“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16 

One of the enduring controversies in Christendom is whether man is saved by faith or works. This article is a modest contribution to my fellow Christians’ understanding – a testimony that we are saved neither by faith nor works, but by the redemptive power and mercy of the Savior Jesus Christ. 

The controversy stems from the seeming contradictions that riddle the Bible, as well as the divergent ways various Biblical passages have been translated and passed down by the 40,000 competing Christian denominations in the world. For instance, the Apostle Paul taught that “not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Romans 2:13) and, then, a few verses later, concluded that “a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). A different time, Paul noted that we are “justified by his grace” (Titus 3:7) while immediately thereafter urging believers to “be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8). If you take one of these four statements out of context, it can appear to justify either of the two opposing schools of thought. 

The Apostle James added to the debate when he taught “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). Indeed, he rhetorically asked “was not Abraham our father justified by works. . .?” James 2:21). Then he followed this with the idea that “by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). If you were to look only at James’ writings, you might be led to adopt the “we are saved by works” point of view. 

Let’s add two additional insights to the mix. In Acts, it is explained that “by him [Jesus] all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39). And, finally, the Lord Himself taught: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). 

Again, if you were to take one verse out of context, such as that from Acts, you may think that faith alone saves, whereas a different verse leads to a different conclusion. Contrary positions are easy to find when we narrowly focus on some aspects of the Gospel to the exclusion of others of equally validity. What this means, then, is that we must come to comprehend the Gospel Plan in its entirety, checking one verse against another, and making sure there is no disharmony. True principles always harmonize with each other. When you find principles that do not, either they are not true, or your understanding is flawed. This is why it is so crucial to take these matters to God in prayer, relying on the Holy Spirit to confirm the reality to you. 

On close inspection, we find that the various passages cited are not contradictions at all. Rather, the error lies in uninspired interpretations of these correct teachings, and a failure to place these declarations in the broader context of the Gospel Plan of Salvation. James was correct that faith means nothing without accompanying works. Paul was likewise accurate that only grace saves us. And the Lord, of course, spoke the truth when He said that you must believe (i.e. have faith) and be baptized (i.e. do the works) in order to be saved. 

These ideas are reconciled when we remember that it is not the faith or the works, not the belief or the law, not our hope or our deeds, which save us, but, rather, Jesus Christ. I started this piece with what is perhaps my favorite statement made by the Apostle Paul: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). It is Christ’s grace, His never-ending mercy, which saves us. Knowing this should embolden us to come to Him as our sole hope for salvation in our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom. 

We may conceptualize this all-important principle like this: Sinful individuals are held captive by justice and cannot free themselves. Justice demands a price for their liberation. But inasmuch as they are in spiritual prison, they cannot pay the price. Jesus Christ, however, did not sin and stands in a position to free, or save, us by offering to pay the price justice demands. With the voluntary sacrifice of His sinless blood – the unassailable honor and perfect virtue of God poured out in compassion on behalf of those who could not save themselves – Jesus appeased the demands of justice. 

The Redeemer’s sacrifice, known as the Atonement, served as a ransom for the captives. It opened the prison gates and gave the captives a chance, if they so choose, to claim their Freedom by walking through the unlocked door. His gift of Freedom, or salvation, from spiritual death placed the Lord in a position to mediate between the sinner and justice. As the Mediator, He sets the conditions whereby His voluntary gift may be received and applied. 

As our Savior, the Son of God has laid out requirements. We freely receive salvation when we fulfill the terms and conditions set by Him. For instance, He has commanded us to love God, love our fellow man as ourselves, be meek, have faith in Him, do good to others, pray for our enemies, forgive all who trespass against us, be married according to His law, repent of our sins, be baptized, and, covering all the bases, to keep His commandments. We cannot claim the gift of salvation unless we do these things which our Savior, Mediator, and Redeemer requires. 

As should be obvious, it’s not a matter of picking one or the other, but of doing both. We must have faith and works because the One who ransomed and saved us and who alone can set the terms of repentance, forgiveness, and salvation, has commanded it. It is not faith which saves, but the object of faith – Jesus Christ – which saves. It is not our works that redeem us, but we cannot please and honestly follow the One who does unless we do the works He has required and entered into the ordinances He has ordained. 

In the narrow sense that we are fulfilling the requirements set by our Redeemer, we may perhaps say that we are saved by works, ordinances, or the law. And in the specific sense that the Master said, “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36), we may perhaps say that “only” faith redeems us. But He that gave the law and enjoined us to believe in Him is truly the One who saves. His blood, His mercy, His grace, and not any good deed or particle of faith of our own, cleanses, frees, and saves us. 

The Apostle Paul explained: 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past” (Romans 3:23-25). 

The Lord Himself put it even simpler. He combined faith and works together when He said: 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. . . . 

