Posted on 04/01/2009 7:29:56 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
I never thought I’d see the day, but it happened. The LDS Newsroom has a featured article which includes an official repudiation of the book so many Mormons love to hate: The Miracle of Forgiveness, by Spencer W. Kimball. The book teaches that permanent forgiveness only comes when, as a prerequisite, one first successfully abandons sin both in practice and in the mind—that we must absolutely never commit it again and successfully and permanently purge our minds of the sinful desire. Only then can forgiveness be granted. Obviously, this kind of model of the repentance which brings forgiveness doesn’t realistically bring much forgiveness at all, particularly in this life.
In the LDS Newsroom article, Monson states,
“In order to help our people better understand Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation, we must bring clarity to the issue of the repentance which brings forgiveness. Unequivocally denouncing the distinctive system of teachings contained within Spencer W. Kimball’s Miracle of Forgiveness is a move that will bring comfort to many people who have felt spiritually devastated. In its place, we are issuing an official proclamation on the doctrine of forgiveness. For any person with brokenhearted faith who cries out to God for mercy, forgiveness is free and is simply for the asking. The scriptures tell us that we can know that we have eternal life in the present. Forgiveness is immediate and permanent, and as shepherds over our flock we want to care for them by teaching doctrines that will bring a peace that surpasses all understanding. We have decidedly rejected any idea of meriting eternal life (even with gracious assistance) or of proving ourselves worthy of the blessings of salvation. A man or woman is most empowered to fight hypocrisy and pursue genuine, authentic holiness when they have been given the assurance of permanent, comprehensive forgiveness and eternal life.”Some leaders were enturbulated. Apostle Robert D. Hales told the Salt Lake Tribune:
“When I said last conference that, ‘Each of us has been sent to earth by our Heavenly Father to merit eternal life‘, I was not using the language of speculation. My talk was approved and correlated. I was confidently teaching a message that was widely perceived to be delivered in the capacity of an apostle. This unequivocal reversal of doctrine spearheaded by Monson undermines our perceived trustworthiness and authority from the General Conference pulpit. What will people think of us now? Are we simply latter-day commentators? No, we are prophets, seers, and revelators, and we have no business unequivocally denouncing the teachings of our past leaders. Monson talks of the demands of ‘integrity’ but he is clearly not yielding to the demands of maintaining our membership.”
April Fools.....right?
April fools.....lol
You asked the wrong question.
How does a person live in a fallen world and in an imperfect body once they have received salvation?
The answer is that they stay in fellewship through prayer, continually strive for perfectection through study of the Bible and practicing Christ-like living and when errors are made, confessing (agreeing with God) and repenting (turning away from the error.
Once saved, we won’t fall off the ship but we are subject to slipping on the deck.
Click on my profile page for more guidelines pertaining to the Religion Forum.
And since the Blood of Christ saves completely, those who are true believers by faith cannot lose their Salvation.
What a great Savior, folks like us, have in that we don't use man's justification, but His, and can appeal to Him, to cleanse us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
The Cleansing comes from Him, not from us.
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