Mormons: Did Christ need to be saved?

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Rebecca;

It’s good that you’d inquire an ignoramous or liar such as myself.

The saints follow the prophet is true but only in the context of following the Spirit of God. I know Joseph Smith wa a true prophet of God, not because he said so or my parents said so; but because God told me so. I knew president Benson, the prophet in my teenage years, was a true prophet of God. Not because he said so, nor my parents; but because God told me so. In know President Thoms S. Monson is the lord’s true prophet not because he says so; but, like before, God tells me so through His Holy Spirit. Following the prophet is not about following man; but following God. As I explained in the process of a revelation or declaration becoming official LDS doctrine, it is set up so that each and every individual member of The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will open up his or her heart to the Hoyl Spirit and learn from His pure truth that these men are the Lord’s chosen servants on earth today. I listen “at all” because God is eternal and has blessed His children with living prophets who speak to us today. I listen because it opens up the heavens and I can commune with God Almighty Himself. That to me is a powerful miracle in and of itself.

I stand by what I said about the Bible. Now, feel free to answer my own question to you: “Do you think the letters from Paul as found in the Bible are the only ones he ever wrote?”
But you don’t believe what Joseph Smith taught, and other so-called Mormon prophets taught after him, so you contradict your own testimony.

Of course, it is reasonable to believe St. Paul wrote more letters than are canonized. What does that have to do with anything?
 
Did you think about what the Council of Nicea was all about before you issued this challenge?
No, because I was not a where that any “theology which are considered almost exclusively Mormon” was taught at the Council. The Council determined the date of Easter but that is not exclusive to Mormonism, so I’m not sure what you are getting at.
My understanding is that Arius did not view Christ as divine. If this is true, I categorically reject that idea
So you agree that Arianism is not “theology which are considered almost exclusively Mormon.” Still nothing exclusively Mormon taught at the Council.

The rest of your post seems to be more incoherent rambling. I would recommend you first think of a theology which is “exclusively Mormon.” Then tell us that theology. Then prove how that theology was “ taught among 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th century Christians.”
 
Because they are trapped in a “religion” that provides them with a support structure that they would rather not live without. How many mormons, here in these fora, have confessed that they do not believe in the falsehoods of mormonism, but cannot bear the loss of family or livelihood that rejecting the lies might entail. They are trapped in a huge con game, whose rules and “doctrines” change like the summer wind.
Ummm, Dad? :eek:

The support structure is good (excellent in fact) but if I thought and felt that any religion was God’s true religion, then I’d join it. Until then, I gotta go get my Mormon welfare check:

[thoughts to self]

Tell the Bishop:
  • Church is true
  • Joseph Smith is a prophet
  • I love my wife
And:
  • Act happy to be in church this Sunday.
😃
 
No, because I was not a where that any “theology which are considered almost exclusively Mormon” was taught at the Council. The Council determined the date of Easter but that is not exclusive to Mormonism, so I’m not sure what you are getting at.

So you agree that Arianism is not “theology which are considered almost exclusively Mormon.” Still nothing exclusively Mormon taught at the Council.

The rest of your post seems to be more incoherent rambling. I would recommend you first think of a theology which is “exclusively Mormon.” Then tell us that theology. Then prove how that theology was “ taught among 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th century Christians.”
Stephen;

I laid it all out for you. There were those in early second and third centuries, and some beyond, that clearly taught a separation between God the Father and the Son. There were those who taught deification. The Council of Nicea was used to squash all these teachings. Creeds do that. They leave very little to no room for thought, especially on personal beliefs. If you cannot see these teachings from Origen (3rd century), who is believed to have been taught by Clement of Alexandria (2nd/3rd century) to St Augustine (4th and 5th centuries), then I can’t help you.
No, because I was not a where that any “theology which are considered almost exclusively Mormon” was taught at the Council.
These were not “taught” at the counsil. These teachngs were declared heritical at the counsil.

