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False Teachings Concerning Salvation

“I charge the Saints…if you follow the revelations and instructions which God gives you through me, I will take you into heaven as my back load.”

                                                – Joseph Smith, Jr.[1]

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

            – Jesus, John 14:6 

The Biblical Gospel of Salvation­:

God’s “Good News” for Mankind 

            For many centuries, the gospel of Jesus Christ has been preached and embraced by millions of believers who have cherished the simple and beautiful “good news” of salvation. By God’s grace, the power of His love was revealed to a sinful world in the sacrificial death and resurrection of his Son. This account has been preserved for mankind in the Gospels and epistles of the New Testament. The apostle Paul capsulizes the gospel in I Corinthians 15:1-4.

“Now brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”  

Note that the gospel does not include church membership, tithing, sacraments, rituals, diet, clothing, etc. If we add ‘works’ to the gospel, we have perverted it. “Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man that does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:5). 

            The Bible teaches that man is a sinner and that the wages of sin is death. This death penalty was paid for by our substitute, Jesus Christ, when he died on the cross and rose again, satisfying the demands of a just God (Romans 6:23,5:7-8). The apostle Paul taught that salvation comes to us, “not because of righteous things we have done but because of God’s mercy” (Titus 3:5). In Ephesians he says, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God: not by works so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

            Although we can never be righteous enough to earn salvation by our good works, “for our righteousness is as filthy rags in God’s sight” (Isaiah 64:6), when we place our trust in Christ He clothes us with His righteousness (Col 1:22), and only then are we holy enough to live eternally in His presence. To the Colossian saints Paul wrote,

“But now he [God] has reconciled [saved] you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation…. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant” (Col. 1:22-23).  

            These scriptures clearly show that it is not what we can do for Christ that provides our salvation, but what Christ did for us as a free gift. Believers have the assurance of salvation because they are not dependent upon their own good works, but upon Christ’s finished work on the cross. When the crowd asked Jesus what they must do to perform the works God required, Jesus answered: “The work of God is this, to believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:28-29). This does not exclude the importance of baptism or works such as taking care of the poor, the widows, the fatherless, etc. But these works are to be done out of our love for the Lord after we are saved, not works we do in order to be saved.

“That Christ had to die on the cross to redeem us should make us ashamed—and eternally grateful—for it was our sins that nailed Him there. The more conscious we are of the greatness of our sin, the more we will love the One who reached so deep into the mire to pick us up and bring us to Himself. Unworthy of His love and sacrifice as we are, our eternal love song will be ‘Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood…Worthy is the Lamb that was slain’” (Rev. 1:5, 5:12).[2]           

Joseph Smith’s Gospel of Salvation

            Although Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church, Satan has employed every method he could to destroy it. He has not only attacked the church openly, but has introduced counterfeit teachings through false teachers to discredit the gospel and lead people into error.

Joseph Smith was one of those who disseminated Satan’s counterfeit teachings. The gospel of salvation Joseph proclaimed was not the simple one taught in the Bible, but is embodied within the three standard books of the RLDS church: The Inspired Version of the Bible, The Book of Mormon and The Doctrine and Covenants. Listed below are just a few of Joseph Smith’s aberrant teachings. 

Mankind Born Without Sin 

Contrary to the Biblical account of Adam’s sin being passed on to all mankind (Romans 5:12), the RLDS church teaches that men are born without a sin nature. The following statement is found in the RLDS Epitome of Faith, “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.” The Doctrine and Covenants states, “But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world…wherefore they cannot sin” (Doc. and Cov. 28:13). It further states, “Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning” (Doc. and Cov. 90:6b).

            The Book of Mormon declares, “Wherefore little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin” (Moroni 8:9). This heretical teaching accounts for much of the confusion found within RLDS theology. If mankind is born without sin, as Joseph Smith taught, then Christ died in vain!  

“Born again” Misinterpreted 

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God…. Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-5). The RLDS interpret the phrase “born of water and the Spirit” as meaning baptism by water for the remission of sins (born of water) and laying on of the elders hands to receive the Holy Ghost (born of the spirit).