“He that believeth on him is not condemned. . . . 

“. . . he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John3:16, 18, 21). 

Note that we don’t secure salvation by simply saying, “I believe!” Faith alone does not save us. We must believe in Jesus Christ, yes, but we must also do truth, keep the commandments, and perform good deeds. Faith without works surely is dead. 

Earlier in the above discourse, Jesus made clear that: “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Evidently, words and theoretical faith are not enough. There must be works. We must enter into sacred ordinances, like baptism, or we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. There is no salvation without both works and faith in the Savior Jesus Christ. 

It is perhaps beneficial to define “faith.” The 1835 Lectures on Faith gives my favorite rendering. It says that faith “the principle of action in all intelligent beings” (Lectures on Faith, 1:9). Faith is a verb. It is an action word. At its core, it denotes action. This being true, it is impossible to claim to have faith while not producing good works. When the Lord tells us to believe and exercise faith, He is telling us to do something more than merely trust in Him. He is telling us to follow Him and do those things that He does. 

After all, “every tree is known by his own fruit” (Luke 6:44) and “every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Corinthians 3:8). We are known by our deeds and will ultimately be judged for them, not for our level of lifeless faith. 

Those filled with living faith in the Savior Jesus Christ, by default, yield certain distinguishing fruits, or works. Paul expounded: 

“[T]he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

“Meekness, temperance. . .” (Galatians 5:22-23). 

Those who walk in the faith of Christ love others, are happy, promote harmony, are patient and calm, do good and are good, exercise trust in the Lord, are humble, and have self-control, among other desirable qualities. The Lord also taught: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). To love is certainly a course of constant action and not mere hope, faith, or intellectual longing. 

The Redeemer instructed those of us who take upon ourselves His holy name: 

“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe for the very works’ sake. 

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also. . . . 

“If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:11-12, 15). 

Who can read this instruction from the lips of the Lord and not be convinced that works are every bit as necessary as faith? To love the Lord, by His own definition, is to keep the commandments and do the same works He did in His mortal ministry. Truly, faith is a principle of action, and without action, there is no faith. 

Coming at this from a different angle, Jesus also taught that salvation comes only to those who know the Father and the Son (John 17:3). Can you know God except through some exertion on your part? James taught that to gain knowledge, we must ask of God; that is, we must pray (James 1:5). Prayer is an intensive process, as is the fasting that so often accompanies it. Reading the holy scriptures, which is one of the most basic ways we learn of God and His will, is also an action. Our Lord is the perfect example of how much effort goes into prayer, fasting, and spiritual discovering. To know Him and the Father, we cannot neglect to do those same things He did as He walked the streets of Palestine two thousand years ago. 

Though it’s a tall order, He intends us to follow in His path. He taught: 

“I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done. . . . 

“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:15, 17). 

In one of His greatest sermons, the humble Man of Nazareth spoke repeatedly of the need for works to accompany our faith. Said He: 

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. . . . 

“. . . This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. . . . 

“. . . I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that beliveth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:27, 29, 35). 

Herein Jesus used the words “believe,” “come,” and “work” interchangeably. The work of God, and, hence, our work, is to believe in Christ. To believe in Christ is to come to Him. To come to Christ means to follow Him, do His works, keep His commandments, exercise faith in His atoning power, and to become gradually more like Him. You simply cannot believe without ding the works of Him in whom you believe. If so, your faith is hollow and lifeless.

To recapitulate what we’ve covered thus far, there is no choice between faith and works; only between following Jesus Christ or not following Him. Those who believe in Him, faithfully do the works He did. Faith itself is a principle of action and cannot be divorced from works. Faith is always demonstrated through works and a willingness to enter into the Lord’s ordinances, keep His commandments, and walk in His paths. When we exercise faith in this manner, the Lord pours out His mercy and redeems us. 

I now appeal to a secondary witness besides the Bible. As imperative and powerful as the Bible’s witness of Jesus Christ is, it is foolish to think God has not furnished the world with a multiplicity of witnesses to the fact that salvation rests only in His Son Jesus Christ. Indeed, if the Bible is true, which it is, then there must be additional scripture and ongoing revelation. 

Did not Peter testify:  

“God is no respecter of persons: 

“But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34-35). 

Did not Paul say: 

“[T]here is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lor over al is rich unto all that cal upon him” (Romans 10:12). 

Do not we read: 

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 

“And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18; Joel 2:28). 

And did not the prophet pledge: 

“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). 

In numerous places in the Old Testament, we learn that there were many prophets, some unidentified, sent by God to warn and teach Israel at various times. Their warnings are not recorded in the present Bible. Many of their teachings have been lost. Yet, their words were inspired by God as much as any preserved in the Holy Bible. The Lord always has and always will speak to man through prophets. Their words, when inspired, have and always will constitute scripture. It is of the utmost importance that we seek out all that which has been inspired by Heaven and incorporate it into our belief in the Savior for, as noted earlier, true principles are always in harmony one with another regardless of their source. 

