Ah, the very heart of the Mormon false gospel.
From the article: Then he replaced after with in spite of and found that grace was given unconditionally when he put the verse in the context of the chapter, which is focused on the mission of the Messiah and the magnitude of his great blessings.
Why how nice. If you don't like what Joseph "the seer" saw, just sow a seed of a different color: Just change it! (Can we do that, too, and edit the Book of Mormon as we'd like to see it?)
From the article: This is a source of discouragement if not understood, said Wilcox, an associate professor of teacher education at BYU.
(Well, now we know why Wilcox was motivated to edit Mormon "Scripture" -- 'cause its very "gospel" is 100% discouraging! It's a failing grade offered by the professors of Mormonism right up front!)
From the article: After all we can do would imply that there is a checklist before people can return to heaven..
Well, Brad, it's a bit more than just an implication. [I know you don't want to come face-to-face with the implications of that little word, "all" -- I know it's just a wee bit too "all-inclusive" -- "all" means every Mormon better break down every aspect of life (emotionally, socially, relationally, physically, spiritually, etc.) and comply with your "do" checklist.]
From the article: In this world of mixed messages, I cant get away from the nagging thought if only I could do more, Wilcox said. If only.
Well, this is the precise problem: The Mormon church itself is the biggest source of "mixed messages" for its people. They may read in the Bible that heaven is a free gift from God's gracious Hand (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9), but then past "prophets" like Spencer W. Kimball & others then stress that you have to earn forgiveness -- Kimball even had a chapter in a book entitled, "Keeping God's Commandments Brings Forgiveness."
From the article: Jesus love is not something we earn, it earns us.
Well, yes, how nice. Except it's not Mormon teaching. It's not Mormon "scripture." Mormon "scripture" is more like:
That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins... D&C 76:52
In the Mormon church, obedience is ground zero.
Even before faith -- obedience earns you faith (so said Lds "prophet" Joseph F. Smith)
Even before forgiveness -- obedience earns you forgiveness (so says Lds "prophet" Spencer W. Kimball)
Even before being able to be washed & cleansed from sins -- obedience must be earned (so said founding "prophet" Joseph Smith)
Even before grace -- restoration "grace for grace" only comes to Mormons "according to their works" (Helaman 12:24, Book of Mormon)
So here, the article is stressing grace now and grace later. Instead, the Mormon gospel is obedience not only now and later -- but before anything:
Faith,
forgiveness,
washing or cleansing from sin
grace
None of it kicks in for the Mormon until all the obedient works are racked up! That, my friends, is a false gospel through and through!
Good article. At the risk of over-using the word “all”, this is precisely why the Mormon “gospel” is not the gospel at all. There is no self-help for those dead in their trespasses and sins. Were it not for the Rescuer, Who blows life into these dead souls, we would perish as Lazarus. But, He said “Rise”, and we found life from the dead. Many groups, Catholic, Mormon, and many modern Evangelical groups, are stuck in age-old synergism.
Ping
Past Lds "prophet" David O. McKay said: The true purpose in life is the perfection of humanity through individual effort, under the guidance of God's inspiration." (1963 Lds Conference Report, p. 7)
McKay hardly sounds like he's just focusing on some "improvement" tactics!
From the article: Because its not the work that earns a persons admittance into heaven, but the worth in how it shapes them.
Alright, let's translate this "Mormonese": He says, essentially, it's NOT your work projects, but just your worthiness? Well, according to Mormon writings, what makes you "worthy?" Your perfection (3 Nephi 12:48; Mt. 5:48)
[Whereas, in contrast, a good definition of a "Christian" is someone already perfect in the Father's eyes thru Jesus sacrificial death (Heb. 10:14) -- where His perfect righteousness is substituted for our imperfect righteousness. (1 Cor. 1:30). Heb. 10:14 ...because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.]
Just to be sure, I looked up "worthiness" (a key Lds concept) in the 1977 "Topical Guide to the Scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" published by church-owned Deseret Publishers.
I found verses like Doctrine & Covenants 59:4: "And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time--they that are faithful and diligent before me."
"Commandments not a few"? -- sounds like a long checklist to me.
I then looked at the 1979 "Topical Guide" in the Lds version of its KJV -- and turned to the "worthiness" entry there: It tells me right up top its related to the concept of "qualifying for" & then proceeds to verses like D&C 31:5: "Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live."
So it sounds like the Mormon god wants plenty of soul labor -- paid labor -- earned labor for salvation. No free gifts here. No grace here.
Not too different from John Piper’s teachings:
http://www.svchapel.org/resources/book-reviews/4-christian-living/127-future-grace-by-john-piper
Compare to:
John 6:27-2927. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
28. Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29. Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
I heard something recently that perfectly describes the differences between the LDS and Christians.
The LDS believe they can be forgiven because (or if) they are obedient.
Christians are obedient because they have ALREADY been forgiven.
This guy sounds like a motivational speaker on lsd (lds). Great ‘flexibility’ to redefine the bom to make it sound better.