2 Responses to “According to official Mormon doctrines, can a non-Mormon Chr…”
Diego Castro
2010-07-26 00:14:58
A statue of Jesus Christ at temple square in Salt Lake City.
Hi Curious Protestant. Mormons believe in both orthodoxy, correct doctrine, and orthopraxy, the correct performance of sacred, liturgical ordinances. In this sense, we are more like Catholics than Protestants. We believe, as, Jesus taught, that baptism is required for salvation (John 3:5). We also believe that that baptism must be performed by someone with Christ's apostolic authority that was restored through Joseph Smith. In order to satisfy the orthopraxic requirement, then, baptism and membership in Christ's restored Church is essential.
However, there are many good people who have never heard of Jesus Christ, much less His restored church. Additionally, there are many good people in other Christian religions who, though they've heard of the LDS Church, have not been able to overcome cultural barriers that impede membership. Would God be just if these sincere people were denied salvation?
The apostle Peter wrote that between His death and resurrection, Jesus taught the spirits in prison who had never known His true gospel (1 Peter 3:18-20, 1 Peter 4:6). Why would He have taught them if they could not be redeemed? 1 Corinthians 15:29 hints at how this post-mortal redemption might be possible. Modern revelation to modern prophets has clarified and confirmed that those who do not accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in this life can accept it in the next. They will be taught correct doctrine (orthodoxy). Saving ordinances (orthopraxy) can be performed by their living relatives, giving them the option of accepting or rejecting ordinances including baptism in the next life. They will be judged based on the light and truth they had during their mortality.
Because repentance, change, and spiritual growth are possible in the next life, it is possible for a non-Mormon Christian (or a Muslim, or a Buddhist, or a Jew, etc.) to be saved and, even beyond that, exalted. Hope this answer helps.
Manaen
2010-08-16 06:56:34
Yes. One of our church's leaders, Joseph fielding Smith explained that although the related terms redemption, salvation, and exaltation sometimes are used interchangeably, there are three separate concepts that are important to keep distinct.
Here's an excerpt from his explanation:
Redemption and salvation mean exaltation. I want to discuss a little these three terms, redemption, salvation, and exaltation, used synonymously in the scriptures. Many places where you see the word redemption or where you see the word salvation it means exaltation, or in other word's salvation in the kingdom of God; and yet sometimes there is a difference in meaning. While these three terms are used frequently in the scriptures synonymously, in fact most of the time, yet they also do have different meanings describing three separate stages in the eternal progress of man.
Special meanings of redemption and salvation. Redemption is the act of purchasing back, recovering from captivity, or restoring. So Christ becomes our Redeemer in bringing life back again where it was taken away through the transgression. There will be some individuals who will be redeemed from death-I am speaking now of the physical death-and that is all. They will go out as sons of perdition to dwell with the devil and his angels, as set forth in section 76 and other scriptures. They are not redeemed from the spiritual death, which is banishment from the presence of God.
Salvation is preservation from impending evil; deliverance from sin and its penalty realized in a future state; also, the means of deliverance from evil and ruin. That is salvation. (I am giving you the dictionary definition of these terms.)
Salvation will come to the great body of humanity. The redemption of the soul is the resurrection. Salvation is to find a place somewhere in that redeemed state, freed from the realms "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" in its fulness, or in other words redemption from that spiritual death which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when the Lord says unto them, "depart," and they go into the realms of satan.
Salvation will come to all who enter the terrestrial kingdom. They will receive a higher grade of salvation than will those in the telestial kingdom. Salvation will come also to those who enter the celestial kingdom. That will be a still higher grade of salvation.
Special meanings of redemption and salvation compared. Exaltation is the act of being raised or elevated, as in position or rank; it is to be magnified or glorified. So in the celestial kingdom ... receive exaltation. The telestial kingdom is not a kingdom of exaltation; the terrestrial kingdom is not a kingdom of exaltation, although it is higher than the telestial kingdom; and there will be many who will enter the celestial kingdom in their saved condition without an exaltation in it, for there are different degrees even in the celestial kingdom.
Redemption. Redemption, according to the gospel, is the gift of God to every creature born into the world, that he shall live again, being entitled to the resurrection. Christ is frequently spoken of in the scriptures as our Redeemer, and so refers to himself.
