1) You must be exalted into a god to be saved.
Although salvation may be defined in many ways to mean many things, in its most pure and perfect definition it is a synonym for exaltation. Mormon Doctrine, 1966.
Correction: A true Christian is saved from the wrath of God.
Save defined: to rescue or deliver from danger or harm. Webster's Dictionary.
Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
2) You must be smart to be saved.
For Latter-day Saints, salvation is a matter of growing in truth and particularly in knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith taught that "a man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge" (HC 4:588) and that "it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance" (D&C 131:6). Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 1992.
Correction: A true Christian does not need to be smart to be saved.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes."
3) Everyone is saved by the resurrection yet only worthy people are saved.
As President Joseph Fielding Smith noted, however, there are two kinds of salvation: One is unconditional, the triumph over death which the resurrection will bring to all, and the other is conditional. Based upon one's worthiness, one will be "saved" in one of the three kingdoms of glory. The only ones not so saved will be sons of perdition. (D&C 88:21-32; DS 2:1-34.) In the ultimate sense, however, as Amulek pointed out: "How can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven?" (Alma 11:37.) This latter salvation is conditional upon one's worthiness.
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 1992.
Correction: Jesus Christ is the Savior not the resurrection
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Note: True Christians are worthy through faith in Jesus Christ according to the grace of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4) Jesus Christ was a saved being.
He who said "Come follow me" is our sure guide who marks the path all must follow to obtain salvation (see Ps. 48:14). "If we can find a saved being," Joseph Smith asserted, "we may ascertain without much difficulty what all others must be in order to be saved. We think that it will not be a matter of dispute, that two beings who are unlike each other cannot both be saved; for whatever constitutes the salvation of one will constitute the salvation of every creature which will be saved; and if we find one saved being in all existence, we may see what all others must be, or else not be saved. We ask, then, where is the prototype? or where is the saved being? We conclude... that it is Christ." (Lectures on Faith 7:9.) A Guide to Scriptural Symbols, 1990.
Correction: Jesus Christ is the Savior not a saved created being.
Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
5) You must be baptized to be saved.
And next, there is an essential ordinance -baptism- standing as a gate through which every soul must pass if he would obtain eternal life. Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled, 1991.
Correction: Salvation from sincere belief is manifested through a sincere confession of Christ.
Romans 10:8-9 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Luke 23:42-43 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Note: The criminal who died with Jesus Christ was never baptized.
6) You must have current revelation (prophecies) to be saved.
The world may be considered in a woeful state of darkness and unbelief, whenever this great and glorious gift is withdrawn from the children of men; for without this gift, without this spirit, without revelation from the Most High, it is utterly impossible for the human family to be saved in the celestial kingdom of our Father and God. Perhaps some may think that this is a very broad statement. They will refer back to the last sixteen or seventeen centuries, and will say, that our fathers have not enjoyed the spirit of revelation, during that time, and if your statement, Mr. Pratt, be true, our fathers are not saved in the celestial kingdom of God. Journal of Discourses, Volume 21.
Correction: Revelation ended with the completion of the Holy Bible.
Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
7) You are saved by observing the commandments such as tithing.
My friends, my brethren and my sisters, I leave with you my testimony that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. I leave with you my testimony that only by keeping the commandments of God will you be saved. I say unto you, be honest with God. Never make a dollar in the world but you pay your tithing on it. Heber J. Grant, April 1901.
Correction: True Christians are saved by faith in Jesus Christ not by their good works.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
SAVED BY MORMON WORKS AND NOT BY FAITH
Professor stresses invitation to "come unto Christ" in devotional address
By Meghan Morgan
BYU Newsnet
9 May 2007
A plan for accepting the Savior's invitation to come to Him was offered by Neil J. Anderson, linguistics and English language professor, at Tuesday's (May 8, 2007) devotional in the de Jong Concert Hall.
"May we come unto Christ through the ordinances and covenants of the gospel, ministering to others with a humble attitude of self evaluation," Anderson said.
His speech was divided into four sections. Each section represented a letter in the word "come."
First was the letter "C," which stands for coming unto Christ.
"Come is a verb of movement," Anderson said. "The use of the word in the context we are examining this morning is as an imperative or command."
He said that while reading the scriptures he has noticed that when Christ extends an invitation to come, there is usually a promise attached.
"If we are to move closer to the Savior Jesus Christ and respond to these invitations, we must yield our whole heart to Heavenly Father," he said. "In this way He will know of our sincere desire to become one with Him and His son."
Anderson noted that we must accept the invitation to come and make the effort to move closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
The letter "O" represents the word "ordinances." He divided his discussion of ordinances into two sections - ordinances of the sacrament and ordinances of the temple.
"When we enter into an ordinance of the gospel, we also make covenants with our Heavenly Father," he said.
He said the sacrament not only reminds us of the covenants we made at baptism, but of the atonement as well.
"Each week we can partake of the sacrament and feel the cleansing power of the atonement in our lives," he said. "By worthily partaking of the sacrament you are responding to the invitation to come."
He said all we do in the church should direct individuals and families to focus on the importance of temple ordinances.
"As we participate in the ordinances of the temple, we receive a gift from our Heavenly Father," he said. "We also learn about our natural capacities. We receive power and Heavenly Father increases our ability."
He challenged those listening to obtain a temple recommend, remain worthy to use it and attend the temple frequently.
"Think about how the ordinances you have participated in draw you close to Jesus Christ," he said. "Think about how you are responding to the invitation to come unto Christ."
The letter "M" represents the phrase "ministering to others."
"As we minister to others we provide service," he said. "It is through service to others that we demonstrate to Heavenly Father the purity of our hearts."
He said meaningful service stretches our souls and strengthens our character. Through serving others we are accepting the Savior's invitation to come.
"E," the final letter of the word "come," stands for "evaluation."
"I have found that three places in particular provide the perfect setting for deep, personal self-evaluation and reflection," he said. "During daily, personal scripture study, while partaking of the sacrament each week in sacrament meeting and in the temple."
He said each person must find the best time and place for daily scripture reading.
"Daily scripture study is one of the best ways I know of to become aware of my strengths and weaknesses," he said.
During the sacrament, he said, there is a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon one's life.
"Heavenly Father will bring to our minds the things that we have done that require that we make improvements," he said, in reference to personal pondering during the sacrament. "He will also bring to our minds the peace that will confirm that we are making progress."
As a third place for personal evaluation, he offered the temple.
"The quietness of the temple can provide a refuge from the cares and concerns of the world," he said. "And we can be better prepared to move back into the world and be instruments in our Heavenly Father's hands."