            A pre-baptismal manual written by the First Presidency of the RLDS church reads, “When we obey God’s will by going down into the waters of baptism, God forgives us all the wrong things we have done. This is called remission of sins.…we bury our past mistakes.”[3] One church authority explains, “This process of reconciliation [born again – salvation] is made possible by the ministry of baptism and laying on of hands.”[4] 

            The church teaches that salvation is a life-long process. Reed Holmes, former RLDS apostle, gave the following definition of how a person becomes a born again Christian,

“You become a Christian [born again] by participating in the community of the church among those who love you and whom you respond to and love, and whom you become associated with in terms of the demands that being a Christian lays upon you. And that kind of a thing is like socialization that takes place in the family.” [5]     

The Bible teaches we are born once from our mother’s womb (born of water) and a second time when we accept Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross as payment for our sins (born of the Spirit). This salvation decision is a one-time experience that changes a person’s life forever. The RLDS falsely teach it is water baptism that washes away sin, but as Billy Graham so aptly stated, the only detergent that washes away sin is the precious blood of Jesus (Heb. 9:22).

Christ’s Atonement Inadequate     

            Because RLDS are taught that man does not have a basic sin problem, many of them do not understand the meaning or the necessity of Christ’s atonement. Their views are reflected in the following statements.

“The Atonement did not do it all. All it did was to release to us the power to become godlike…. The work of atonement is not yet complete.” Apostle Arthur Oakman.[6]

“These teachers [protestant ministers] say that ‘man’s separation from God’s spiritual house’…came about when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden…. For those who may be laboring under this belief…let this point be extremely clear: such notions are the result of a twisted and distorted theology.” RLDS Basic Beliefs Committee[7]

“Being saved means being ‘transformed by love’.… Why does this require a supernatural atonement? ” Robert Mesle, Theology professor at Graceland College[8]            

In response to Mesle’s question: True Christian scholars all agree that the doctrine of the atonement (Christ’s death and resurrection) is the very heart of Christianity. The atonement was necessary because all mankind became sinful and separated from God as a result of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden, “Thus by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12 KJV).

            This separation between man and God, could only be remedied through atonement. In the Old Testament sins were atoned for by the blood of animal sacrifices which typified and pointed to Christ, but they could never do away with sin: “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again offers the same sacrifices which can never take away sins” (Heb. 10:11). In the New Testament this temporary sacrificial system ended with the atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross, his blood being the final sin offering.

“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12, 9:24-27).

“Consequently, just as the result of one trespass [Adam’s sin] was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness [Jesus’ atonement] was justification that brings life for all men” (Rom. 5:18).  

            Jesus’ atonement restored man’s broken relationship with God. Without his atonement Christianity has no meaning whatsoever. 

Works Necessary for Salvation 

The following passages in Joseph Smith’s writings show how good works were essential in his understanding of salvation.

• Inspired Version of the Bible, “Therefore ye are justified [saved] of faith and works…” (Romans 4:16)

• Book of Mormon, “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do.” (II Nephi 11:44)

• Doctrine and Covenants, “Thou shalt take the things which thou has received [Joseph Smith’s teachings]…for a law, to be my law, to govern my church; and he that doeth according to these things, shall be saved…”  (Doc. and Cov. 42:16a,b).

• “As many as shall hereafter come to a knowledge of this work; [Joseph’s teachings]; and those who receive it in faith and work righteousness shall receive a crown of eternal life, but those who harden their hearts in unbelief and reject it, shall turn to their own condemnation…” (Doc. and Cov. Sec. 17:3, Sec. 86, 102, 128).

F. Henry Edwards, former member of the First Presidency, explains the importance of works in the RLDS salvation process. He states, “Men are…being saved through working at worthy tasks.”[9] Paul Wellington, former editor of the Saints Herald, an official RLDS publication, made the following statements concerning salvation.

