Thanks, but I do have to ad this. My experience leads me to believe that the average Mormon congregant believes that Jesus Christ on the cross has provided for his salvation and is no more or less informed about his church's theology than the average mainstream Christian believer.
Are you also aware of the semantics of mormonism? Within mormon doctrine the term 'salvation' has two definitions. The first is a universal resurrection of all with a physical body at the end. That definition is foreign to Christianity. The second is more foreign, that is their progression to godhood. Both have significant challenges as well. Check their doctrine on the sufficiency of that sacrifice. You will find that abundant works are required before any benefit from that sacrifice can be applied.
The theology of the average mainstream? Christian believer?
Since when is an adjective needed to describe "Christian"?
That is a ploy by non-Christians to attempt to coerce people to see these unBiblical cults as part of the Christian community, which is false.
As to the "being informed" statement...the average Christian finds his theology in the Holy Bible. The average mormon finds his in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, and in the statements and doctrines handed down over the years by various mormon leaders, many of which statements are in direct conflict with those of earlier leaders.
Those of us who are former mormons can attest that the "average" mormon has a very slight acquaintance with the more arcane beliefs such as the "Calling and Election Made Sure" for only the elites among the sect.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 305:
Calling & Election To Be Made Sure
Contend earnestly for the like precious faith with the Apostle Peter, "and add to you faith, virtue," knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity [D&C 4]; "for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Another point, after having all these qualifications, he lays this injunction upon the people "to make your calling and election sure." He is emphatic upon this subject--after adding all this virtue, knowledge, etc., "Make your calling and election sure." What is the secret--the starting point? "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness." How did he obtain all things? Through the knowledge of Him who hath called him. There could not anything be given, pertaining to life and godliness, without knowledge. Woe! woe! Woe to Christendom!--especially the divines and priests if this be true.
Salvation is for a man to be saved from all his enemies; for until a man can triumph over death, he is not saved. A knowledge of the priesthood alone will do this.
Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:325-353.
But in the most express and proper usage of the terms, "The elect of God comprise a very select group, an inner circle of faithful members of the Church.... They are the portion of church members who are striving with all their hearts to keep the fulness of the gospel law in this life so that they can become inheritors of the fulness of the gospel rewards in the life to come.
"As far as the male sex is concerned, they are the ones, the Lord says, who have the Melchizedek Priesthood conferred upon them and who thereafter magnify their callings and are sanctified by the Spirit. In this way, 'They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.' " (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., 217.) See Commentary 2: 267-269, 271-278, 283-285.
[4] What is meant by making an election sure?
It is with election as with calling: the chosen of the Lord are offered all of the blessings of the gospel on condition of obedience to the Lord's laws; and they, having been tried and tested and found worthy in all things, eventually have a seal placed on their election which guarantees the receipt of the promised blessing.
[5] What is meant by having one's calling and election made sure?
To have one's calling and election made sure is to be sealed up unto eternal life; it is to have the unconditional guarantee of exaltation in the highest heaven of the celestial world; it is to receive the assurance of godhood; it is, in effect, to have the day of judgment advanced, so that an inheritance of all the glory and honor of the Father's kingdom is assured prior to the day when the faithful actually enter into the divine presence to sit with Christ in his throne, even as he is "set down" with his "Father in his throne." (Rev 3:21.)
But the MORMMON expert is about as informed as a Christian neophyte.
But it's the GARDEN; don't you know?
Or more accurately, in the garden, sweating blood.
I've lived in Utah for 15 years and when asked why they don't wear crosses or have them on their church buildings, I've been told "we don't focus on that".
I've also heard from Mormons here on FR explaining that Jesus' method of death was unimportant, just a period at the end of a sentence. "If he had been shot to death", they'll say, "would you wear a tiny gold revolver on a chain around your neck?"