View source for Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Mormonism 101/Chapter 11

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|H=Response to claims made in "Chapter 11: Grace and Works"
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|T=[[../../|Mormonism 101]]
|A=Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson
|<=[[../Chapter 10|Chapter 10: The Atonement]]
|>=[[../Chapter 12|Chapter 12: Heaven and Hell]]
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|L=Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Mormonism 101/Chapter 11
|H=Response to claims made in Mormonism 101, "Chapter 11: Grace and Works"
|S=
|L1=Response to claim: 150 - The authors claim that "Mormon leaders have redefined the word salvation and given it a split definition that is certainly not taught by the Bible"
|L2=Response to claim: 151-152 - Bruce R. McConkie said that salvation by grace alone was "the second greatest heresy of Christianity"
|L3=Response to claim: 153-154 - Latter-day Saints have unrealistic expectations with regard to achieving exaltation
|L4=Response to claim: 155 -"Because of the unreasonable demand put on them," Mormons "may live their daily lives with the guild of never being good enough for celestial exaltation
|L5=Response to claim: 155-156 - "Some Latter-day Saints have felt that moral lapses in obedience can be overcome in the next life. Such thinking undermines the LDS concept of a mortal probation"
|L6=Response to claim: 156 - The authors dismiss the concept of repentance by claiming that it is inconsistent, "since it is in keeping the law that one is exalted, not admitting you broke it"
|L7=Response to claim: 157 - he authors claim that "no Mormon will ever receive" forgiveness, since no "human has the ability to clear the desire or urge to sin out of their life"
|L8=Response to claim: 157-158 - The authors claim that LDS leaders give "mixed signals as to whether or not perfection is necessary for exaltation"
|L9=Response to claim: 159 - Since it is impossible to be perfect, the authors claim that "it is wrong for the LDS Church to demand complete obedience to all the laws of God in order to receive exaltation"
|L10=Response to claim: 159-160 - The authors claim that Russell M. Nelson said that "trying was good enough," while Spencer W. Kimball contradicts this
}}
</onlyinclude>

==Response to claim: 150 - The authors claim that "Mormon leaders have redefined the word ''salvation'' and given it a split definition that is certainly not taught by the Bible"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism 101
|claim=
The authors claim that "Mormon leaders have redefined the word ''salvation'' and given it a split definition that is certainly not taught by the Bible."
}}
{{misinformation}}
{{:Question: What can the writings of early Christians tell us about how to receive salvation in Jesus Christ?}}

==Response to claim: 151-152 - Bruce R. McConkie said that salvation by grace alone was "the second greatest heresy of Christianity"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism 101
|claim=
Latter-day Saints "stereotype the evangelical Christian church as teaching that works are not important." According to the authors, Bruce R. McConkie said that salvation by grace alone was "the second greatest heresy of Christianity."
|authorsources=<br>
#Bruce R. McConkie, ''BYU 1983-84 Fireside and Devotional Speeches'', "What Think Ye of Salvation by Grace?" 45;
*Bruce R. McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', 670-671.
*LeGrand Richards, ''A Marvelous Work and a Wonder'', 25.
*Talmage, ''The Articles of Faith'', 478-480.
}}
{{misinformation}}
{{:Question: Do Mormons ignore the doctrine of grace at the expense of "works"?}}

==Response to claim: 153-154 - Latter-day Saints have unrealistic expectations with regard to achieving exaltation==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism 101
|claim=
Latter-day Saints have unrealistic expectations with regard to achieving exaltation. The authors claim that it is not possible to live "celestial law." Joseph Fielding Smith "sounded pessimistic" when he said "that if we save one-half of the Latter-day Satins, that is, with an exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God, we will be doing well." Orson Whitney said that we have to obey "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" in order to live "celestial law."
|authorsources=<br>
#Joseph Fielding Smith, ''Doctrines of Salvation'', 2:15.
*Brigham Young, ''Discourses of Brigham Young'', 404.
*John Taylor, ''The Gospel Kingdom'', 3rd ed., 327-328.
*Orson Whitney, ''Conference Report'' (October 1910): 53.
*{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|vol=14|disc=19|start=133}}
*John Taylor, ''The Gospel Kingdom'', 20.
}}
{{misinformation|This idea is refuted by Bruce R. McConkie:
<blockquote>
We don’t need to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved. … The way it operates is this: you get on the path that’s named the ‘straight and narrow.’ You do it by entering the gate of repentance and baptism. The straight and narrow path leads from the gate of repentance and baptism, a very great distance, to a reward that’s called eternal life. … Now is the time and the day of your salvation, so if you’re working zealously in this life—though you haven’t fully overcome the world and you haven’t done all you hoped you might do—you’re still going to be saved.<ref>}Bruce R. McConkie, “The Probationary Test of Mortality,” Salt Lake Institute of Religion devotional, 10 January 1982, 12.</ref>
</blockquote>
}}

==Response to claim: 155 -"Because of the unreasonable demand put on them," Mormons "may live their daily lives with the guild of never being good enough for celestial exaltation==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism 101
|claim=
*The authors claim that "[b]ecause of the unreasonable demand put on them, [Latter-day Saints] may live their daily lives with the guild of never being good enough for celestial exaltation. Some have even given up trying."
|authorsources=<br>
#Stephen E. Robinson, ''Believing Christ'', 45.
}}
{{propaganda|The authors have no data to support this assertion.}}