“Reorganized Latter Day Saints think of the elements of salvation as including a condition of having endless life with or in near proximity of Christ or God…. They also see different degrees of salvation, dependent upon the spiritual quality achieved in this life…. People are saved by faith; and people are saved by works! It is to the converted Christian that the instructions to achieve salvation by works are given.”[10] (emphasis added) 

To believe that human works can be added to Christ’s atonement, is to believe in a “different gospel.” 

Salvation Possible After Death

            The official position of the RLDS church is that there can be salvation after death, “The insight of the church’s teachers has been opened to the knowledge that education and salvation are not options terminated by death. There is no question about whose grace it is that makes this option possible either before or after the grave.”[11]

            Evan Fry, former radio minister for the RLDS church wrote, “When we say that Christ made an infinite atonement, we mean that it was efficacious for all who died before Christ’s advent in the flesh, but who looked forward in faith to his coming. It is efficacious for the heathen nations who have died in ignorance of him who will have opportunity in the spirit world to hear his gospel preached and to accept him as their Savior.”[12]  

            A current statement made by the RLDS Church reads, “The RLDS faith is, that those who die without receiving the gospel will have opportunity to hear the gospel and respond after death.” [13]

            Ironically, these statements contradict the Book of Mormon, which teaches that a person’s eternal destiny is decided in this life.

“For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God…. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis [death] that I will repent…. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his…. The devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked” (Alma 16:228-234).  

            The Bible does not teach that there is salvation after death, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people” (Heb. 9:27). The account of the rich man and Lazarus in the gospel of Luke shows clearly that our eternal destiny is fixed at death (Luke 16:19-3l). 

Baptism for the Dead   

            Joseph Smith declared that baptism for the dead was “the most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel.”[14] He also stated, “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.”[15] This doctrine of baptism for the dead was given to Joseph by revelation.

“Verily, I [the Lord] say unto you [Joseph Smith’s followers]…build a house to my name.… For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth; that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead…. And I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me, and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me. But, behold, at the end of this appointment, your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment, ye shall be rejected as a church with your dead, saith the Lord your God. For, verily I say unto you…[baptism for the dead] was instituted from before the foundation of the world.… For therein are the keys of the holy priesthood ordained, that you [the priesthood] may receive honor and glory” (Doc. 107:10-11, 1955 ed.).  

            Joseph attempted to justify the doctrine of baptism for the dead by using Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:29, which states: “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?” However, most Bible scholars believe this passage has nothing to do with Christians baptizing their dead. This subject was most likely mentioned by Paul because there was an errant group within the Corinthian church which was denying the resurrection of Christ while at the same time practicing the rite of baptism for the dead. Paul was trying to correct that error, arguing that if there were no resurrection there would be no reason to baptize for the dead. The fact that Paul referred to the group as “they” shows that he was not endorsing their false view but using it as an argument against them for denying the resurrection.[16]

Three Separate Kingdoms in Heaven 

            Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon claimed to have received the following description of heaven in a vision.

Celestial Glory. The highest glory where God and Christ live, reserved only for baptized members of the RLDS Church who have lived worthy lives (Doc. and Cov. Sec. 20 and 76).

Terrestrial Glory. The second and lesser glory, which consisted of the honorable men of the earth who die without the law (Joseph Smith’s gospel). They later receive it while in a prison house and are then qualified to live in terrestrial glory (Gen. 7:44,64 I.V., Doc. and Cov. Sec. 76).

Telestial Glory. The third and lowest glory is inhabited by those who reject Joseph Smith’s gospel and go to hell where they have another opportunity to receive it. This group does not receive a glory until the second resurrection (Doc. and Cov. Sec. 76). (For a more detailed description of the three glories see Ch. 10). 

            The Biblical proof-text Joseph Smith used for the doctrine of three glories is 1 Cor. 15:35-41. However, Paul says nothing in this passage about three separate glories in heaven, but is simply illustrating the fact that our heavenly bodies (celestial) will differ from our earthly bodies (terrestrial) as the sun, moon and stars differ from each other in glory. Joseph took this scripture out of context and coined the term “telestial” in order to prove his doctrine of three glories.