I’ll ask again but expect no response because I suspect you’ll be true to your nature and not respond but what happened to Arius as a result of the Counsil? I fully realize that the ecclesiastical leaders who attended were subject to cruelty. But that wasn’t my point. My point was that to portray them as mere victims is probably not entirely accurate.
I see no examples of Hellenistic philosophy in your response or an explanation of why Christianity would have to conform to it. I was hoping for a real answer because this accusation seems to be thrown around frequently by Mormons without any real thought or justification.
Really? Then can you please show me the Bible teaching a God with no parts or passion? Because I can definitely show you the bible teaching a God with parts and much passion. As a bonus, could you show me the biblical reference to God being made of immaterial? God is “invisible”, yes (that’s conditioned since there have been those who most definitely saw God); but “immaterial”?
 
Ummm, Dad? :eek:
The support structure is good (excellent in fact) but if I thought and felt that any religion was God’s true religion, then I’d join it. Until then, I gotta go get my Mormon welfare check:
You have no true bishops. (No Apostolic Succession)
Your “church” is false.
Joseph Smith was a crook and a sexual predator.
It’s nice that you love your wife(s) Oh, wait, you guys don’t do that anymore, you’ll have to wait till you die.
Get what you can this Sunday, if you want true religion though, you’ll have to become Catholic.
 
Note for my post to hosemonkey. My dad was/is a great man who taught me well. He grew up Lutheran and I credit that faith in installng inhim a solid sense of duty, responsibility, and to be humble before God. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints about a year after he met a woman on a blind date who I now call Mom. They met the same week the she invited the LDS missionaries over for discussions. She touhought and prayed and was baptized in a few weeks from what I remember. My dad studied the Church for several months afterwards and then joined.

The reason I referred monkey as “Dad” is because he sure did presuppose many things about me and my faith as if he were my dad.

Anyhow, I did not mean to disparage my father.

Well, it’s been great and I thank you all for your time. If there were any remote way to get together and hang out for an hour or two I’d do it in a heartbeat. I think religion is great as there are so many great things to learn from religion. I would like to simply leave you all with the knowledge of the truthfulness of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it has been by and from the Spirit of God that I know it is true. I think Catholicism is an outstanding religion. I served my LDS mission in Recife, Brazil and I’m sure you all know that Brazil is the world’s largest Catholic nation. I think it’s safe to say that i have probably interacted, befriended, eaten with, and served more Catholics than the average American Catholic. I also have no reserve in expressing a debt of gratitude to the Catholic religion for preserving the holy scriptures, namely the Bible. The world would be a vastly darker place had the Catholic Church not diligently preserved it and passed it along throught many generations throught many centuries.

If I have offended anyone here, please accept my appoligies and know it was not my intent. I love blogging and I do enjoy sharing gospel topics but not exclusively so. I do not think I’ll be returnibg much. At least not anytime soon for blogging. As I told Telstar, I used this site to defend Catholicism on The Blaze and will continue to do so. This is a great site to learn about what Catholics officially believe and what not so I do plan on continuing to do so. (I don’t know what Telsar’s freak out over the 9-11 project. must be something I don’t know about it. But Beck has gotten frightfully nutty at times)

theblaze.com/stories/pope-says-catholics-cannot-accept-gay-marriage-and-religion-must-not-be-banished-from-public-life/ (I’m Darren)

I’ve represented my beliefs as accurately as possible and I stand by everything I stated. I invite all to learn more about the LDS faith and invite you all to do so with a desire to learn and to do so, with, as in everything else in life, an open heart and mind to the Spirit of God.

Take care all of you and God bless. I’ve no doubt each and every one of you do good things in life and to this I say to continue to exercise your faith and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
 