==Response to claim: 155-156 - "Some Latter-day Saints have felt that moral lapses in obedience can be overcome in the next life. Such thinking undermines the LDS concept of a mortal probation"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism 101
|claim=
The authors make an anecdotal claim that "[s]ome Latter-day Saints have felt that moral lapses in obedience can be overcome in the next life. Such thinking undermines the LDS concept of a mortal probation. They then quote several LDS leaders and the Book of Mormon to support this position.
|authorsources=<br>
#Joseph Fielding Smith, ''Doctrines of Salvation'' 1:69
*Bruce R. McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', 229.
*{{s||Alma|34|32-33}}
*Spencer W. Kimball, ''The Miracle of Forgiveness'', 210.
*Spencer W. Kimball, ''The Miracle of Forgiveness'', 9-10.
}}
{{information|In this particular instance, we agree with the authors, LDS leaders and the Book of Mormon. This life is our mortal probation, and any Latter-day Saint who believes that they can sin in this life and simply make it up in the next is mistaken.
}}

==Response to claim: 156 - The authors dismiss the concept of repentance by claiming that it is inconsistent, "since it is in keeping the law that one is exalted, not admitting you broke it"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism 101
|claim=
The authors dismiss the concept of repentance by claiming that it is inconsistent, "since it is in keeping the law that one is exalted, not admitting you broke it."
}}
{{misinformation|Yet, repentance is taught in the Bible, and a true prophet will preach repentance.
}}

==Response to claim: 157 - he authors claim that "no Mormon will ever receive" forgiveness, since no "human has the ability to clear the desire or urge to sin out of their life"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism 101
|claim=
The authors claim that "no Mormon will ever receive" forgiveness, since no "human has the ability to clear the desire or urge to sin out of their life." They claim that Spencer W. Kimball said that "those who thought frequent repentance was a means of getting right with God must 'straighten out their thinking.'"
|authorsources=<br>
#Spencer W. Kimball, ''The Miracle of Forgiveness'', 170.
}}
{{propaganda|The authors' claim is nonsense. The authors wish to paint the Mormon concept of repentance as something difficult and unachievable.
}}

==Response to claim: 157-158 - The authors claim that LDS leaders give "mixed signals as to whether or not perfection is necessary for exaltation"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism 101
|claim=
The authors claim that LDS leaders give "mixed signals as to whether or not perfection is necessary for exaltation."
|authorsources=<br>
#Marvin J. Ashton, ''Ensign'' (May 1989): 20-21.
*Spencer W. Kimball, ''The Miracle of Forgiveness'', 208-209.
*Gordon B. Hinckley, ''Ensign'' (November 1999), 5.
*Henry B. Eyring, ''Ensign'' (November 1999), 34.
}}
{{disinformation|Latter-day Saints believe the Jesus Christ was the only perfect person to ever live on the earth. To imply that LDS leaders are sending "mixed messages" regarding whether or not one can achieve perfection in this life is erroneous.
}}

==Response to claim: 159 - Since it is impossible to be perfect, the authors claim that "it is wrong for the LDS Church to demand complete obedience to all the laws of God in order to receive exaltation"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism 101
|claim=
The authors claim that Gordon B. Hinckley stated that Latter-day Saints should "keep trying" to attain perfection. Yet, since it is impossible to be perfect, the authors claim that "it is wrong for the LDS Church to demand complete obedience to all the laws of God in order to receive exaltation." They quote Stephen R. Robinson, who they claim "admits" that "keeping the commandments" is "a troublesome expression for Latter-day Saints."
|authorsources=<br>
#Robinson, ''Believing Christ'', 45-46.
}}
{{disinformation|Latter-day Saint prophets have ''never'' taught that one must ''achieve'' perfection in this life in order to receive exaltation. They ''have'' said that we must continue ''trying'' to be perfect. Mormons know that the only perfect being who ever lived on the earth was Jesus Christ himself.
}}

==Response to claim: 159-160 - The authors claim that Russell M. Nelson said that "trying ''was'' good enough," while Spencer W. Kimball contradicts this==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism 101
|claim=
The authors claim that Russell M. Nelson said that "trying ''was'' good enough," while Spencer W. Kimball contradicts this.
|authorsources=<br>
#Russell M. Nelson, ''Ensign'' (November 1995), 88.
*Spencer W. Kimball, ''The Miracle of Forgiveness'', 165.
*Spencer W. Kimball, ''The Miracle of Forgiveness'', 164.
}}
{{disinformation|The authors are attempting to create a contradiction where there is none. Elder Nelson didn't say that "trying" was "good enough". He said that "When our imperfections appear, we can keep trying to correct them."<ref>Russel M. Nelson, [https://www.lds.org/ensign/1995/11/perfection-pending?lang=eng "Perfection Pending,"] ''Ensign''. (November 1995)</ref>. Spencer W. Kimball does not disagree with this. He said, "Perfection is our goal, but we all still have a long way to go to obtain perfection."<ref>Spencer W. Kimball, [https://www.lds.org/ensign/1980/03/give-the-lord-your-loyalty?lang=eng "Give the Lord Your Loyalty,"] ''Ensign'' (March 1980).</ref>
}}

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