RLDS Stumbling Blocks

Faith and Works

            Perhaps the greatest obstacle to RLDS believing the Biblical gospel of grace alone, is their misunderstanding of faith and works. In fact the concept of grace [salvation] is new in RLDS theology according to Paul Booth, an Apostle in the RLDS Church. He wrote, “For the most part the word grace found its way into Restoration literature within the past twenty-five years.”[17] Richard Fortman was quoted in the Saints Herald as saying, “The grace of God…has not been understood as a part of our theology until the past decade or two.”[18] In response to these statements concerning grace, the question arises, how can the Reorganized church be a genuinely Christian church, if this essential Christian doctrine has only been included in RLDS theology in the past ten or twenty years?

            Many RLDS have trouble believing that a person can live a worldly lifestyle and then toward the end of their lives call on the Lord, be saved and go to heaven. However, that is what the parable of the eleventh hour workers in Matthew 20:1-16 teaches. The account of the thief on the cross is an example that underscores this truth. The thief was saved, not because he performed good works, but because he believed. 

The Thief on the Cross

     Well-known Christian author, Dave Hunt, gives the following insightful analogy.

“There was a sinful man who went through life as a thief. In the process of being punished for his crimes, he hung on a cross near another Man who was also being crucified. Perhaps still charged with energy and pride, the thief began his torturous ordeal by joining the surrounding crowd in mocking the Man wearing a crown of thorns.

       “Then, as the day wore on, the thief’s view of the Man changed: a conversion took place in his heart. This criminal, this man of depravity with few if any morally or socially redeeming works to ‘outweigh his evil’ became a unique witness to the most spectacular event in the history of the universe: the gospel was being carried out but a few feet away. Of course, this thief wasn’t alone—yet he was one of the few to grasp what was taking place during those darkened hours.

       “The condemned criminal, with nothing to offer, with nothing redemptory that he could accomplish before death—no time for sacraments, for penitential ritual, for water baptism, or any other so-called salvational means of grace—did the only thing God requires (Rom. 10:13). He simply confessed that he was a sinner and cried out in faith to the One whose pending death would pay the complete penalty for his sins, and the sins of the whole world: ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom’ (Luke 23:40-42 KJV).

      “The immediate reply from the lips of our Lord and Savior to this thief from the dregs of humanity is the most thrilling declaration ever received by any biblical figure: ‘And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.’  (Luke 23:43 KJV). Whether at death’s door or not, that same blessed assurance of eternal life with Jesus Christ is for everyone who comes to Him just as the thief did—simply by faith alone.” [19] 

Paul and James 

     Joseph Smith’s teachings create a conflict between the Apostle Paul’s teaching on salvation by grace alone and James’ statement that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26 KJV). RLDS often refer to this statement of James as proof that works are necessary for salvation. However, a close examination of this passage shows no contradiction whatsoever, for James and Paul were addressing two completely different types of people. James was addressing those who were relying on a mere profession of faith or belief in God without any change of life or behavior, while Paul was addressing those who were relying on their own works or obedience rather than trusting Christ alone for their salvation. 

            Paul was saying that salvation is not faith plus works, but faith that works. He sums this up well in Philippians 2:12,13 when he tells the Philippian believers to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” By this he means, not that they were to work for their salvation, but that they were to work, or put into practice in their daily living, the good work that God had already begun in their lives by His Holy Spirit when they were saved. Paul makes this clear when he says, “Only let us live up to what we have already attained” (Phil. 3:16 KJV). Despite the apparent contradiction, both Paul and James were saying that true salvation is found in believing, trusting, and having faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross alone for salvation.

            In their book, “Roman Catholics and Evangelicals” Norman Geisler and Ralph McKenzie explain the role of works in salvation. 

“Works are not a condition of justification [salvation] but a consequence of it. As James put it, we show our faith by our works (James 2:l8). Works-for-reward come under sanctification, [a life-long process], not justification [a one-time event.]  They are what we do as a result of being saved, not what we do in order to be saved.”[20] 

Cornelius 

            The Biblical account of Cornelius contradicts the view that works play a part in salvation. The tenth chapter of Acts tells us that Cornelius was a man who was: righteous, devout and God-fearing, faithful in prayer, generous to the poor and visited by an angel sent from God.

