How we can explain to a Mormon the differences of the Bible and what their church is teaching to obtain salvation? To do this their position needs to be explained in detail, and compared to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the original apostles.

The Mormon lifestyle is governed by their teaching of obedience to celestial law. Doctrine and Covenants 88:22 states, “For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.” President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote, “To enter the celestial and obtain exaltation it is necessary that the whole law be kept...Do you desire to enter the celestial Kingdom and receive eternal life? Then be willing to keep all of the commandments.” (The Way to Perfection, p. 206). The Mormon is to prove himself worthy of exaltation by his obedience and they believe they can achieve perfection in this life. They point to the Bible for this where Jesus said “be ye perfect as your father in heaven is perfect.” The understanding of this Scripture comes from their non- biblical concept of sin. The sin which came from the garden in Mormonism is not the same definition as Christianity. To Mormon's, Adam did not fall in the Biblical sense, but instead was given an opportunity to become a god. Sterling W. Sill who served as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve explained Adams transgression as “Under Christ Adam yet stands at our head... Adam fell, but he fell in the right direction. He fell toward the goal ... Adam fell, but he fell upward. “(Deseret News Church Section, July 31, 1965)

Brigham Young also said “We are the sons and daughters of celestial Beings, and the germ of the Deity dwells within us. When our spirits took possession of these tabernacles, they were as pure as the angels of God, wherefore total depravity cannot be a true doctrine.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, pp.50-51)

So without the understanding of the encroachment of sin on mankind and how serious it is, brings the Mormons distorted view of Grace and what faith and works are.

The Bible teaches that what happened to Adam was the most horrendous act to man and destroyed our future estate that our creator had in mind for us. It was the worst human disaster in history. Even though it only affected two people initially, its repercussions would be felt to all mankind down through history. Satan who was a foreign intruder deceived and challenged man by alienating him from his best friend, God.

These views are two completely different stories and have two completely different solutions for the problem for our fallen human nature. There is only one solution to solve the problem of sin; one of these does not work. We need to keep in mind that Mormonism is claiming to give the restored gospel that was lost in Christianity. As we will see it is nothing more than the Galatian heresy that Paul refuted so clearly plus some custom additions of their own.

One of the additions according to Brigham Young “Sin is upon every earth that ever was created, and if it was not so, I would like some philosophers to let us know how people can be exalted to become sons of God, and enjoy a fulness of glory with the Redeemer. Consequently every earth has its redeemer, and every earth has its tempter; and every earth, and the people thereof, in their turn and time, receive all that we receive, and pass through all the ordeals that we are passing through” (Journal of Discourses 14:71-72).

The apostle Paul described his own life as unable to do this. As he said he did what he did not want to do at times, yet he continued to be saved and serve the Lord.

From this misunderstanding of Jesus Mormons are presented with an “unreachable goal” to gain them eternal life within the lifestyle of Mormonism. Spencer W. Kimball “Christ became perfect through overcoming. Only as we overcome shall we become perfect and move toward godhood. As I have indicated previously, the time to do this is now, in mortality” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 209-210)

When a Mormon repents he proves he is not living up to the standard set by LDS teaching, therefore he is not obeying celestial law. If he were obedient, he would then have no need to repent. But he can only repent once never to repeat the sin with the goal of reaching perfection. I'm not saying all Mormons are aware of this but the quotes do speak for themselves.

Christianity teaches that we have all inherited a fallen nature from Adam and continue to have the fallen nature until we are ushered into God's presence. In the meantime we are made new creature by a new nature along with our sin nature. We have been imputed with righteousness of Christ. We don't have to work for it , it was given by grace “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-4).

A question I ask a Mormon, do you think you are perfect? Do you think you will one day be perfect here on earth? If so, then you are calling God, THE God a liar. This is not my opinion but His Word. If we say we have no sin we are calling God a liar and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:5-9). No one can live up to the requirements these men have set forth. It is impossible unless you are perfect Jesus Christ!

Didn't Jesus live the perfect life as our example for us to follow? Yes, but we're unable to live up to His example. His sinless life “condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:3) and is the standard by which mankind will be judged. Only he kept all of God's law perfect, not only in his actions outwardly but in his heart and mind inwardly. His perfection both condemns the sinner and qualifies Him to be our Savior, for only One that is perfectly Holy could die for the sins of others.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15) from the penalty God's justice demands on sin (Ps 9:8, 96:13). “to call sinners to repentance” (Mat 19:13). Christ saves only those who, believing in Him, admit to being sinful and repent of being lost, guilty sinners, unable to please God or to save themselves. Here is the truth that sets us free! One cannot believe they must work for salvation and be perfect to receive it, Christ did not come to receive the righteous.

It is Christ's total obedience, not our partial obedience that saves a believer in God's sight (Romans. 5:19). When we come to Him by faith, His righteousness is “imputed” (or “added”) to us to our account (Romans. 4:1-8). Only His righteousness will satisfy the demands of a Holy God. Nothing less will do. It is only when we rely on this biblical fact that we can have the assurance of God's forgiveness. As long as a person insists that this salvation is dependent on his good works and individual righteousness, he will continue to be frustrated and bear the heavy burden of guilt.

Jesus did not die to make resurrection possible for all mankind; He came to remove all (not “some”) of the believer's sins (Col. 2:13) so we can have a relationship with the one true God.

Lowell Bennoin former director of the LDS Institute of Religion said “Salvation is not a gift of God which comes to man through the decree of Deity or through the sacramental action of the Church. It is a gift of God which man must work diligently to achieve” (The Religion of the Latter-day Saints, p. 160 Lowell L. Bennion).

Paul writes in his masterful theological letter Romans v 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Why would Paul say this unless he was making a point? He again states in Titus 3:7 “that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Mormonism does not have the gospel of Jesus which is based on grace, his favor toward us because of our inability to fulfill what God requires. It is a teaching that will poison their soul and prevent one from seeking peace from God through Jesus Christ. If you want to be deceived instead of loving the truth, the Lord Himself will allow you to be deceived, however He loves you and asks you to return to the true teachings of His Word.

God has said,” Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. David also described the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes righteousness without works” (Romans 4:4-6).

What is ironic is that within the very scripture Joseph Smith used to receive his new revelation to start the Mormon Church it refutes the practice they need to obtain the celestial kingdom. James 1:2-5 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Notice it is by faith, trusting in God having patience through trials that we become mature or perfect. For the believer it is not for salvation but the complete and making us mature is for the work of God. Then we come to the Scripture that had Smith go into the woods to ask God which Church is right. “that If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

One needs to surrender to God's Gospel to be saved, and depend on His work and merits to be saved. As a Mormon who is looking to please God, please consider what the Bible says.

Rom. 3:19-24 “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” This is Romans 10 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Rom.10:4-5 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”

So here is the choice set before anyone who is religious whether they are Mormon or any other religion that is trying to use the Bibles standards to be righteous. Scripture is clear “ by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39) One is accepted and received by God by faith in Christ, something the law which came from God could never do.