Replies

There ya have it: Mormonism's 'Bootstrap' religion vs. God who sent His Son down to die for the lost, the blind, the spiritually disabled, those in bondage, those sick, and those spiritually dead.

Spencer W. Kimball made it clear that “Trying is not sufficient” (Miracle of Forgiveness, 164). President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote, “To enter the celestial and obtain exaltation it is necessary that the whole law be kept…” (The Way to Perfection, 206). Within mormonism the sacrifice of Christ is totally unnecessary. heavenly father became a god without it, adam became a god without it as well as the multitudes of other gods before Jesus. All one has to do is perfectly keep all of the eternal law perfectly and at all times. The bible shows that this 'gospel' is clearly a lie -

1Jo 1:8 KJV - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jo 1:10 KJV - If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

This is the impossible 'gospel' of mormonism. The TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ frees us from the bondage of such law -

“Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary” (Galatians 3:19).

“But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian [the Law], for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:25-26).

'Zilla, you cited excellent verses from Galatians 3...and here's a key one we don't seem to talk enough with Lds about...from Galatians 2:16:

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

So what "justifies" us in God's sight?
Attempted Obedience?
Ritual ordinance-keeping?
Word of wisdom-keeping?
Observation this and observation that?
A spiritual checklist?

None from this list. The apostle Paul says it frankly: faith in Jesus...'ongoingly' believing Jesus.

That's why even an 8 yo -- and younger -- can be saved. They know how to trust parents; and many likewise know how to trust the Ultimate Father, God.

Even mentally retarted individuals love, relate, and trust. The Christian Gospel can be grasped by them. God doesn't develop a long "to do" list to join His family, 2 Nephi 25:23 Book of Mormon style. That's just not the way a true father operates.