During the Spring 2024 LDS General Conference, while I (Christy) and several friends were out sharing the gospel with Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, we met a remarkable man named Adam. Despite living with a disability, Adam radiated joy and peace as he sat beside us on the street, boldly sharing his testimony of how God’s grace set him free from the bondage of Mormonism and brought him into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
For years, Adam believed — as many faithful Latter-day Saints do — that his worth before God depended on his obedience, temple ordinances, and continual striving for perfection. But through the Word of God, he discovered that no amount of religious effort can make us right with God. The Bible declares that salvation is not achieved by works, but received by faith alone:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God — not of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Adam came to realize that the true gospel is not about earning God’s love, but about accepting the love He has already shown through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Now, instead of relying on a church organization or man-made authority for salvation, Adam places his full trust in Christ alone, who declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). He knows that forgiveness, eternal life, and peace with God are found only through faith in the risen Savior:
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)
Adam’s courage and humility are a powerful reminder that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). His story illustrates that true freedom is not found in religion or performance, but in the grace of Jesus Christ, who offers rest to all who come to Him:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
On the streets of Salt Lake City, Adam’s testimony shined brightly — a living example of the truth that the gospel of grace can reach anyone, anywhere, and that Jesus truly sets captives free (John 8:36).
