recipients.  It tends to keep us focused on things that really matter.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

The Nehor, on 26 April 2012 - 03:12 PM, said:

Then why are we doing all this temple work?

Light and knowledge brother.

[bluebell]

Mark Beesley, on 26 April 2012 - 03:40 PM, said:

It's more for our own benefit than for the recipients.  It tends to keep us focused on things that really matter.

Yeah, God is all about busywork.  

[Rivers]

Log, on 26 April 2012 - 12:57 PM, said:

I pose a question to the active LDS members.

What is a minimal statement of the teachings of the Church pertaining specifically to salvation?

My understanding is that it is simply faith in Jesus Christ, repentance from sins and entering into a covenant of obedience with God, authoritative baptism by immersion, the bestowal of the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying of hands and the corresponding baptism by fire which is the receipt of this gift and which brings the remission of sins, and endurance to the end of mortal life in obedience to the commandments of God.

Is there more?

  My understanding is the same as yours. But it depends on how you define "salvation."  The terms exaltation and salvation are often used synonymously in the church.  But if I understand correctly, exaltation tecnically means to live as families in the highest portion of the celsestial kingdom while salvation simply means going to at least the bottom of the celestial kingdom.  So fatih, repentance, baptism, holy ghost, and ETTE will give us salvation while higher ordinances provide us with exaltaiton.

Edited by Rivers, 26 April 2012 - 05:35 PM.

[Cobalt-70]

Ultimately, there is only one true requirement: faith. All other so-called "requirements" are just appendages or manifestations of faith. If you aren't baptized, haven't repented, or haven't had some other ordinance that is required by the modern LDS church, then you didn't actually have faith. Conversely, if you had all the ordinances performed, but didn't have faith, then the ordinances did you absolutely no good. If you didn't have the opportunity to have faith, or to perform a particular ordinance before your death, then you will get a chance in the afterlife. In that case, all you have to do is accept Jesus and the proxy ordinances that were performed for you, which is, again, an act of faith.

Edited by Cobalt-70, 26 April 2012 - 05:31 PM.

[Rivers]

The Nehor, on 26 April 2012 - 03:12 PM, said:

Then why are we doing all this temple work?

I see it as a good excuse to continually return to the temple and participate in the ordinances.

[Saints Alive]

I like the way LDS.org explains it the best. Nice and official too.

Quote

In the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the terms “saved” and “salvation” have various meanings. As used in Romans 10:9-10, the words “saved” and “salvation” signify a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. Through this covenant relationship, followers of Christ are assured salvation from the eternal consequences of sin if they are obedient. “Salvation” and “saved” are also used in the scriptures in other contexts with several different meanings.
If someone were to ask if another person had been saved, the answer would depend on the sense in which the word is used. The answer might be “Yes” or perhaps it might be “Yes, but with conditions.” The following explanations outline six different meanings of the word salvation.

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. Paul testified, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). In this sense, everyone is saved, regardless of choices made during this life. This is a free gift from the Savior to all human beings.

Salvation from Sin. To be cleansed from sin through the Savior's Atonement, an individual must exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (see Acts 2:37-38). Those who have been baptized and have received the Holy Ghost through the proper priesthood authority have been conditionally saved from sin. In this sense, salvation is conditional, depending on an individual's continuing in faithfulness, or enduring to the end in keeping the commandments of God (see 2 Peter 2:20-22).

Individuals cannot be saved in their sins; they cannot receive unconditional salvation simply by declaring a belief in Christ with the understanding that they will inevitably commit sins throughout the rest of their lives (see Alma 11:36-37). However, through the grace of God, all can be saved from their sins (see 2 Nephi 25:23; Helaman 5:10-11) as they repent and follow Jesus Christ.


Being Born Again. The principle of spiritual rebirth appears frequently in the scriptures. The New Testament contains Jesus's teaching that everyone must be “born again” and that those who are not “born of water and of the Spirit . . . cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This teaching is affirmed in the Book of Mormon: “All mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God” (Mosiah 27:25-26).



This rebirth occurs as individuals are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It comes as a result of a willingness “to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days” (Mosiah 5:5). Through this process, their “hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, [they] are born of him” (Mosiah 5:7). All who have truly repented, been baptized, have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, have made the covenant to take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ, and have felt His influence in their lives, can say that they have been born again. That rebirth can be renewed each Sabbath when they partake of the sacrament.



Salvation from Ignorance. Many people live in a state of darkness, not knowing the light of the restored gospel. They are “only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (D&C 123:12). Those who have a knowledge of God the Father, Jesus Christ, the purpose of life, the plan of salvation, and their eternal potential are saved from this condition. They follow the Savior, who declared, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).



Salvation from the Second Death. The scriptures sometimes speak of salvation from the second death. The second death is the final spiritual death—being cut off from righteousness and denied a place in any kingdom of glory (see Alma 12:32; D&C 88:24). This second death will not come until the Final Judgment, and it will come to only a few (see D&C 76:31-37). Almost every person who has ever lived on the earth is assured salvation from the second death (see D&C 76:40-45).



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.



See also Atonement of Jesus Christ; Baptism; Eternal Life; Grace; Kingdoms of Glory; Plan of Salvation


—See True to the Faith (2004), 150-53
http://www.lds.org/s...vation?lang=eng

[mercyngrace]

The Nehor, on 26 April 2012 - 03:12 PM, said:

Then why are we doing all this temple work?

Turns the hearts of the children to their father and the hearts of the fathers to their children...

[Mark Beesley]

bluebell, on 26 April 2012 - 05:20 PM, said:

Yeah, God is all about busywork.  

Ya know, in a way, He kind of is.  Think of the rituals associated with the Law of Moses.  They were essentially "busy work" designed to keep the people focused on the Savior.

[inquiringmind]

Mark Beesley, on 26 April 2012 - 07:09 PM, said:

Ya know, in a way, He kind of is.  Think of the rituals associated with the Law of Moses.  They were essentially "busy work" designed to keep the people focused on the Savior.

That kinda makes sense to me.

Thank you.

Edited by inquiringmind, 26 April 2012 - 08:19 PM.

[bluebell]

Mark Beesley, on 26 April 2012 - 07:09 PM, said:

Ya know, in a way, He kind of is.  Think of the rituals associated with the Law of Moses.  They were essentially "busy work" designed to keep the people focused on the Savior.

I suppose that's true.

I swear i read somewhere though that God would have been essentially dishonest though if He told those people that those things served a specific purpose, and they didn't serve that purpose at all.  It would have been a lie.

Man, i wish i could remember where i heard that (it was specifically about the law of moses and the ritual sacrifices especially i believe).

[Log]

Mark Beesley, on 26 April 2012 - 03:40 PM, said:

It's more for our own benefit than for the recipients.  It tends to keep us focused on things that really matter.

In that sense, then, it's like tithing.

[zerinus]

Mark Beesley, on 26 April 2012 - 07:09 PM, said:

Ya know, in a way, He kind of is.  Think of the rituals associated with the Law of Moses.  They were essentially "busy work" designed to keep the people focused on the Savior.

I don't think that is entirely correct. The ritualistic practises under the laws of Moses were not just meaningless actions, but did have the power to produce the desired effect (e.g. a remission of sins).

Edited by zerinus, 27 April 2012 - 01:04 AM.