Third Article Of Faith

[Guest MrsS]

<div align="center">THE ARTICLES OF FAITH

OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541

3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Here is something that some people miss. We, the LDS people, believe that all mankind may be saved.

From further studies I have learned that this means all who have ever lived on earth or who have yet to live on earth.

[Dr T]

Can people really follow ALL the laws and ordinances of the Gospel? What was Jesus' "atonement" for? If we can earn salvation through doing "good" why do we need Jesus?

Thank you

[Guest MrsS]

Jesus' Atonement was so that when I do repent I will be forgiven. Without His Atonement, there could be no repentance, thus no forgiveness, thus no salvation.

EDIT: Oops, forgot to answer your first question.

Can people really follow ALL the laws and ordinances of the Gospel?

Yes people can. Can you obey all the laws in the land that you live in? Yes you can. You are expected do. IF you do not, and are caught, you will be punished.

Notice how a lot of the laws of the US follow the 10 commandments? Thou shall not steal. Thou shall not commit adultery (this is being allowed more and more - yet it is a viable reason for divorce), Thou shall not kill (am not talking about going to war and killing. Let's say you don't like your brother-in-law cause he makes your sister cry all the time - ka-pow You shoot him dead. That is murder. It is against the law of the land and against God's law. Cain killed (murdered) Able. It is a real big NO NO.

Never, not once have we been told that living this faith will be easy. It is one hard religion to live. Why? Because it is a 24/7 religion. This is not a Sunday only, or holiday only, or get baptised and never walk into the Church building again religion. It is an Every Day, Every Hour, Every Minute of your life and then on to Eternity Religion. We breath, eat, sleep, think, talk, dress, act, re-act, cry, rejoice, . . . this religion. It is not for the faint of hearts either. You are constantly asked to step outside of your comfort zone(s) to help and administer within the Church. Yet the things you are asked to do are not harmful to you or to any living creature on God's wonderful earth. NOR are they against the law of God or of the Land.

[Traveler]

Can people really follow ALL the laws and ordinances of the Gospel? What was Jesus' "atonement" for? If we can earn salvation through doing "good" why do we need Jesus?

Thank you

One of the great lesson I have learned in life is that nothing of value is appreciated when nothing is done to achieve it. Getting an "A" on a test that required no study or sacrifice is not appreciated or valued. In Matt 5:48 Jesus encourages and commands that all the laws and ordinances that G-d gives to man are to be honored, kept, loved, respected and accomplished. Only by such loyalty and effort can we learn and earn the right to fully love and appreciate Jesus.

We need Jesus for two reasons.

1. To demonstrate the way to follow all the laws and ordinances of the Gospel and

2. To redeem us from sin and when we fall short of the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

He can and will forgive us when we repent of our sins but he can only bless us when we are obedient to the laws that govern that blessing. See Matt 5: 3-11 See also Matt 5:19

The Traveler

[Dr T]

Hi Traveler,

You said,

One of the great lesson I have learned in life is that nothing of value is appreciated when nothing is done to achieve it.

My question for you would be "Did you do something to earn the death of Jesus on the cross?" Was his death an achievement of your doing? Can it be appreciated for the grace in which He died for those that believe in spite of us not earning it? There are those darn trees again.

Thanks,

Dr. T

[Traveler]

Hi Traveler,

You said,

One of the great lesson I have learned in life is that nothing of value is appreciated when nothing is done to achieve it.

My question for you would be "Did you do something to earn the death of Jesus on the cross?" Was his death an achievement of your doing? Can it be appreciated for the grace in which He died for those that believe in spite of us not earning it? There are those darn trees again.

Thanks,

Dr. T

Hello Doc:

Without question - from my experience there are things that should and must be done to earn appreciation and value for what Jesus has done. I believe that Jesus even provided parables that indicated that there are those that earn by their effort the appreciation the things of G-d and those that without the effort really do not appriciate. I am interested if you have any examples of something of value that was given without any effort of the receiver to earn appreciation that in truth valued the gift? Where does this idea come from?

The Traveler

[Dr T]

Good question Traveler,

I don't know. How about, "life." It was a given. I didn't ask for it, yet I appreciate it and have since birth. I see an intrinsic value in life without the need to justify its existence. God's love for His people, not work of my own, but freely given. That is to be appreciated. Just my opinions

Dr. T