Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Mormonism 101/Chapter 11


A FAIR Analysis of:
Criticism of Mormonism/Books
A work by author: Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson

Index of Claims made in Chapter 11: Grace and Works

150

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."

Response

Mormonism's Attack on the Doctrine of Salvatio nby Grace

151-152

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."

Author's source(s)
  • n6
  • McConkie n7, n8
  • Richards n9
  • Talmage n10
Response

Celestial Law&mdashCan it be Lived?

153-154

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."

Author's source(s)
  • Joseph Fielding Smith, n13
  • Brigham Young n14
  • John Taylor n15
  • Orson Whitney n16
  • Brigham Young n17
  • John Taylor n18
Response
 FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources

155

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."

Author's source(s)
  • n24
Response
 FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources

"I Can Do it Later"

"That is Why we Have Repentance"

Achieving Perfection

"But I'm Trying!"

Christianity's Understanding of Salvation