     If good works could save, certainly Cornelius would have been worthy of heaven. However, all his righteous living could not save him even though his prayers and alms were a memorial before God. Knowing the heart of Cornelius, the Lord sent an angel who told him, “Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved” (Acts 10:3-6, 11:14). When Peter came to the house of Cornelius he preached the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ and Cornelius was saved, not by his good works but by believing Peter’s message.

            The Bible states, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:5). As D. James Kennedy observes, “good works are the fruit of our salvation, not the root of it.”

            The Jews who rejected Jesus were very sincere in their efforts to attain a self-righteousness by works rather than by Christ’s atoning sacrifice, but they were sincerely wrong and were accountable to God for their actions. Jesus warned His disciples about depending on this type of self-righteousness, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20).

            Many RLDS members, like the Jews who rejected Jesus, believe that earning eternal life is dependent on their good works. However, they should earnestly consider the fact that to be sincere but sincerely wrong in their understanding of the gospel, results in an eternity without God. 

The Jerusalem Council

            In the book of Acts, there were some Jews who insisted the Gentile believers must be circumcised and obey the law of Moses in order to be saved. When the apostles met to pray and consider this issue, Peter addressed these Jews and said, “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are” (Acts 15:10-30). After Peter finished James stood up and declared that although the gentiles were to refrain from specific kinds of conduct, no works were to be added to the gospel of salvation by grace alone. Then the Apostles and elders sent a letter to the believers in Antioch stating:

“We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul…Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality” (Acts 15:24-29).  

            All true Christians agree we are to obey the moral laws of God. But adding works as a requirement for salvation is not found in the Christian gospel.  

Simplicity of the Gospel

            The simplicity of the gospel as a free gift is an affront to most RLDS because they have been taught they can earn their salvation by doing good works. Satan has been able to blind their minds because of their religious and intellectual pride. They fail to see that a miracle takes place in the heart of a person the moment they sincerely receive Christ and humbly admit that He alone paid the price for our sins. Because RLDS do not believe in salvation by grace alone, they cannot appreciate the tremendous price of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross with which our salvation was bought.

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”  Paul goes on to emphasize that it is the simplicity of the gospel that causes it to be veiled, “But I fear lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve…your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 4:3-4, 11:3 KJV).    

            The Bible warns of those who will turn from the simplicity in Christ to fables, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim. 4:3-4 KJV). This scripture applies to the followers of false teachers such as Joseph Smith. 

            The simple gospel of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins will not be able to hold their attention, so they will demand something more fascinating, a more stimulating and challenging doctrine in which their participation will help to save them. The Bible will be perceived as out-dated, simplistic, and inadequate, so their “itching ears” will become eager to listen to fables or novel religious teachings. The apostle Paul decried the preaching of any message other than the cross, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). 

The NIV Study Bible states,

“People who deceive others by changing the gospel to include human achievement and pride deserve eternal condemnation (Gal. 1:1-6). The gospel must be maintained in its purity, because through clear and correct proclamation of the gospel, people are saved. A different gospel leaves people in their lost state. Evangelists are commanded to call people to faith in the crucified and risen Lord. Nothing else can be added and still have the gospel.” [21] 

Dangers of Joseph Smith’s Gospel 

The Ultimatum

            Joseph Smith taught that we must believe his gospel or be condemned (Doc. and Cov. 17:3). Dr. Charles Crane says Christians must challenge that statement.