Concerning the host of prophets sent by God at various times, 2 Kings 17:3 states:  

“[T]he Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” 

2 Chronicles 36:15-16 also explains: 

“And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place; 

“But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his word, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.” 

Around 600 B.C., at the time the prophet Jeremiah was preaching, the Lord sent a man named Lehi to prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of the tribes. Jeremiah wrote that the Lord was continuously sending prophets like himself and Lehi to wicked Israel: 

“Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them” (Jeremiah 7:25). 

Like Jeremiah, Lehi was rejected and the Jews tried to kill him. Being warned by the Lord, Lehi took his family and fled into the south wilderness. Through the instrumentality of his son Nephi, who became a prophet as like his father, Lehi’s family and the family of another Israelite named Ishmael, built a ship and crossed the ocean, landing in the Americas. The family eventually split into two groups, one led by righteous Nephi, and the other by his unbelieving brother Laman. 

The Nephite people, as they called themselves, were a Christian society of Israelites scattered to the Americas by the Lord. From 600 B.C. to almost 400 A.D., they flourished. Tragically, they eventually rebelled against the Lord and were destroyed by the Lamanites. Per the ancient custom of many cultures, the Nephite prophets recorded a cursory history of their people, and also many of their sacred teachings about Jesus Christ, in a metallic book. 

This book is the “stick of Joseph” seen by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:15-19). The “stick of Judah” seen by the same prophet became the Bible. Ezekiel prophesied that the “stick of Joseph” was to join the “stick of Judah” and be “one” in God’s hands (Ezekiel 37:19). Together, the two Israelite records would confound false doctrines and establish the truth that Jesus is the Messiah, the Redeemer of mankind. 

The “stick of Joseph,” or, rather, the Nephite record, was compiled chiefly by a prophet named Mormon, and by his son Moroni. As his people was destroyed, Moroni buried the record in the earth to come forth in the due time of the Lord. That time was 1830. In that year, a young man named Joseph Smith was led to and translated by the power of God the ancient record. In its translated form, the “stick of Joseph” has taken on the name The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Together with the Bible, it bears witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ and urges all to come to Him for salvation. 

The Book of Mormon, which I testify from the bottom of my soul is a true book given by inspiration, enlightens the understanding, teaches of God, increases our faith in Jesus Christ, contains precious gems of doctrine and wisdom, and is as indispensable as the Bible in fortifying our faith in the Savior. Among other things, it helps clarify, in unmistakable terms, the “faith vs works” controversy. 

For instance, The Book of Mormon explains: 

“[T]here is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved. . . . 

“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. 

“And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled. 

“For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments. 

“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. . . . 

“And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out” (2 Nephi 25:20, 23-26, 29). 

In this powerful passage, Nephi clearly taught that we are saved by Jesus Christ and by Him alone. It is Him whom we must worship, serve, follow, testify of, and believe in. Nor our faith or works, but His “grace” saves us, “after all we can do.” In the vernacular of the time when Joseph Smith translated the record, the word “after” could mean “notwithstanding.” Thus, the correct understanding is that we are saved by the Lord’s grace, notwithstanding all we can do. 

Yet, we must still keep the commandments and observe the laws and ordinances of God – baptism, giving tithes, helping the needy, observing the Sabbath day, and so forth. But these laws are, in a sense, dead to us. Without the Lord’s grace and power, these works and observances are lifeless and vain. Rather, true spiritual life comes through Christ’s mercy when we “bow down before him, and worship him will all [our] might, mind, and strength, and [our] whole soul.” 

The prophet-historian Mormon gave us valuable insight when he took to task those who tried to baptize little children, supposing that they were sinful and would be lost without baptism. His explanation tells us much about the interplay of faith and works: 

“Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy. 

“And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption. . . . 

“For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing – 

“But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works. . . . 

“And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; 

“And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of hearth; and because of meekness and lowliness of heat cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God” (Moroni 8:19-20, 22-23, 25-26). 

From this example, we can see that it is Christ’s mercy, not “dead works,” that save us. Yet, we can also see that when we have vibrant faith in the Savior, we do certain things, such as keeping the commandments, be baptized, repenting, being diligent to prayer, and enduring in faith until the end of our lives. To put our trust in works alone is the same as denying Christ’s mercy and Atonement. Redemption only comes by submitting to God’s will and, thereby, being covered by the Savior’s grace. 

The life of the Nephite prophet named Alma also exemplified the correct habits of faith and works, as well as the process of receiving grace and transforming from a fallen man to a redeemed son of God. Alma, like Paul, actively attempted to destroy the Lord’s Church. As he was going about secretly with a band of followers to spread dissent, an angel appeared, rebuking him. Alma was so shocked and overcome by the realization that he had fought against God that he fell into a lifeless stupor for three agonizing days. He later spoke of his experience and what finally saved him: 

“I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins. 