KFD was NEVER doctrine and NEVER taught as such. EVER.
This is NOT true. The current accepted process for determining doctrine within the church is a recent innovation. I was a believing church member between 1973 and 1993. I continued to attend church weekly until 2006. Until things began changing in the church in the late '80s, D&C 1:39 governed the determination of doctrine. KFD was DEFINITELY taught as doctrine by church leaders under the D&C 1:39 principle (both top-level leaders through the correlated lesson manuals published by the church and local leaders who used those manuals in my Aaronic Priesthood and Elder’s Quorum lesson manuals. What you say is revisionism par excellence and completely ridiculous. It’s the latest Mormon whitewash; understandable, of course, given the wacky things certain Mormon prophets have said over the years.
I outlined how Mormon doctrine becomes Mormon doctrine. Could you please show me when the King Follett’s Discourse ever went through that process?
See above. The official story about how Mormon doctrine becomes Mormon doctrine has changed. It will likely change yet again to suit future needs of the church. This is inevitable as the church continues to present itself as mainstream, by jettisoning elements of Joseph Smith’s official teaching. KFD and polygamy are already gone. The most controversial aspects of Joseph’s endowment ritual copied from the Masonic Lodge have been eliminated. What’s next? The belief that coffee, tea, and wine are bad for you has been refuted by science. Perhaps the official line about the WoW will be modified next and the requirement to abide by it will be quietly dropped.
 
It didn’t take Darren long to get right to his testimony when presented with indisputable evidence of LDS prophets contradicting each other and the fact of changing doctrines. In the end, that’s all a faithful Mormon really has to support their beliefs. They sure don’t have philosophical or theological rigor, or the facts of history, to back up their claims.
 
There’s also ante-Nicene Christian fathers who most definitely taught the physical separation of the Father and the Son and that the Son was subordinate to the Father. This lead to Arianisn and the Council of Nicea. But interestinlgy enough, some points of theology which are considered almost exclusively Mormon are strikinlgy similar to what was taught among 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th century Christians.
What you are claiming is that Christianity was Mormonism for the first three centuries.
I laid it all out for you. There were those in early second and third centuries, and some beyond, that clearly taught a separation between God the Father and the Son… If you cannot see these teachings from Origen (3rd century), who is believed to have been taught by Clement of Alexandria (2nd/3rd century) to St Augustine (4th and 5th centuries), then I can’t help you.
And you are claiming that Origen was the example of this Mormonism until his beliefs were squashed at the Council of Nicea.
Origen De Principiis 4:
The particular points clearly delivered in the teaching of the apostles are as follow:- First, That there is one God, who created and arranged all things, and who, when nothing existed, called all things into being–God from the first creation and foundation of the world–the God of all just men, of Adam, Abel, Seth, Enos, Enoch, Noe, Sere, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the twelve patriarchs, Moses, and the prophets; and that this God in the last days, as He had announced beforehand by His prophets, sent our Lord Jesus Christ to call in the first place Israel to Himself, and in the second place the Gentiles, after the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel. This just and good God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself gave the law and the prophets, and the Gospels, being also the God of the apostles and of the Old and New Testaments.
Secondly, That Jesus Christ Himself, who came (into the world), was born of the Father before all creatures; that, after He had been the servant of the Father in the creation of all things–“For by Him were all things made”–He in the last times, divesting Himself (of His glory), became a man, and was incarnate although God, and while made a man remained the God which He was; that He assumed a body like to our own, differing in this respect only, that it was born of a virgin and of the Holy Spirit: that this Jesus Christ was truly born, and did truly suffer, and did not endure this death common (to man) in appearance only, but did truly die; that He did truly rise from the dead; and that after His resurrection He conversed with His disciples, and was taken up (into heaven).
Origen is telling us what the Apostles taught about God; God who created everything out of nothing; God without a body; God/the Word/Christ who was made flesh (John 1:1). This is not the god of Mormonism. The god created by Arius was discussed at the Council of Nicea but the god created by Joseph Smith was not. The god created by Joseph Smith could not by “squashed” at the Council because it was 1500 years before Smith invented him.
 
I see no examples of Hellenistic philosophy in your response or an explanation of why Christianity would have to conform to it. I was hoping for a real answer because this accusation seems to be thrown around frequently by Mormons without any real thought or justification.
Really? Then can you please show me the Bible teaching a God with no parts or passion? Because I can definitely show you the bible teaching a God with parts and much passion. As a bonus, could you show me the biblical reference to God being made of immaterial? God is “invisible”, yes (that’s conditioned since there have been those who most definitely saw God); but “immaterial”?
Thanks for helping me understand the Mormon meaning of “Hellenistic Philosophy.” Mormons don’t mean philosophy at all; Mormons mean anything outside the Bible. With that reasoning the Table of Contents of the Bible would be based on “Hellenistic Philosophy,” but the Mormon Church accepts the Catholic Church’s teaching on the Table of Contents. So Mormonism must really mean any doctrine they don’t agree with. “Hellenistic Philosophy” is a Mormon boogie man.
 