Salvation. Salvation is the gift of God, according to the scriptures, to all men who do not sin against the light and become sons of perdition. Salvation is of varying stages or degrees. Every man is to be judged according to his works, and for this reason various degrees or kingdoms have been established.
Exaltation. Exaltation is to dwell in the presence of God and to be like him.
(Joseph fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. Mcconkie [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954-1956], 2:11-13.)
So, mormons believe that what we call salvation, avoiding that place where the devil is, will come to the great majority of humankind solely through their faith in Jesus Christ; scripture tell us that the day will come in which every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is the Christ -- no repentance or works needed for salvation in what we call the telestial kingdom of glory.
This sounds foreign to some LDS not because it's wrong but because we're really in the exaltation business, not just the salvation business. Being saved from Satan's grasp does not assure an eternity in God's presence. This higher form of salvation is what we call exaltation. It also is a gift of grace but it only is granted to those who qualify for it by becoming Christlike themselves through what is known as conversion.
One of our current apostles, Dallin Oaks, explained this,
"... The final judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts--what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts--what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. [... ] We qualify for eternal life through a process of conversion. As used here, this word of many meanings signifies not just a convincing but a profound change of nature. [... ] Jesus' challenge shows that the conversion he required for those who would enter the kingdom of heaven (see Matt. 18:3) was far more than just being converted to testify to the truthfulness of the gospel. To testify is to know and to declare. The gospel challenges us to be 'converted,' which requires us to do and to become. [... ] The needed conversion by the gospel begins with the introductory experience the scriptures call being 'born again' (e.g., Mosiah 27:25; Alma 5:49; John 3:7; 1 Pet. 1:23). In the waters of baptism and by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, we become the spiritual 'sons and daughters' of Jesus Christ, 'new creatures' who can 'inherit the kingdom of God' (Mosiah 27:25-26). [... ] The apostle John spoke of what we are challenged to become when he said: 'Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is' (1 Jn. 3:2; see also Moro. 7:48). [... ] We are challenged to move through a process of conversion toward that status and condition called eternal life. This is achieved not just by doing what is right, but by doing it for the right reason--for the pure love of Christ. The apostle Paul illustrated this in his famous teaching about the importance of charity (see 1 Cor. 13). The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness he cited is that charity, 'the pure love of Christ' (Moro. 7:47), is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. Charity is something one becomes. Thus, as Moroni declared, 'Except men shall have charity they cannot inherit' the place prepared for them in the mansions of the Father (Ether 12:34)." "The Challenge to Become," Gencon 10/2000
However, there are many good people who have never heard of Jesus Christ, much less His restored church. Additionally, there are many good people in other Christian religions who, though they've heard of the LDS Church, have not been able to overcome cultural barriers that impede membership. Would God be just if these sincere people were denied salvation?
The apostle Peter wrote that between His death and resurrection, Jesus taught the spirits in prison who had never known His true gospel (1 Peter 3:18-20, 1 Peter 4:6). Why would He have taught them if they could not be redeemed? 1 Corinthians 15:29 hints at how this post-mortal redemption might be possible. Modern revelation to modern prophets has clarified and confirmed that those who do not accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in this life can accept it in the next. They will be taught correct doctrine (orthodoxy). Saving ordinances (orthopraxy) can be performed by their living relatives, giving them the option of accepting or rejecting ordinances including baptism in the next life. They will be judged based on the light and truth they had during their mortality.
Because repentance, change, and spiritual growth are possible in the next life, it is possible for a non-Mormon Christian (or a Muslim, or a Buddhist, or a Jew, etc.) to be saved and, even beyond that, exalted. Hope this answer helps.
Here's an excerpt from his explanation:
Redemption and salvation mean exaltation. I want to discuss a little these three terms, redemption, salvation, and exaltation, used synonymously in the scriptures. Many places where you see the word redemption or where you see the word salvation it means exaltation, or in other word's salvation in the kingdom of God; and yet sometimes there is a difference in meaning. While these three terms are used frequently in the scriptures synonymously, in fact most of the time, yet they also do have different meanings describing three separate stages in the eternal progress of man.
