Christian Grace and Mormon Grace

Sorry I haven't been posting much, lately. Things have been busy, busy, busy as usual around here!

I'm a little sad today, because I had a meeting with some Mormon friends that didn't really go as well as I had hoped it would. Let me back up and explain.

See, several of my students come from Mormon families, and I've developed a friendship of sorts with their parents. I've been so burdened to share the true gospel with them, but it's difficult to do that in the little bit of time that we see each other. Therefore, I was actually thrilled when I had two young Mormon missionaries come to my door three weeks ago. What a wonderful opportunity to find out what Mormonism truly teaches, and to share my testimony with them!

We've had, oh, maybe three or four hour-long meetings, and each of them seemed to go fairly well. I didn't have any great "theological breakthroughs of thought" or anything, lol, but I was usually able to find Scriptures that contradicted their teachings, or at least hopefully put some question in their minds.

This last meeting, however, started out wrong from the beginning. It's just been a long day, and I couldn't get the kids down for a nap like they usually do, so they were quite disruptive. Also, I just couldn't seem to keep my mind focused, and it was so frustrating to know the text I wanted, but not be able to find it due to my distracted mood!

After the ladies left, I just sat down and had a good cry and prayed for awhile. I wish that I weren't so slow-witted and a better witness of God's grace! I am so grateful, however, that God's mercy and salvation don't depend on my own abilities! At the very least, one of the ladies said that she was reading the Bible more than she ever has, and even read through Genesis. God's Word is much more powerful than anything than I could ever say, so in this I have hope.

Just before they left, I gave them a tract that I've reprinted here, if you're interested. How wonderful is the grace of God! (My goodness, this is turning out to be a long post!)

Christian Grace vs Mormon Grace
A Comparison of the Gospel of Grace

The Christian Gospel	The Mormon Gospel
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. (Romans 11:6)	Grace consists of God's gift to His children wherein He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him and comply with His laws and ordinances would have everlasting life. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pp. 353-354).
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20). Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace (Romans 4:16).	Grace is granted to men proportionately as they conform to the standards of personal righteousness that are part of the gospel plan. (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 339).
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10).	Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you (Moroni 10:32, Book of Mormon)
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. (Titus 3:5)	As with all other doctrines of salvation, justification is available because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, but it becomes operative in the life of an individual only on conditions of personal righteousness (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 408).
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)	Certain saved-by-grace-alone fanatics flatter their followers into believing they can be saved through no act other than confessing Christ with their lips (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 287).

The truth of the gospel is that God saves men freely and by His grace alone. Adding to God's grace violates God's intention and places one under the curse of God (Galatians 1:8-10, 5:2-4). Despite how often Mormons speak of the gospel, they have been given a false gospel that cannot save.

I Testify To You...

• That there is one true and eternal God, unchangeable, unique, all-powerful.¹

• That this one true God created all things; there is nothing that exists anywhere that He did not bring into existence.²

• That this one true God is spirit, and is not limited to time and space, both of which He himself created.³

• That man is the creation of God, and God should not be thought of as an exalted man.⁴

• That Jesus Christ has eternally existed as God.⁵

• That Jesus Christ created all things.⁶

• That the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.⁷

• That man is spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, unable to come to Christ outside of the Father’s enablement.⁸

• That full and complete salvation is the work of God’s grace.⁹

• That the Bible is God’s inerrant, authoritative, and sufficient revelation to man, in need of no supplements.¹⁰

This is my testimony, one that I believe is given to me by the Holy Spirit of God. The Bible says the Spirit of God witnesses to our spirits that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16) and that He leads His people into all truth (John 16:13).

I share this testimony with you because I believe the issues mentioned above define the gospel itself. The gospel requires that we know the one true God (John 17:3); a false god cannot save us. The gospel requires that we know the true Jesus Christ, for a false Christ cannot save (John 8:24, 2 Corinthians 11:4). And the true gospel alone can bring salvation, which is why we are warned about those who would preach a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, denies every single one of the beliefs I shared with you above. Every one.* It is because of this that I share this literature with you. If you are LDS, I sincerely wish to warn you that you have been misled. If you are not LDS, I wish to inform you of the great differences that exist between Christianity and Mormonism at the most fundamental levels. While we often use the same words, we fill those words with very different meanings.

If you are LDS: I have given you my testimony. Doubtless you may say you have your own. The two testimonies contradict each other, however. What can we do now? The difference between us, my friend, is just this: my testimony does not determine truth. My testimony is a wonderful and precious thing, but it is not how I know the truth. My testimony must be subjected to a higher authority: the Bible. No matter how strongly I may "feel" about something, I must submit my feelings to the correction of the Word of God. So while you and I may have testimonies that conflict, I can take my testimony to the Word of God and demonstrate how it is consistent not only with some of the Bible, but with all of the Bible. My beliefs come from the Bible, and I would be glad to demonstrate this to you.

If you are not LDS: Christianity claims to be God’s truth. As such, there is no room, nor reason, for compromising on the essential elements of the faith. Mormonism is a fundamentally different religion, for Mormonism openly proclaims a "plurality of Gods" (see the Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-20, 37, Book of Abraham chapters 4-5, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pp. 345ff). Christianity is unalterably monotheistic: we believe in only one true and eternal God. Mormonism presents a different God, a different Christ, and a different gospel. Because we love God, honor His truth, and desire others to know Him, we share this information with you.

(1) Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10, 44:5-8; Psalm 90:2, 96:5; Mal. 3:6; James 1:17. (2) Isa. 40:22, 41:4, 44:24; Jer. 10:10-11; (3) 2 Chron. 6:18; Jer. 23:24; John 4:24. (4) Zech 12:1; Psalm 50:21; Isa 29:16; Hosea 11:9. (5) John 1:1, Phil. 2:5-6; Heb 1:10. (6) John 1:3; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:1-3. (7) Col. 1:19-20, 2:13-14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7. (8) John 6:44, 65; Eph. 2:1-5. (9) Eph. 2:8-10. (10) 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21.