LDS Faith and Beliefs | Grace and Good Works

March 13, 2015

New graphic! This picture was downloaded from the media library at lds.org.
Today I want to talk a little about grace and good works. This is another piece of doctrine of the LDS Church that differs from other major Christian denominations. I think (and I am not certain about this, so please don’t be offended if this is not what you believe and I have a misconception) that most Christians believe that we are fully saved by grace, and that no works are needed. However, we as members of the LDS Church believe that “it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” (2 Nephi 25:23.)

I’d like to quote directly from the Bible Dictionary what we believe about grace:

“Divine grace is needed by every soul in consequence of the Fall of Adam and also because of man’s weaknesses and shortcomings. However, grace cannot suffice without total effort on the part of the recipient. Hence the explanation, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Ne. 25:23). It is truly the grace of Jesus Christ that makes salvation possible.”

So, do we believe that grace is necessary to get to heaven (see this post for more on what we believe about heaven and hell)? ABSOLUTELY! But one cannot simply proclaim “I believe” and be saved and gain entrance to heaven. We must endure and toil and strive to be like our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ. We must repent of our sins and do all we can to become perfect as our Father in Heaven is. We must truly try to be like Them if we want to dwell with Them. However, we are mortal, we are imperfect, we are in a fallen state. Because of this, we cannot become fully perfect while on this Earth. And that is where grace comes in.

Again quoting the Bible Dictionary:

“It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by His atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.”
“We receive God’s grace because of the Atonement. We can’t raise ourselves from the dead, so the Resurrection is an example of His grace. We can’t purify ourselves from sin, so the Lord’s forgiveness is another example of grace. But before He will forgive us, we must repent—that’s our part, our works.”
Talking about grace and works is a tricky subject. There cannot be one without the other. They are fully entwined. We cannot be saved just by works or solely by grace, each is necessary, and they work together to ensure our salvation.
“Besides repentance, our works also include receiving ordinances, keeping covenants, and serving others. While these works are necessary for salvation, they aren’t sufficient. They are not enough because we can’t live perfect lives, but we can do our best to live righteously. By doing so, we invite the Lord’s grace into our lives and qualify for the gift of salvation.” (Taken from this article.)
For those that quote Ephesians 2:8-9, I simply say that I believe that faith is an action word. (This is veering into my personal understanding and beliefs, so this part might not be 100% correct doctrine.) I believe that if and when we have faith in Jesus, we actively strive to be like Him, and we will want to repent and grow closer to Him. This includes praying, reading our scriptures, serving our fellowmen and receiving certain ordinances and covenants. This is the faith. And through this faith, this action of believing on Jesus’ name, we are saved by grace. (See James 2:17-26 for a scripture that I believe illustrates that faith is an action word.)

I am unsure if I have answered any questions or if I have just given you more questions. If the latter is the case I am sorry! Like I mentioned before, this is a tricky subject and I did the best to cover it. I hope I did it justice. I am personally so grateful for the grace and mercy of God. It is more than I could ever ask or hope for.

More in the LDS Faith and Belief Series:Intro and I am a Christian (<– Here you may also find a google form you can fill out if you have any questions you’d like me to address in an upcoming post.)Joseph Smith, the Restoration, and the Book of MormonThe Plan of SalvationThe Godhead
If you’d like to know more about what Mormons believe, request a copy of the Book of Mormon, or request a meeting with the missionaries visit mormon.org.