Special meanings of redemption and salvation. Redemption is the act of purchasing back, recovering from captivity, or restoring. So Christ becomes our Redeemer in bringing life back again where it was taken away through the transgression. There will be some individuals who will be redeemed from death-I am speaking now of the physical death-and that is all. They will go out as sons of perdition to dwell with the devil and his angels, as set forth in section 76 and other scriptures. They are not redeemed from the spiritual death, which is banishment from the presence of God.
Salvation is preservation from impending evil; deliverance from sin and its penalty realized in a future state; also, the means of deliverance from evil and ruin. That is salvation. (I am giving you the dictionary definition of these terms.)
Salvation will come to the great body of humanity. The redemption of the soul is the resurrection. Salvation is to find a place somewhere in that redeemed state, freed from the realms "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" in its fulness, or in other words redemption from that spiritual death which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when the Lord says unto them, "depart," and they go into the realms of satan.
Salvation will come to all who enter the terrestrial kingdom. They will receive a higher grade of salvation than will those in the telestial kingdom. Salvation will come also to those who enter the celestial kingdom. That will be a still higher grade of salvation.
Special meanings of redemption and salvation compared. Exaltation is the act of being raised or elevated, as in position or rank; it is to be magnified or glorified. So in the celestial kingdom ... receive exaltation. The telestial kingdom is not a kingdom of exaltation; the terrestrial kingdom is not a kingdom of exaltation, although it is higher than the telestial kingdom; and there will be many who will enter the celestial kingdom in their saved condition without an exaltation in it, for there are different degrees even in the celestial kingdom.
Redemption. Redemption, according to the gospel, is the gift of God to every creature born into the world, that he shall live again, being entitled to the resurrection. Christ is frequently spoken of in the scriptures as our Redeemer, and so refers to himself.
Salvation. Salvation is the gift of God, according to the scriptures, to all men who do not sin against the light and become sons of perdition. Salvation is of varying stages or degrees. Every man is to be judged according to his works, and for this reason various degrees or kingdoms have been established.
Exaltation. Exaltation is to dwell in the presence of God and to be like him.
(Joseph fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. Mcconkie [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954-1956], 2:11-13.)
So, mormons believe that what we call salvation, avoiding that place where the devil is, will come to the great majority of humankind solely through their faith in Jesus Christ; scripture tell us that the day will come in which every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is the Christ -- no repentance or works needed for salvation in what we call the telestial kingdom of glory.
This sounds foreign to some LDS not because it's wrong but because we're really in the exaltation business, not just the salvation business. Being saved from Satan's grasp does not assure an eternity in God's presence. This higher form of salvation is what we call exaltation. It also is a gift of grace but it only is granted to those who qualify for it by becoming Christlike themselves through what is known as conversion.
One of our current apostles, Dallin Oaks, explained this,
"... The final judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts--what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts--what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. [... ] We qualify for eternal life through a process of conversion. As used here, this word of many meanings signifies not just a convincing but a profound change of nature. [... ] Jesus' challenge shows that the conversion he required for those who would enter the kingdom of heaven (see Matt. 18:3) was far more than just being converted to testify to the truthfulness of the gospel. To testify is to know and to declare. The gospel challenges us to be 'converted,' which requires us to do and to become. [... ] The needed conversion by the gospel begins with the introductory experience the scriptures call being 'born again' (e.g., Mosiah 27:25; Alma 5:49; John 3:7; 1 Pet. 1:23). In the waters of baptism and by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, we become the spiritual 'sons and daughters' of Jesus Christ, 'new creatures' who can 'inherit the kingdom of God' (Mosiah 27:25-26). [... ] The apostle John spoke of what we are challenged to become when he said: 'Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is' (1 Jn. 3:2; see also Moro. 7:48). [... ] We are challenged to move through a process of conversion toward that status and condition called eternal life. This is achieved not just by doing what is right, but by doing it for the right reason--for the pure love of Christ. The apostle Paul illustrated this in his famous teaching about the importance of charity (see 1 Cor. 13). The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness he cited is that charity, 'the pure love of Christ' (Moro. 7:47), is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. Charity is something one becomes. Thus, as Moroni declared, 'Except men shall have charity they cannot inherit' the place prepared for them in the mansions of the Father (Ether 12:34)." "The Challenge to Become," Gencon 10/2000
Hope this helps.