In Acts 20:28 we read:
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
I came upon this verse the other night as I was doing my devotional. It caused me to pause and think about how the Mormon Church was “purchased”. Clearly it wasn’t purchased through the blood of Jesus Christ, considering the fact that according to Mormon doctrine it’s through temple works that an individual is permitted to enter into the presence of God.
Jesus died for His church; he gave his life for it. He shed his blood on the cross, and told us that it’s through him and him alone that we can come to the Father. Instead of accepting and embracing this wonderful knowledge Mormonism chooses to literally hang the veil back up, putting a barrier between God and man. Telling the people that it’s only through temple works that they have any hope of living in the presence of God when they die.
And as far as Jesus goes, well according to Mormon doctrine his sacrifice only “made it possible” for us to live with God, it’s up to the individual to accept the Mormon Gospel and obey its laws and ordinances.
In Christ,
Melissa Grimes
Not sure you fully understand what we believe and how we feel that the atonement works. We know that through obedience to the laws and ordinances that Christ taught, we are saved. We actually are saved through his grace as we merit it, we all fall short and will need grace to save us in the end. Ordinances like Baptism are just standard parts of our inward devotion that even Christ performed. Only through proper authority can these ordinances be administered and only in His church. This is His Gospel as we follow him and become more like him we will merit the kingdom that we will be given. Peace.
Actually I do fully understand what Mormonism teaches. Contrary to its doctrine we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone after nothing we do. When I say saved I’m referring to the privilege of living with God when we die, not the general salvation everyone gets according to Mormonism that teaches of being “saved” yet not living with the Father.
While I believe that baptism along with communion are two of the ordinances believers should participate in, I believe they are the only two. And I don’t believe they are required for one to receive salvation and to live with God when they die.
The “authority” you’re talking about is from a false prophet not Jesus Christ, so it’s hardly the “proper authority”. – Melissa Grimes