>>Okay, I was a little careless here in that I didn't qualify this as I should have
You got that right!
If you read the whole article, the point is now that original sin is out of the way, it is up to us to repent of our sins and gain exaltation, this does not diminish Christ’s work, it affirms it.
It always amazes me that those who quickly read a piece, then misinterpret it to mean it’s opposite, and then try to beat up other’s with their ignorance (a poor weapon at best)
>>So, indeed, I'm not lying, right? (I was just overbroad in my assertion)
Lying, that takes intent, and I will not presume to judge intent, merely correctness you may only be mistaken.
< Snip for Brevity > but as soon as you find out some LDS leader has published it under the official LDS publishing outlet, and sudden silence??
Since he did not say what you say he said, this goes the way of the dodo. (To quote one of my favorite films, that word you keep using, I do not thinking it means what you think it means Big Big Grin)
>>So, allow me to ask you: the LDS belief seems to be that Christ's atonement as it
>>applies to salvation is that it covers personal sins in addition to original sin. However,
>>Christ's atonement as it applies to exaltation does not apply, correct?
Christ’s atonement as it applies to exaltation Please define this for me as I do not want to give an inaccurate reply.
I’ll try without the Definition. Christ’s atonement (at one ment) or to bring to gather as one) Allows man to leave his current sinful state and become one with god. Note the word allows, we have the ability to choose. This is from one of our hymns “For this eternal truth is giv’n that God will force no man to heaven”. Since the price has been paid, the original sin negated, even death has been overcome we are free to chose to return to that God who gave us birth, or refusing to partake in the atonement go to the Devil as it were. Does this clarify it for you?
>> My citation for the latter is based on the official Gospel principles manual, which I
>>received when I went through an LDS class. On p. 135, it reads that Jesus "became our
>>savior and he did his part to help us return to our heavenly home. It is now up to each
>>of us to do our part and to become worthy of exaltation."
Your manual, being published by the church, is of course correct (this one is too easy, is this a trick question? :-)
>> So, even mainstream LDS materials convey this idea that Christ has won "salvation"
>>across the board for all men, cancelling Adam's sin. Now all ya gotta do for godhood
>>status is yank yourself up. It's almost like, "There. The door's been opened for you. If
>>I'm going to find you worthy, then show me." [I guess that's the Missouri strain of
>>theology showing thru, eh?]
You almost had it. There is no “Pulling your selves up” ( http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/25/23#23 ) we are “Saved by grace after all we can do”. We must do all in our power, and then Christ makes up the difference, whether large or small.
Bingo...what the BoM is saying here is that Grace only kicks in AFTER all you can do.
My question: "When can you say you have ever done all you can do?"
Hint: Never. We'll never do everything we can do. For we all fall short of the glory of God (Romans).