The Bible is unmistakably clear: salvation is not something we can earn through rituals, ordinances, or human effort—it is a free gift of God’s grace. Paul declares, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
Yet Mormonism teaches that eternal life requires temple ordinances, Melchizedek priesthood authority, eternal marriage, and even baptisms for the dead. But if that were true, how could Paul have been saved? He never received Mormon temple endowments, never held the Melchizedek priesthood, and never participated in proxy ordinances. Instead, Paul testified that his righteousness came solely through faith in Christ: “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9).
The consistent teaching of Scripture is that salvation rests on Christ’s finished work, not on human additions:
- Jesus proclaimed on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30) — leaving nothing more for us to add.
- Paul wrote, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28).
- Titus 3:5 reminds us, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
The Bible even warns against mixing grace with works: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace” (Romans 11:6). To add requirements beyond faith in Christ is to deny the sufficiency of His sacrifice.
This video contrasts the true, biblical gospel of salvation by grace with the works-based system of LDS theology. The critical question is this: Are we saved by what Jesus has done—or by what we do?