“Mormonism (only a caricature of true Christianity) must be exposed for its true nature and teaching…. It is past time for Christians everywhere to speak up for their faith. What we have to offer is Jesus the Living Word, known to us by the written word the Bible. The Holy Bible gives us a safe and sure revelation of God, Christ and what they expect of us all to find eternal salvation. Submitting to Jesus makes one a Christian! Submitting to Jesus plus Joseph Smith makes one a Mormon. If it takes Jesus plus anyone else to save you then Jesus cannot save at all. It is to admit that Jesus was not the Savior of mankind. Salvation is not Jesus plus anything. It is not Jesus plus Dr. Crane, Jesus plus Mohammed, Jesus plus some worldwide church leader, or Jesus plus Joseph Smith. The Bible says, speaking of Jesus Christ, ‘And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.’ ”[22]  

Deceptive Witnessing Techniques

            Until the 1950s and 60s the RLDS approach to evangelism was to emphasize how the church was distinctively different from other denominations, including the Mormon Church. However, today there is a new strategy being promoted, due in part to pressure from Christian ministries who are exposing Joseph Smith’s false teachings. This strategy is to present a more Christian-sounding gospel to potential converts initially, and then gradually introducing distinctive RLDS doctrines. Church members now frequently use phrases like, “we are saved by Grace” or “I have received Christ as my Savior”, whereas a few years ago these phrases were ridiculed as protestant ignorance and referred to as “cheap grace.”

            This new trend in witnessing is dangerous because Biblical terminology is being used to convert people to the RLDS church instead of to Christ. Despite this new mask the church is wearing to pose as just another Christian denomination, they continue to promote the foundational teachings of Joseph Smith. Jesus said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matt. 7:15).

Taking a Stand

            Although it is possible for an RLDS member to become truly born again, when that experience occurs they will no longer be satisfied belonging to a false religious system. The work of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into all truth, and a true born-again believer will long to worship the Lord “in Spirit and in truth.” The Bible tells us we are not to be yoked together with unbelievers, and that there is no fellowship between light and darkness. (2 Cor. 6:14-16). Those who have left the RLDS church and are worshiping in Christian churches know these statements to be true.

            Some RLDS members may believe that Joseph Smith was a false prophet, but do not have the courage to take a stand and leave the church because of the fear of losing family, friends, jobs, priesthood status or the “praise of men.” The Book of Hebrews tells us that the early Jewish Christians faced some of these same fears and were tempted to go back to Judaism to escape persecution, “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in [Jesus.] But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”(John 12:42-43).

            Other RLDS members when faced with the possibility that Joseph Smith was a false prophet, elect to stay in the church and they give as their excuse, “but my religion satisfies me.” However, it should be remembered that the issue is not whether our religion satisfies us, but rather, does it satisfy God!   

            Speaking to those who were following false teachers, Jesus warned: “Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matt. 15:14). Those RLDS who are sincere seekers will find the truth, and the truth will set them free. They will be willing to heed Jesus’ advice and leave the church. They will say with the apostle Paul: “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Rom. 1:16), and they will concur with his statement,

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith” (Phil. 3:7-9).  

Becoming a Christian

Many RLDS know about Jesus but have never personally received Him as Lord and Savior. For the RLDS member who is willing to forsake the teachings of Joseph Smith and become a born again Christian, the following scriptures provide the guideline.

·        Believe God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

·        Recognize man is sinful, thus separated from God.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

“All our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

·      The penalty for sin is death.

“For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

“Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

·       Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for your sin.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

·     Salvation is a free gift.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

·        You must receive Jesus Christ to be saved.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ ” (John 14-6).

“That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

Please pray this prayer if you would like to become a born again Christian.

Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. I ask you to forgive my sins and save me. I believe that you died for me on the cross and rose again. Please come and live in my heart. I want to trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus name, Amen.

Receiving Christ as Savior, should be followed by baptism. Though water baptism does not save a person, it is an outward sign of an inward grace and a very important step of obedience. 

The assurance of salvation.

The Bible says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans10:9). If you sincerely pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart you will be born again into God’s family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, and you will have the assurance of eternal life. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (I John 5:13, 2 Timothy 1:12, Jude 24, John 10:29).

This gift of salvation was given to us freely, but the cost was high; Jesus paid for it with his own precious blood. 

Conclusion

            It is clear from the information presented in this chapter, that Joseph Smith’s teachings on the subject of salvation, many of which are still embraced by the RLDS church, do not conform to the Biblical gospel of salvation.