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- The LDS Church possesses the additional scripture prophesied of in the Bible. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was predicted by ancient Israelite prophets. The Bible speaks of the coming forth of an Ephraimite record, also called “the stick of Joseph.” Elsewhere the Bible refers to this record as a sealed book that would come forth at a time when the Lord would perform a marvelous work and a wonder. The Book of Mormon is that record, which came forth as the Lord restored his church in all its original splendor and glory. The Book of Mormon is a history of God’s dealings with peoples in the ancient Americas, specifically, in ancient Mesoamerica. The Bible tells us about God’s dealings with his covenant people in the Old World. The Book of Mormon tells us about his dealings with his ancient covenant people in the New World. The Book of Mormon records that the resurrected Christ visited the people of ancient Mesoamerica and that he established his church among them.
- The LDS Church is a missionary church, as was the Savior’s ancient church. It has thousands of missionaries working in virtually every part of the world. It has been said that the Mormon Church is the most missionary-oriented church on the earth.
- The LDS Church has a lay local clergy. Local leaders, i.e., bishops and stake presidents, etc., are not salaried. They do their church work on their own time, and hold normal jobs like everyone else. The Savior’s church likewise had an unsalaried local clergy. It was only after the true gospel began to be removed from the earth that the practice of paying local leaders was instituted. But in the New Testament church local leaders were not salaried, and as late as A.D. 200 “the idea of fixed clerical salaries was considered an outrage . . . in both Rome and Asia” (Robin Lane Fox, PAGANS AND CHRISTIANS, New York: Alfred Knopf, 1987, p. 505).
- The LDS Church teaches that baptism is essential for salvation. The New Testament and the writings of early Christian elders and theologians leave no doubt that the ancient church taught that baptism was a requirement for salvation. Historian Jeffrey Burton Russell observes that in the ancient church “it was universally believed that . . . we obtain the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice by baptism” (SATAN: THE EARLY CHRISTIAN TRADITION, New York: Cornell University Press, 1981, p. 100). The ancient Christian theologian Tertullian taught that “without baptism, salvation is attainable by none” (ANF 3:674).
- The LDS Church teaches that our thoughts and actions play a role in our salvation. The Mormon Church agrees with the Catholic Church and with the Orthodox Church that we are not saved strictly by grace alone through faith, but that our thoughts and deeds also count toward salvation. In other words, belief and confession of faith are not enough. We must do more. We must strive to keep the commandments to the best of our ability. We understand that no one could be saved if Christ had not atoned for our sins, but the Savior also taught that we must live righteous lives to the best of our ability in order to return to live in the kingdom of heaven. Among other things, he said, “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21, RSV). The Lord also taught that “he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22, RSV). The New Testament teaches over and over again that our actions count and that those who do not keep the commandments will not return to live with Heavenly Father. This same teaching is literally plastered throughout the writings of early Christian bishops, elders, and theologians. For instance, mid-second-century Christian theologian Justin Martyr, who is still referred to as one of the ancient church’s “ablest defenders,” said the following: Anyone who is not found living in accordance with his [Christ’s] teachings should not be regarded as a Christian even if he confesses to Christ’s teaching with his lips. For he [Christ] said that only those shall be saved who do not just talk, but who also do the corresponding works [see Matthew 7:21]. (First Apology 16, in THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN THEIR OWN WORDS, p. 104)
- The LDS Church can answer the three great questions of life: “Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” “Where am I going after death?” Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord revealed once again the divine truth that we did not suddenly spring into existence at birth, but that we lived with God the Father as spirits in a pre-mortal life prior to coming to earth. Members of the Lord’s true church know that we are on the earth to gain experience, to be tried and tested, to live the best lives that we can possibly live according to the light and knowledge that we possess, and to receive physical bodies. After death we go to the spirit world. Those who die without having the opportunity to learn of the gospel will have that opportunity in the spirit world, where they will be free to either accept or reject the message. Then, at the resurrection, our spirits are reunited with our bodies–our bodies will be glorified and perfected. All mankind will be raised from the dead, and then judged, and each will receive according to his works in relation to the light and knowledge that he possessed. We will go to one of three kingdoms, the celestial, the terrestrial, and the telestial, while sons of perdition will be cast into outer darkness.