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Colo, thanks for those quotes. The only good "works" that matter are the ones that occur as a result of any of us taking on ourselves the countenance of Christ, in becoming, through His atonement and grace, His image in our hearts and minds. We become an extension of Him, doing and saying what He would do if He were here, and accomplishing His will on this earth. Then we do things because it is natural...it is "us", and not a "dance" worrying about whether or not we are "earning" anything. As soon as we do "good works" for ourselves, in any way, worrying about our own glory and what we are "earning," they are no longer "good" works and they are powerless to save us in any case. James said, "Faith woithout works is dead," and I agree with that, but I believe he was talking about works in just this vein. Christ said, "if ye love me, keep my commandments." This presupposes that we really love Him and have taken upon us His name. Then His commandments are not a chore...they are not a ladder to climb...they are who we are. True faith begets true good works. They are the result of a true conversion and of taking His grace truly upon us. The church actually teaches this...but because we are human, it is easy to mis-interpret and mis-construe what it means. This happens in all faiths, btw, and is certainly not something that is unique to LDS. We should try and serve one another...help one another...take one another's burdens on and lighten that of those around us...but not because we are trying to be better than someone else, and not because we are trying to climb some kind of ladder...but because in Christ we have been remade and are doing it as a result of His grace and our heartfelt conversion and desire to be in His service. I'm off to the other forum now and working to try and get a higher votre count here in Idaho for Santorum when the time comes.

The only good "works" that matter are the ones that occur as a result of any of us taking on ourselves the countenance of Christ, in becoming, through His atonement and grace, His image in our hearts and minds. We become an extension of Him, doing and saying what He would do if He were here, and accomplishing His will on this earth.

Yup; just like JESUS did; when He allowed hinself to be baptized for Lazarus instead of raising him from the grave.

Christ said, "if ye love me, keep my commandments."

Just what ARE those 'commandments?

John 6:28-29 (niv)

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”