Ponder the Path: What do Latter-Day Saints believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Monday, May 20, 2013

What do Latter-Day Saints believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Our Savior Jesus Christ Worketh Salvation on behalf of all of God's Children, his arm is continually stretched out, he calls to us continually, "he doeth [nothing] save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him...he inviteth all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female...and all are alike unto God." (2 Nephi 27) This scripture describes grace as a gift that is given free to all who repent and come unto Him.

The Book of Mormon expounds in detail how we are saved through grace after "all we can do", and that it is through the Atonement of Christ that we are changed. The power of repentance made possible through Christ liberates us from sin and draws us nearer to God.

So when I am asked by friends, "Have you been saved by grace?", I answer "YES! Most certainly...but more importantly, I have been changed by grace!" I believe it is this change of heart, a submitting ones will to God and following in his footsteps that glorifies Him, that activates the atonement through grace in our lives and saves us in the Kingdom of Heaven in the end.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

“While 'the world changes constantly and dramatically... God, His commandments, and promised blessings do not change. They are immutable and unchanging. Men and women receive their agency as a gift from God, but their liberty and, in turn, their eternal happiness come from obedience to His laws.“Wickedness never was happiness” Surely there could not be any doctrine more strongly expressed in the scriptures than the Lord’s unchanging commandments and their connection to our happiness and well-being as individuals, as families, and as a society. There are moral absolutes. Disobedience to the Lord’s commandments will always deprive us of His blessings. These things do not change. In a world where the moral compass of society is faltering, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ never wavers." ~ (L. Tom Perry, Obedience to Law Is Liberty)

"We are not authorized to negotiate the conditions of [God's] eternal plan. Sometimes we become the lightning rod, and we must “take the heat” for holding fast to God’s standards and doing His work. I testify that we need not be afraid if we are grounded in His doctrine. We may experience misunderstanding, criticism, and even false accusation, but we are never alone. Our Savior was “despised and rejected of men.” It is our sacred privilege to stand with Him!" ~ Robert D. Hales (Stand Strong in Holy Places

‎"Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interest in these His little ones. Now, love them, take care of them. Fathers, control your tempers, now and in all the years to come. Mothers, control your voices; keep them down. Rear your children in love, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Take care of your little ones. Welcome them into your homes, and nurture and love them with all of your hearts. They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried. Never forget that” (Salt Lake University Third Stake conference, 3 Nov. 1996).