Testing the words of LDS leaders with Biblical Truth:
January 2012
Preparing for Exaltation Teacher’s Manual
* LDS Plan of Salvation: Immortality is free; Eternal life is earned by obedience:
(Page 2): “Like the experience I had in Phoenix as a boy, our Father in heaven would provide a one-way ticket for us. Whether or not we returned again to him at the end of our mortal experience on earth would depend upon the things we did while we were here.” Explain that this year in Sunday School, class members will learn about Heavenly Father’s plan for us, Jesus Christ’s role in that plan, and what we must do to return to them when our earth life is over.
(Page 4): Point out that the scripture names two things as God’s work—to bring to pass immortality and eternal life. Explain that these two words do not refer to the same thing. Immortality is a state of being resurrected, of being free from physical death. This blessing will come to all people. Eternal life is living with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the celestial kingdom. This blessing—which is also called exaltation—comes only to those who keep the commandments and make the necessary covenants.
(Page 6): Explain that life is like a journey. Heavenly Father knew that we would need directions to help us find our way back to him, so he provided the plan of salvation as a kind of map for us to follow.
Test these LDS Words with Biblical Truth:
If you believe that eternal life “comes only to those who keep the commandments” then you haven’t read the words of Christ in His Sermon on the Mount. Here, Jesus gave us many commands that none of us can keep. Things like lust. To lust after a woman is the very same sin as committing adultery:
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
Do you love everyone, including those whom you don’t like to be around? What about your enemies? How often do you pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you?
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?”
Our most difficult command is the very next passage:
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew chapter 5)
Notice who our standard for perfection is? Are you as perfect as your Heavenly Father?
No one will gain eternal life through their obedience. Believing so means that you do not have faith in the Savior who was obedient for you.
The true mission of Christ was to be our substitute. Jesus was your substitute for obedience. In your place, He perfectly obeyed all of God’s commands. In your place He was punished for all your sins. In your place He paid your debt for sin. In exchange, you receive credit for His obedience. Only through faith and faith alone will you gain eternal life. Faith in Jesus means you trust that because of Christ’s obedience for you—Heavenly Father now sees you as perfect as He is.
To read more about God’s true map to gain eternal life, go to this blog Post: “Did God Really Give You a “Plan” of Salvation?” written January 5, 2010; or, Click here:
Latter-day Saint Woman 
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