Mormon Handbook

A REFERENCE TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

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“No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith.”

— Brigham Young

Second Mormon prophet
"Intelligence, etc."
General Conference, Salt Lake City
Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 188


To understand the LDS view of salvation, it is helpful to first understand these LDS doctrines:


Pre-Earth Life

The LDS church teaches that humans exist first as spirit babies, the offspring of God the Father and Mother. Their spirit babies are sent down to earth and given a physical body through the conception of human parents.


Man was also in the beginning with God.

Doctrine and Covenants

— Doctrine and Covenants


93:29

"Man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal [physical] body."

Joseph Fielding Smith

— Joseph Fielding Smith

10th Mormon prophet
"We Are Children of Our Heavenly Father"
Gospel Principles, Ch. 2
churchofjesuschrist.org

MANY EARTHS INHABITED BY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. We are not the only people that the Lord has created. We have brothers and sisters on other earths. They look like us because they, too, are the children of God and were created in his image, for they are also his offspring.

Joseph Fielding Smith

— Joseph Fielding Smith

10th Mormon prophet
Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 62


Lucifer Rebels

Mormonism teaches that Jesus Christ, the first-born spirit child, and Lucifer, the second-born spirit child are brothers. Both volunteered to be the savior of mankind. However, when God chose Jesus, Lucifer rebelled and caused a celestial split. Those who sided with Heavenly Father and Jesus were permitted to come to earth and experience mortality, while those who sided with Lucifer were expelled and forever denied a physical body.


Satan, who was called Lucifer, also came, saying, "Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind".... Because our Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior, Satan became angry and rebelled.

Thomas Ferguson

— Gospel Principles, Ch. 3

"Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior"
lds.org


Atonement at Gethsemane

Citing Luke 22:44, Mormonism teaches that the atonement began in the garden of Gethsemane, contrary to Jesus’ Apostles who teach that the atonement was on the cross.


Three Heavens — Three Degrees of Glory

Citing 2 Corinthians 12:2, Mormonism teaches that there are three heavens, with each level a higher degree of glory.


LDS Plan of Salvation

LDS Plan of Salvation

Saved By Works

Mormonism teaches that in order to enter the Celestial Heaven, the highest degree of glory, one must perform various works (e.g., priesthood, temple endowments, temple weddings, etc.) and be obedient to church rules (e.g., tithing, *Word of Wisdom, etc.).

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

Pearl of Great Price

— Articles of Faith


No. 3

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.

Book of Mormon

— 2 Nephi


25:23


Salvation through Joseph Smith


No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith... every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are.

Brigham Young

— Brigham Young

Second Mormon prophet
"Intelligence, etc."
General Conference, Salt Lake City
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 289

Every spirit that confesses that Joseph Smith is a Prophet, that he lived and died a Prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true, is of God, and every spirit that does not is of anti-Christ.

Brigham Young

— Brigham Young

Second Mormon prophet
"The Discourse of President Brigham Young"
History of the Church, Vol. 7, p. 287

If ever you enter into the kingdom of God it is because Joseph Smith let you go there.

Brigham Young

— Brigham Young

Second Mormon prophet
"For This is Life Eternal"
General Conference, Salt Lake City
brighamyoungcenter.org

I tell you, Joseph holds the keys, and none of us can get into the celestial kingdom without passing by him.... If brother Joseph is satisfied with you, you may pass. If it is all right with him, it is all right with me.

Orson Hyde

— Orson Hyde

Mormon apostle
"Self-Government, etc."
Salt Lake City Tabernacle
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, pp. 154-55

Every intelligent person under the heavens that does not, when informed, acknowledge that Joseph Smith, Jun., is a Prophet of God, is in darkness, and is opposed to us and to Jesus and his kingdom on the earth.

Brigham Young

— Brigham Young

Second Mormon prophet
"Restoration—Resurrection, etc."
Salt Lake City
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, p. 223

Believe in God, believe in Jesus, and believe in Joseph his Prophet, and in Brigham his successor. And I add, "If you will believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph was a Prophet, and that Brigham was his successor, you shall be saved in the kingdom of God," which I pray, in the name of Jesus, may be the case. Amen.

Joseph Young

— Joseph Young

Mormon Seventy
"Redemption of the Dead, etc."
Salt Lake City
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 229

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.

Doctrine and Covenants

— Doctrine and Covenants


135:3


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