Revision as of 10:45, 13 November 2009

Index of Claims made in Chapter 11: Grace and Works

150

Claim

• The authors claim that "Mormon leaders have redefined the word salvation and given it a split definition that is certainly not taught by the Bible."

Mormonism's Attack on the Doctrine of Salvatio nby Grace

151-152

Claim

• Latter-day Saints "stereotype the evangelical Christian church as teaching that works are not important." According to the authors, Bruce R. McConkie said that salvation by grace alone was "the second greatest heresy of Christianity."

• Bruce R. McConkie, BYU 1983-84 Fireside and Devotional Speeches, "What Think Ye of Salvation by Grace?" 45;
• Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 670-671.
• LeGrand Richards, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, 25.
• Talmage, The Articles of Faith, 478-480.

Celestial Law&mdashCan it be Lived?

153-154

Claim

• Latter-day Saints have unrealistic expectations with regard to achieving exaltation. The authors claim that it is not possible to live "celestial law." Joseph Fielding Smith "sounded pessimistic" when he said "that if we save one-half of the Latter-day Satins, that is, with an exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God, we will be doing well." Orson Whitney said that we have to obey "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" in order to live "celestial law."

• Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:15.
• Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, 404.
• John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, 3rd ed., 327-328.
• Orson Whitney, Conference Report (October 1910): 53.
• Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 14:133.
• John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, 20.

155

Claim

• The authors claim that "[b]ecause of the unreasonable demand put on them, [Latter-day Saints] may live their daily lives with the guild of never being good enough for celestial exaltation. Some have even given up trying."

• Stephen E. Robinson, Believing Christ, 45.

"I Can Do it Later"

"That is Why we Have Repentance"

Achieving Perfection

"But I'm Trying!"

Christianity's Understanding of Salvation