Not all official Church documents are doctrine. Not even close.
Darren,

First of all welcome to CAF. Shortly after I began this thread I had to leave town on a family emergency and am just now getting back. So far the answer as to whether or not Jesus needed to be saved, and therefore had to “work out his salvation” seems to vary depending upon which Mormon is answering.

This seems to be a fairly simple question to answer. Either he was or was not in need of salvation. Now I am very aware that there are questions which may take only a sentence to ask and pages to answer. Catholics are faced with that on many occassions. For instance, to properly explain why we pray to Mary would really entail a teaching on the doctrine of the “Communion of Saints”.

This question, however, really requires no other explanation. If Christ had to “work out his salvation” there is no getting around the implication that he was, therefore, in need of salvation. If he was in need of salvation then it follows that he was, himself, guilty of sin. Believing that Christ is the Almighty God, it would be impossible for him to sin and therefore the question as to the necessity of Christ needing to be saved is moot. It is not a question that would ever be asked.

Now, if this is simply a matter of a poor choice of words on behalf of Mr. McConkie, that is one thing. But we assume that he had some level of intelligence and communication skills, and therefore meant what he said. So I will just ask you. Do you agree with the words I quoted from McConkie in the OP or not?

Thanks.
 
Darren,

First of all welcome to CAF. Shortly after I began this thread I had to leave town on a family emergency and am just now getting back. So far the answer as to whether or not Jesus needed to be saved, and therefore had to “work out his salvation” seems to vary depending upon which Mormon is answering.

This seems to be a fairly simple question to answer. Either he was or was not in need of salvation. Now I am very aware that there are questions which may take only a sentence to ask and pages to answer. Catholics are faced with that on many occassions. For instance, to properly explain why we pray to Mary would really entail a teaching on the doctrine of the “Communion of Saints”.

This question, however, really requires no other explanation. If Christ had to “work out his salvation” there is no getting around the implication that he was, therefore, in need of salvation. If he was in need of salvation then it follows that he was, himself, guilty of sin. Believing that Christ is the Almighty God, it would be impossible for him to sin and therefore the question as to the necessity of Christ needing to be saved is moot. It is not a question that would ever be asked.

Now, if this is simply a matter of a poor choice of words on behalf of Mr. McConkie, that is one thing. But we assume that he had some level of intelligence and communication skills, and therefore meant what he said. So I will just ask you. Do you agree with the words I quoted from McConkie in the OP or not?

Thanks.
Bullet points in Bruce McConkie speeches don’t comprise doctrine for me. The heading “5. Christ worked out his own salvation by worshipping the father” isn’t even supported by his subsequent argument. I’m certainly doctrinally bound by the citations McConkie makes from D&C 93, but neither his citations nor anything I read in the entire section even remotely allude to Christ as being in need of salvation. That concept is totally foreign to me and I think you’d be hard pressed to find any Latter-day Saint who would consider such a thing as being normative doctrine. Christ is my savior and redeemer. His salvation? I don’t even think about it and in my own life as a Latter-day Saint have never heard it discussed beyond your bullet-point citation (obviously I didn’t go to BYU ;)).

And for what it’s worth, I don’t buy his first bullet point, either. I worship Jesus Christ (Rev 14:7). Given McConkie’s history of doctrinally aberrant statements, I tend to be pretty careful about using him as my sole source for explicating Mormon beliefs.
 
So what you’re saying, Lefty, is that…
…the answer as to whether or not Jesus needed to be saved, and therefore had to “work out his salvation” seems to vary depending upon which Mormon is answering.
 
So what you’re saying, Lefty, is that…
Anytime you start to ask individuals about their beliefs you run into false dogma, that conflicts official theology.

