The LDS reference for today is an absolute heartbreaker. For the sake of overall brevity, we’re limiting ourselves to just a few comments Dallin Oaks gave in a General Conference speech. To read his article in full, see Ensign, ‘Have You Been Saved,’ May 1998.
“As Latter-day Saints use the words saved and salvation, there are at least six different meanings.
What do we say when someone asks us, “Have you been saved?” This question, so common in the conversation of some Christians, can be puzzling to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because it is not our usual way of speaking.
We tend to speak of “saved” or “salvation” as a future event rather than something that has already been realized. …
As to salvation from sin and the consequences of sin, our answer to the question of whether or not we have been saved is “yes, but with conditions.” Our third article of faith declares our belief:
“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (A of F 1:3).” — Dallin H. Oaks [emp. added]
Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
This talk is the epitome of manipulation and brainwashing. If ever there was anything to serve as a poster child on how to control, and confuse people, this would be it.
As an FYI, you can find the word save, and its derivatives 340 times in the Bible. We’ve included a brief chart below.
Christian denominations can differ in some of the ways they describe being saved. However, everyone agrees that salvation comes by no other means than the shed blood of Christ. This is exactly what Peter told the elders in Acts 4:12, and what Paul told believers in Rome.
If you believe salvation is an event in the future, then you’re not saved, and thereby not a Christian believer.
Most unfortunately LDS precepts in the talk Mr. Oaks gave twenty years ago, still holds true now.
With love and patience, kindly explain to a Mormon the problem in the LDS concept of what it means to be saved. There’s nothing in the Bible telling us the things Oaks did at the General Conference.
In Christianity there’s a phrase that goes like this –
We have been saved (past) – Ephesians 2:8
We are being saved (present) – 1 Corinthians 1:18
We will be saved (future) – 1 Peter 1:5
For more info, see BiblicalChristianity.com.
In Mormonism, there’s nothing to show they accept the blood of Christ as their means of salvation. Their 3rd AoF is proof they deny the Lord.
Please pray for these dear people!
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
Save • (OT)164 + (NT)62
Saved • (OT)47 + (NT)57
Savest • (OT)7
Saveth • (OT)3
221 • OT/119 – NT
Total • 340
Salvation • (OT)115 + (NT)43
Saving • (OT)7 + (NT)5
“Whosoever shall CONFESS THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, God dwelleth in him and he in God.” (1 John 4:`5).
The Mormon Church preaches Works and then more Works. No matter how hard you try, there is always more to do.There is always that smug General Authority, that loves to remind folks during GC, that we have not done enough. They blame the rank and file members for the declining numbers of active members. It’s our fault people have quit coming to church.
If something doesn’t seem to be adding up, you’ve got to check it against objective reality. Something that you can measure to see whether or not it’s verified by something that other people can see.
–Dr. Phil