“. . . I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments. 

“Yea, I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror. . . . 

“. . . while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. 

“Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. 

“And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. 

“And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!” (Alma 36:12-14, 17-20) 

In another testimony of this same life-altering event, Alma noted: 

“[A]nd never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul. 

“. . . there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Jesus Christ” (Alma 38:8-9). 

Alma’s redemption did not come by works, for he had been a wicked man. Neither did it come through faith, though he exercised at least a particle of faith when he cried in the anguish of his sufferings to Christ. Rather, it was the mercy, grace, and compassion of Jesus Christ alone which pulled Alma out of the pit of despair. Only Jesus can save. Only His mercy can heal us. Only His grace, which He can freely share to the penitent because of the Atonement which He worked out in Gethsemane and on the Cross, has the power to rescue us from our fallen state. 

It is instructive to note that immediately after his life-changing experience with the Lord’s abundant goodness, Alma and his fellow ex-apostate companions, went about “zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them” (Mosiah 27:35). We are given to understand that these men became “instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer” (Mosiah 27:36). 

Jesus’ titles Savior and Redeemer perhaps carry the most meaning. Above all, He lives to save and redeem us from our fallen natures, our sins, and the grasp of justice. The Book of Mormon explains: 

“And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. 

“And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. 

“And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption. . . . 

“. . . behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you” (Alma 34:14-16, 31). 

The Lord suffered beyond the power of words to describe so that you and I do not have to, if we will repent. His mercy can cover our weaknesses, blot our sins, and lift us out of the pit. We may be rebellious like Paul or Alma, yet, as in the case of these two stalwart disciples, if we are sincere, we may be forgiven and redeemed quickly. 

A modern apostle of the Lord, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, gave this thought about repentance, which hits upon both faith and works and the willingness of our Savior to quickly help us on our feet and give us a clean bill of spiritual health: 

“You can change anything you want to change, and you can do it very fast. That’s another satanic suckerpunch—that it takes years and years and eons of eternity to repent. It takes exactly as long to repent as it takes you to say, “I’ll change”—and mean it. Of course there will be problems to work out and restitutions to make. You may well spend—indeed you had better spend—the rest of your life proving your repentance by its permanence. But change, growth, renewal, and repentance can come for you as instantaneously as for Alma and the sons of Mosiah. Even if you have serious amends to make, it is not likely that you would qualify for the term, “the vilest of sinners,” which is the phrase Mormon uses in describing these young men. Yet as Alma recounts his own experience in the thirty-sixth chapter of the book that bears his name, his repentance appears to have been as instantaneous as it was stunning. 

“Do not misunderstand. Repentance is not easy or painless or convenient. It is a bitter cup from Hell. But only Satan, who dwells there, would have you think that a necessary and required acknowledgment is more distasteful than permanent residence. Only he would say, “You can’t change. You won’t change. It’s too long and too hard to change. Give up. Give in. Don’t repent. You are just the way you are.” That, my friends, is a lie born of desperation. Don’t fall for it” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “For Times of Trouble,” BYU Address, March 18, 1980). 

The works we do to prove the permanence of our repentance, and the sincerity of our souls, as indispensable as they are, still do not save us. Even the faith we exercise to call upon the Lord for mercy, doesn’t do the trick. The Lord’s redeeming blood saves us. When He knows that we repent “and mean it,” then His mercy is extended. He takes us by the hand and lifts us up. If we then prove our repentance by its permanence and continue our lives in faithful service, the Savior will carry us back to the Father’s Kingdom. 

To stand blameless before God, we must have both faith and works. If we have faith in His Son, we will do the works He did. And if we keep His commandments and believe in Him, the “bowels of mercy” will redeem us. By Christ Jesus we are saved. His holy blood has atoned for all who will humble themselves, walk in His straight and narrow path, do His works, love as He loves, and trust in His promise and power to save. 

I end with a passage from The Book of Mormon that speaks of my Savior and with a brief personal witness. The prophet-king Benjamin affirmed the following doctrine: 

“And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. 

“. . . men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ. . . . 

“And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 

“And behold, when that time cometh, none shall be found blameless before God, except it be little children, only through repentance and faith on the name of the Lord God Omnipotent” (Mosiah 3:17-18, 20-21). 

I know that the Bible and Book of Mormon are true books given of God. I know that Jesus Christ is our Lord, Redeemer, and Advocate with the Father. I know that He requires us to have faith in Him and to follow Him in doing His works. And I know that those who follow the Savior will be saved by Him for, notwithstanding all we can do, if we repent and have faith on His name, we are saved by Christ. 

September 27, 2020