Heck, I’ve seen surveys where most Catholics don’t believe in transubstantiation. Personally, I don’t confuse their statements as reflecting official RCC doctrine.
 
Given McConkie’s history of doctrinally aberrant statements, I tend to be pretty careful about using him as my sole source for explicating Mormon beliefs.
Anytime you start to ask individuals about their beliefs you run into false dogma, that conflicts official theology.

Heck, I’ve seen surveys where most Catholics don’t believe in transubstantiation. Personally, I don’t confuse their statements as reflecting official RCC doctrine.
But McConkie was official what else would you call an apostle of your church. I can’t remember anything from a Catholic priest, bishop, cardinal or pope who was speaking in an official capacity that could be called doctrinally aberrant. How in the world can you rely on men who espouse aberrant doctrine? Apparently even those charged with the leadership of your church can’t preach correct doctrine, where does that leave the followers.
 
Bullet points in Bruce McConkie speeches don’t comprise doctrine for me. The heading “5. Christ worked out his own salvation by worshipping the father” isn’t even supported by his subsequent argument. I’m certainly doctrinally bound by the citations McConkie makes from D&C 93, but neither his citations nor anything I read in the entire section even remotely allude to Christ as being in need of salvation. That concept is totally foreign to me and I think you’d be hard pressed to find any Latter-day Saint who would consider such a thing as being normative doctrine. Christ is my savior and redeemer. His salvation? I don’t even think about it and in my own life as a Latter-day Saint have never heard it discussed beyond your bullet-point citation (obviously I didn’t go to BYU ;)).

And for what it’s worth, I don’t buy his first bullet point, either. I worship Jesus Christ (Rev 14:7). Given McConkie’s history of doctrinally aberrant statements, I tend to be pretty careful about using him as my sole source for explicating Mormon beliefs.
Well thanks for your assessment. And pardon me for saying so, but this seems to be rather routine; statements being made by church leaders which are then rejected. The reason, I think, that this is an issue for Catholics, is that I would have a really hard time if the bishops of my Church wrote things that conflicted with Catholic doctrine and the Church did nothing officially to condemn it. At best it leaves people confused.

I appreciate your comments.
 
Anytime you start to ask individuals about their beliefs you run into false dogma, that conflicts official theology.

Heck, I’ve seen surveys where most Catholics don’t believe in transubstantiation. Personally, I don’t confuse their statements as reflecting official RCC doctrine.
Yeah, I’ve heard the same thing, Tony. Only the results of the survey were due to the way the question was worded and do not reflect the beliefs of “most” Catholics. The question had to do with understanding Transubstantiation, not whether one believed it or not. I had the teens in my youth group do an anonymous survey in our parish, asking the parishioners if they believed in the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. 98% said they believed and 2% said they were not sure. That was much more in line with my experience among Catholics everywhere.

And I’m not sure to whom you are referring when you say that “Anytime you start to ask individuals about their beliefs you run into false dogma, that conflicts official theology.” If you are referring to individual members of your church it might make sense in many cases. If you are referring to the leaders of your church who should know better, then I think it is inexcusable. How do you know when to believe them and when not to believe them? How do you know that your “official doctrine” is being interpreted correctly? How are you to know what you are to believe and what you are not to believe? 🤷
 
Anytime you start to ask individuals about their beliefs you run into false dogma, that conflicts official theology.
No doubt. I have a good friend who is a Greek Orthodox priest who likes to joke that his biggest challenges is combating “Yia Yia”-logy.

However, to be blunt, Bruce R. McConkie is not a random Greek grandmother sitting in the back of a church telling her grandchildren that “only Greeks go to Heaven.” McConkie was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, as well as a member of the First Council. The equivalent would be a member of the Roman Curia and College of the Cardinals writing a book that espouses ideas that are clearly in conflict with Catholic teaching. Find me an example of that - just one - and your comparison will stand. Short of that… well, we’re left with what SteveVH said earlier: the answer to the question “Did Christ need to be saved” varies depending upon which Mormon you ask.
 
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