Is Jesus Missing from the Mormon Salvation Plan?
In official LDS teachings, Jesus’ atonement provides physical resurrection for all—but after that, the burden of salvation shifts squarely onto the individual. According to Mormon doctrine, exaltation comes only through obedience to laws, ordinances, temple rituals, and lifelong personal effort. This is why, in some LDS-produced charts explaining the path to exaltation, Jesus seems oddly absent. Even Joseph Smith taught that people must “save [themselves]” by walking in obedience and improving the light given to them.
But is this what the Bible teaches? The Scriptures declare that salvation is not something we can earn—it is a free gift of God through Christ’s finished work:
- “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)
- “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” (Titus 3:5)
- “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28)
Paul himself testified that his righteousness did not come from the law or personal effort, but from Christ alone:
“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)
Jesus paid it all. The cross was not a partial down payment on salvation that we must finish with our works—it was a complete and sufficient sacrifice. He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). To add human effort as a requirement for eternal life undermines the sufficiency of His atonement.
In this video, we contrast the LDS view of salvation with the biblical gospel, asking a critical question: If salvation is ultimately up to you—why did Jesus have to die? The Bible makes the answer clear: Christ alone is our Savior, and His work is enough.
