all-encompassingly

This article on Mormonism was written by Rebecca. It is one of a series of posts about the LDS Church. –Admin

In Christianity, there is a constant debate about whether salvation if given to man by grace or if it is earned through good works. The Mormon Church teaches that both have a major role in out salvation. The Church teaches that Christ’s Atonement and the Resurrection have made it possible for us to gain salvation. We could not have done it on our own. We need the atonement because all will sin, and in this way grace saves us. It is a gift from God to have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven of our sins. Eternal life through the resurrection is also a gift from God. All who have lived on the earth will have their spirits reunited with their bodies. However, this does not mean that God does not require action on our part. In the Book of Mormon it says, “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”1 This last part of the scripture refers to good works and obedience to God’s law.

We must obey certain rules, and participate in certain ordinances such as baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost to receive salvation. Even in the process of repentance work must be done, because it requires great faith and then control over the body to avoid the sin again. Repentance is like a conditional grace. Christ has already atoned for all the sins of the world, but to receive forgiveness we must perform the act of repentance.

After baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, God directs us to “endure to the end.”2 To endure to the end, a person must of their own free will and choice do good works. As an individual continually chooses good over evil God graces with them with more divine gifts such as charity.

Mormon doctrine clearly teaches that there is an interaction between grace and good works, and that both are needed to gain salvation and the opportunity to live with God again. A president of the Mormon Church David O. McKay gave an analogy that illustrates well how Mormons view grace. In this story he told about a group of boys that went swimming. One fell into a dangerous spot in the stream and nearly drowned, but a boy on the shore found a branch and helped pull him out. “There are those who claim that no one will sink and be lost if he will look to Jesus on the shore and say, ‘I believe.’ There are others who declare that every one must by his own efforts swim to the shore or be lost forever. The real truth is that both of these extreme views are incorrect. Christ redeemed all men from death which was brought upon them through no act of theirs, but He will not save men from their personal transgressions who will put forth no effort themselves, any more than the young rescuer on the river bank could have saved the drowning lad if the latter had not seized the means provided him. Neither can man save himself without accepting the means provided by Christ for man’s salvation.”3

Other Links:
Mormon Beliefs
Beliefs of Mormonism
Mormonism vs. Christianity