For Our Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Friends
Instructions: Read each point. For each one that you agree is the truth, place a mental checkmark in the box and then read the next point, and so on. Citations are hyperlinked to their sources.
Square 1. The Bible is the Word of God.
“All scripture is inspired by God”
2 Timothy 3:16 (King James Version)
“We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly;”
'Article of Faith 8’
“The Bible Is the Word of God”
'The Book of Mormon and the Bible Are God’s Word’
Square 2. God does not contradict Himself.
“in which it was impossible for God to lie”
Hebrews 6:18b (KJV)
“Surely I, the LORD, do not change”
Malachi 3:6a (KJV)
“God does not contradict himself.”
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent
“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”
“The Lord does not contradict himself.”
Square 3. The First Presidency also speaks for God.
“The members of the First Presidency are the Presiding High Priests over the entire Church. As such, the First Presidency is the final mortal authority on all matters…
In the exercise of their functions and delegated powers they are controlled by a constitution, a part of which is written and a part of which is not. The written part consists in authenticated scripture, ancient and modern, and in the recorded utterances of our latter-day prophets. The unwritten part is the spirit of revelation and divine inspiration which are appertinent to their calling” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1938, 115–16)”
'The Authority of the First Presidency’
“The priesthood is the eternal power and authority of God…
Another reason the priesthood is needed on the earth is so we can understand the will of the Lord and carry out His purposes. God reveals His will to His authorized priesthood representative on the earth, the prophet. The prophet, who is President of the Church, serves as the spokesman for God to all members of the Church and all people on the earth.”
'Why Do We Need the Priesthood on the Earth? Gospel Principles, Chapter 13'
Square 4. The First Presidency teaches faith plus works for salvation.
“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”
“3. Obedience. This means that you follow Heavenly Father’s commandments.
4. Laws. Another word for commandments.”
'Articles Of Faith, Article 3’
“After all we can do’ (2 Nhi 25:23) includes extending our best effort. ‘After all we can do’ includes living His commandments. ‘After all we can do’ includes loving our fellowmen and praying for those who regard us as their adversary. ‘After all we can do’ means clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and giving ‘succor [to] those who stand in need of [our] succor’ (Mosiah 4:15)-remembering that what we do unto one of the least of God’s children, we do unto Him (see Matthew 25:34-40; D&C 42:38). ‘After all we can do’ means leading chaste, clean, pure lives, being scrupulously honest in all our dealings and treating others the way we would want to be treated”
‘The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.354'
“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of ALL ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of ALL ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.”
Square 5. The Bible teaches salvation by faith alone.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (King James Version)
“For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
Romans 3:28 (KJV)
“since no human being will be justified in his sight by observing the law; for through the law comes consciousness of sin.”
[ Also ref. Romans 4:3 + Romans 4:5 + Romans 5:1 + Romans 9:30 + Romans 10:9-10 + Romans 11:6 + Galatians 2:16 + Galatians 2:21 + Galatians 3:1-6 + Galatians 5:6 + Philippians 3:9 + 1 Tim 1:16 + John 5:24 + 2 Tim. 1:9 + Titus 3:4-7 ]
Square 6. Final Point.
If the Bible is the Word of God (pt. 1), and God does not contradict Himself (pt. 2), then the First Presidency, which claims to also speak for God (pt. 3) discredits itself as the one true religion because it contradicts the Word of God by teaching faith plus works for salvation (pt. 4) when the Bible, which came first, clearly and unmistakenly teaches faith alone for salvation (pt. 5).
[ Also ref. Acts 17:10-11 + 1 Corinthians 4:6 + Isaiah 64:6 + James 2:10 + Galatians 3:10 + 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 + Galatians 1:8-9 + Matthew 7:15, 21-23 + John 6:28-29 + Colossians 2:13-14 + 1 John 5:13 + Matthew 11: 28-30 + Mark 7:13]
The Biblical Gospel
God is holy and just, and has set a day in which He will judge the earth in righteousness (Acts 17:31). He will not overlook any sin. How will you do? Here’s a quick test: How many times have you ever lied, stolen, and used God’s name in vain? Jesus said, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” If you’ve done these things God sees you as a liar, thief, blasphemer, and adulterer at heart; and the Bible warns that one day God will justly punish you in Hell.
But God lovingly and mercifully provided a way for forgiveness. We’ve broken God’s moral Law, but Jesus, who was sinless, paid the fine on the cross for guilty sinners. This means God can legally dismiss their case: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Then Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death. Make up your mind/heart to turn from sin and to trust Jesus alone and in His righteousness (not your own failed self-righteousness), then God will forgive your sins and grant you eternal life as a free gift. Then read the Bible daily, obey it, and find a Bible-believing church where you can learn and grow as a believer.
For a more comprehensive proclamation of the Biblical Gospel, click here.
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