Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

By Mormon Readers

Q: You obviously don't understand what Mormons believe about grace. We know that we cannot be saved apart from the Lord's grace through the atonement. But I must strive to keep the Lords commandments as well. As long as I try my best, Heavenly Father will overlook my shortcomings. Are you saying that all I need to do is say "I believe" and that good works are optional? Surely you see that this is not fair. Mercy cannot rob justice.

A: I am not ignorant of Mormon doctrine. I have lived it, and I have documented everything I've said with scripture references and quotes from LDS prophets. It is very common to find that Mormons do not understand their own teachings, and instead adhere to what I call "folk Mormonism." If you presume to teach me what Mormonism teaches, then I insist that you back up everything you tell me with scripture and quotations as I have. I know full well the role that your version of the atonement plays in your doctrine, but that atonement is not yours unless you meet certain requirements in Mormonism. Yes, you must rely on Christ's blood to be forgiven, but the LDS Jesus only forgives past sins, and even that only occurs only when you stop repeating your sins--a task that is never done--so the atonement never helps you.

Still, many members of the Church have successfully stopped a few easy sins, so they have this pipe dream that they can make enough progress before the judgment so that God will be impressed with their effort and cut them some slack when that judgment day comes. Mormonism never teaches this, but it is what many cling to. God does not grade on a curve--not in Mormonism or in evangelical Christianity. Partial repentance and partial forgiveness does you absolutely no good whatsoever. No unclean thing can dwell with the Holy God.

You must understand that sin is a very very serious thing. God is holy. He cannot be in the presence of sin unless He judges and condemns it. The penalty is death. His forgiveness cannot even come without being based upon a death penalty of another who owes no such penalty himself. (Jesus) God does not look upon a person and say, "Well he is naughty but nice. I'll let him slide." He cannot do this. He must punish sin. Even the smallest impurity of thought or word or deed. Sin is like a deadly virus or poison. Only a drop, only a microscopic amount pollutes and kills. It is like trying to eliminate the AIDS virus from a person by massive blood transfusions. Doctors can flush out the system in this way and make the body 99.9% cleansed of the AIDS virus with such an approach, but does this cure AIDS? Of course not, because it only takes a minute amount of the virus to pollute the whole body. So it is with your sin and mine. Your efforts at righteousness are wonderful, just like a blood transfusion. But your efforts will never purge your system of the SINS virus. It cannot be done. Only God can cleanse you, and without you having anything to do with it. Your part is merely to say "yes" to God, and let Him cleanse you of ALL (not just most) of your sin from your record book. Will you say "yes" in faith? Will you believe His promise in John 6:47 or will you continue to tell God that you want to keep giving yourself transfusions?

Is this fair? To be heir to all the treasures of heaven when you don't deserve it? Is this just? Yes, because mercy did not rob justice. Justice was satisfied. A penalty was paid. The most precious price that could possibly be paid was in fact paid upon the cross of Calvary. Jesus did not die so that He could give you a little bit of grace, a little bit of mercy. The perfect Lamb did not die merely to give you potential to be exalted. He bought everything. He offers everything to you as a gift that a blameless person would be owed.

(Rom 8:32-34 KJV) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? {33} Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. {34} Who is he that condemneth?...

I have been forgiven of all my sin, every bit. Do you know what that means? Can you imagine how life-transforming that is? To be fearless in the terrible day of God's white throne judgment, knowing that despite my sin, He has washed it whiter than snow and removed it all as far as the east is from the west? But not only life-transforming in terms of the future, but also here and now. Just like the woman of Luke 7:36-50 I have such a love for the Most High God that I never thought possible before as a Mormon. The good I do now comes from no hidden motives to try to earn points with God, but from a pure heart since God has already given me all the "points." He loves me. Not just enough to give me the potential for me to earn my own pardon, but to actually earn my pardon for me. What a Savior!

I hope to hear from you soon.

Your friend,

Mark Champneys