The distinction is that believers are not ontologically one with the Father as preexisting with the same uncreated Divine nature as the Father, and creating things out of nothing, thus being uniquely the Son of God. And which Christ claimed and revealeed, (Jn. 5:18, 12:34b-46; 20:28) and thus are ascribed to Him titles, attributes and glory which are only ascribed to God. (http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/DEITYofCHRIST.html)
And rather than having to deny that Jesus is God in order to be saved, that is a mark of true faith. (Jn.1:1-3; 8:24; 12:34b-46; 1Jn. 5:20)
Yet believers possess the Spirit of Christ, and which occurs when one is born again, which is not a process, but a conversion event realized thru believing the word of truth, the gospel of salvation. (Acts 10:43-47; 15:8-9; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 4:6 1Pt. 1:3; Ja. 1:18)
And as the body of the believer is holy due to what it possesses, so it the Bible, and is not to be used as toilet paper or thrown away, because only the esoteric knowledge one get thru Masters meditation is holy.
I essentially agree with this, but would add that the one converting, as a part of that "event" also repents of his former self and accepts Christ's atonement completely in his/her life and thereby becomes a changed creature, who seeks to follow Christ, immulate Him, bring others to Him, and keep His commandments, despite the weakness of their own mortality.
To such an one, Christ promises forgiveness and salvation through His miraculous gift and atonement.
Oh no; Danny boy; you got THAT wrong.
Ya see, our Prophets and learned men have spoken on this subject:
"He (Joseph Smith) is the man through whom God has spoken... yet I would not like to call him a savior, though in a certain capacity he was a god to us, and is to the nations of the earth, and will continue to be."- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:321"You call us fools; but the day will be, gentlemen and ladies, whether you belong to this Church or not, when you will prize brother Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Living God, and look upon him as a god..."- Herber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 5:88"If we get our salvation, we shall have to pass by him [Joseph Smith]; if we enter our glory, it will be through the authority he has received. We cannot get around him [Joseph Smith]"- (as quoted in 1988 Melchizedek Priesthood Study Guide, p. 142)There is "no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth...no man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God"- Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.190"I tell you, Joseph holds the keys, and none of us can get into the celestial kingdom without passing by him. We have not got rid of him, but he stands there as the sentinel, holding the keys of the kingdom of God; and there are many of them beside him. I tell you, if we get past those who have mingled with us, and know us best, and have a right to know us best, probably we can pass all other sentinels as far as it is necessary, or as far as we may desire. But I tell you, the pinch will be with those that have mingled with us, stood next to us, weighed our spirits, tried us, and proven us: there will be a pinch, in my view, to get past them. The others, perhaps, will say, If brother Joseph is satisfied with you, you may pass. If it is all right with him, it is all right with me. Then if Joseph shall say to a man, or if brother Brigham say to a man, I forgive you your sins, "Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them;" if you who have suffered and felt the weight of transgression—if you have generosity enough to forgive the sinner, I will forgive him: you cannot have more generosity than I have. I have given you power to forgive sins, and when the Lord gives a gift, he does not take it back again."- Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p.154-155"It is because the Lord called Joseph Smith that salvation is again available to mortal men.... If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation,"- Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 396, 670
They succeeded in killing Joseph, but he had finished his work.He was a servant of God, and gave us the Book of Mormon.He said the Bible was right in the main, but, through the translators and others, many precious portions were suppressed, and several other portions were wrongly translated; and now his testimony is in force, for he has sealed it with his blood.As I have frequently told them, no man in this dispensation will enter the courts of heaven, without the approbation of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jun.Who has made this so?Have I?Have this people?Have the world?No; but the Lord Jehovah has decreed it.If I ever pass into the heavenly courts, it will be by the consent of the Prophet Joseph.If you ever pass through the gates into the Holy City, you will do so upon his certificate that you are worthy to pass.Can you pass without his inspection?No; neither can any person in this dispensation, which is the dispensation of the fulness of times.In this generation, and in all the generations that are to come, everyone will have to undergo the scrutiny of this Prophet.They say that they killed Joseph, and they will yet come with their hats under their arms and bend to him; but what good will it do them, unless they repent?They can come in a certain way and find favor, but will they?Brigham Young,--JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, vol. 8, p. 224