General Conference, ‘Jesus Christ: The Caregiver of Our Soul’, April 2021 “Through Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice, we can experience a mighty change of mind and heart, bringing a fresh attitude, both toward God and toward life in general. When we sincerely repent of our sins and turn our hearts and will to God and His commandments, we can receive His forgiveness and feel the influence of His Holy Spirit in greater abundance. Mercifully, we avoid having to experience the depth of suffering the Savior endured. …
My dear friends, I testify to you that as we genuinely repent of our sins, we allow the atoning sacrifice of Christ to become wholly effective in our life. We will become free from the bondage of sin, find joy in our earthly journey, and become eligible to receive eternal salvation, which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all who believe in Jesus Christ and come unto Him.” — Ulisses Soares [emp. added]
Today we’re looking at a lie Mr. Soares told in his talk at General Conference. In a few days we’ll be looking at another significant part of his talk where he elaborated on Isaiah chapter 53 so be sure to check back! For now we have a couple of questions/observations –
1.According to the Church only the Mormon bishop can determine if someone has been sincere enough to be forgiven. For more info see LDS Quotes from Conference Priesthood Session.
How does a fallible man determine how sincere someone might be?
2.God’s word says all men have a sin nature (Romans 3:23) so how can someone become free from the bondage of sin? The following is a great explanation from GotQuestions.org –
“We don’t lose our sin nature once we receive Christ. The Bible says that sin remains in us and that a struggle with that old nature will continue as long as we are in this world. Paul bemoaned his own personal struggle in Romans 7:15–25. But we have help in the battle—divine help. The Spirit of God takes up residence in each believer and supplies the power we need to overcome the pull of the sin nature within us. “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9). God’s ultimate plan for us is total sanctification when we see Christ (1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 John 3:2).
Through His finished work on the cross, Jesus satisfied God’s wrath against sin and provided believers with victory over their sin nature: “‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). In His resurrection, Jesus offers life to everyone bound by corrupt flesh. Those who are born again now have this command: “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).”
Because the Church teaches the Jesus of the Bible and the Jesus of Mormonism are two different people, how does someone like my very Mormon mother become free from the bondage of sin? Even Gordon Hinckley admitted the two Jesus’ are different people!
Please, don’t forget to pray, and when you can share the truth with a Mormon you know!
With Love in Christ —
Michelle
[…] Conference Lie: Sincere Repentance Brings Freedom from Sin […]
“For there is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
“For I know that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present in me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. For the good that I know to do, I do not., but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now, if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. . But I see another law in my members, warring against eh law of my mind (temptation?) and bringing me into captivity of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am!! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord, So, then, with the mind I serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin.”(Romans 7:18-20; 23-25).
“”As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our sins from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that dsear him; and his righteousness unto children’s children.>(Psalm 103:12-14;17,18)
The Lord knows our weaknesses. He understands that we are human and that we succumb to sin. Righteousness in the eyes of God, is not about how often you repent, go the temple or confess your sins to your bishop. Righteousness, in the eyes of God is spelled out in one word. FAITH. :”Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness. But to him that worketh not (home teaching, temple attendance, confessions to bishop etc), but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”(Romans 4:3,5)
Amen!!!