So ----- the Mormons will tell you that they believe in GOD. However, their "god" is one of many. Their book and prophetic doctrines are considered by them more correct than the Bible. And the "god" they say they trust did NOT create EVERYTHING, And their salvation is dependents on their works above and beyond what Christ accomplished.
Just because one wears a belt buckle with a picture of Jesus on it, doesn't make that one a "Christian". By the works one is revealed (not saved). What did Nazis do? They intimidated, stole, murdered, raped, burned, and LIED. Their works reveal that they were not CHRISTIANS.
John 10:33-36
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for
blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself
God.
34
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and
the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath
sanctified, and
sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the
Son of God?
Where was it written in their law?
Psalms 82:6
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are
children of the most High.
Paul the Apostle taught:
1 Corinthians 8:4-6
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things
that are offered in sacrifice unto
idols, we know that an
idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5
For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But to us there is but one
God, the
Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are
all things, and we by him.
After Paul teaches that an idol is nothing in the world, He then says, "though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) ". Here Paul is referring to what the LORD has already declared regarding mankind, ie "Ye are gods". But even though they are called gods, they are not the god of this world or its associated heaven. To all that be upon this world, there is but one God that we worship and that is God the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that creation is a process of organizing things from things that already exist. We do not believe that creation means to create out of absolutely nothing, ie ex nihilo creation. I would challenge one to proof that the term "creation" in the bible means to create out of nothing. When God says He created all things, we believe that what is meant is that:
John 1:1-3
1
In the
beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the
Word was
God.
2 The same was in the
beginning with God.
3 All things were
made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Obviously Jesus did not create the Father, therefore we can know that the term "all things" does not refer to absolutely everything. John clarifies what is meant by "all things that were created or made" in verse 3 above. He is speaking of things that were made. In other words, there are things that have an eternal existence and cannot be made. Jesus created all things that were made or created, ie organized. As mentioned in a previous post, we believe that all matter and intelligence are eternal. In other words, they were not created or made, neither indeed can be. They are the basis upon which all other things are created.
We consider our scriptures we have that were translated by Joseph Smith to be a more perfect translation, whereas we believe the Bible in its original writings to be just as valid. However, the Bible has gone through many hands through the ages and we believe it to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.
Regarding Salvation, we believe no person can be saved without the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. In other words, we believe only through the grace of Jesus Christ can mankind be saved. However, we do believe that Jesus Christ himself has placed certain criteria on all mankind before he will grant the grace they need to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. One such requirement that the Lord has given us is that we need to repent. Another is that we need to exercise faith in his name. For one to exercise faith in Jesus Christ, it requires good works.
Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,
Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
James 2:14-26
14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily
food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye
give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so
faith, if it hath not
works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my
faith by my
works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the
devils also
believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that
faith without
works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had
offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by
works was faith made
perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham
believed God, and it was imputed unto him for
righteousness: and he was called the
Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by
works a man is
justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not
Rahab the harlot
justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the
spirit is
dead, so faith without
works is dead also.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by
grace are ye
saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should
boast.
10 For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them.
As you can see, we are saved by grace through faith. As James points out, faith without works is dead. However, we cannot save ourselves by our works, even though works are required to have faith, faith or works alone will not save us. These must be coupled with the grace of Jesus Christ or they will not save us. Thus verse 9, Not of works (alone). Works must be coupled with a belief to be faith, and faith must be coupled with grace for anyone to be saved. Can we be saved without faith? No! Can we be saved without works? No! Can we be saved by faith and works without grace? No. Grace is what saves but the Lord will not save anyone into the kingdom of Heaven without first exercising faith with works. In other words, the Lord requires faith which includes good works before he will grant the grace needed to enter the kingdom of Heaven. This is the often misunderstood by some of the belief of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yet it is taught in the Bible.
This statement you made is utterly false. "And their salvation is dependents on their works above and beyond what Christ accomplished." I have been in the church for over 50 years have never been taught that any personal works is the saving force behind our beliefs but only that they are required by the Lord before he will grant his grace.
