Doctrines of Salvation 2:130 “FALSE LIMITATIONS ON HOPE OF SALVATION. Let us reflect for a moment on this teaching that only those who confess the name of Christ or who are baptized in this life shall be saved; that all who have died without confessing Christ, or without having had the privilege of hearing him, are forever lost and are cast into hell; that there is no salvation for them, although it is no fault of their own that they did not hear.
Think of the countless multitudes who have died without the privilege of hearing of Jesus Christ! Are all these to be eternally consigned to torment with the damned? And this, because they were unfortunate as to time and place of birth!” – Joseph Fielding Smith
Mosiah 3:17 “And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.” – c. BC 124
Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
There are a few issues going on with Mr. Smith’s analysis here, not to mention the Book of Mormon.
1.As Christians we know full well Mr. Smith’s words are false. The Bible tells us everyone will know about God no matter when, or where you live.
Romans 1:19-20 tells us they are without excuse because He’s made manifest to all that He exists. While we may choose not to believe in Him, His works surround us. Acts 14:17. Moreover, He tells us in Jeremiah 31:33-34 that He’s written His law on our hearts.
2.Why would Mr. Smith totally deny what the Book of Mormon stated if he wasn’t trying to confuse members of the Church?
3.Ironically enough, while the teaching in the BoM is true for this small portion, we have to ask how their pseudo prophet Mosiah plagiarized the Apostle Paul about 200 years before Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans?
Oh what a tangled web they weave…
Be sure to tell the Mormon you know that God can and will save everyone when they believe on His name. It’s quite amazing how the Bible has the answers to these things even when mankind says, ‘but what about…’
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
Couldn’t the LDSer say, “God gave that message to Mosiah and Paul?” I am long gone from the church but they do seem to come up with answers or denials or obfuscations.
Indeed, they could in fact do just that – however – I’d point out that Christ is a Greek word, which at that time (BC 124) wasn’t being used by the general population. The preferred language being used at the time was Aramaic. Greek was used by a select few who were in the upper echelons of society. Moreover, Smith claimed there was neither Greek, nor Latin on the plates he supposedly found and translated. Sigh…