Seer Stone

Are Latter-day Saints saved by grace or by works?

Grace and Works Together

Latter-day Saints are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ—not by earning salvation through human effort. Christ’s Atonement makes resurrection and every saving blessing possible; our faith, repentance, covenant keeping, and good works are the means by which we receive and remain in those blessings. Paul teaches that we are saved by grace through faith, while also being created in Christ ‘unto good works’ (Ephesians 2:8–10).

Works do not replace grace or compete with it. Rather, genuine faith in Christ produces obedience, and Christ’s grace changes and strengthens us to do what we could not do alone (1 Corinthians 15:10; Philippians 2:13). Thus Nephi taught that ‘it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do’ (2 Nephi 25:23), and Moroni invited us to come unto Christ, deny ungodliness, and be perfected through His grace (Moroni 10:32).

So the clearest answer is: we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and that living faith necessarily includes repentance, covenant faithfulness, and good works. We do not earn eternal life; we accept Christ’s gift and cooperate with His transforming power (James 2:17–18).

Ephesians 2:8-10

8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Philippians 2:13

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

2 Nephi 25:23

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.

Moroni 10:32

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

James 2:17-18

17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

FAIR - Mormon perspective

Question: Do Mormons believe that salvation is based upon works?

New Testament Student Manual - Chapter 44: Ephesians

Ephesians 2:8–10. “For by Grace Are Ye Saved through Faith … unto Good Works” In Ephesians 2:8–10, Paul discussed the relationship between grace, faith, and good works. Ultimately, salvation comes through the merits of Jesus Christ’s work, not on our own. Paul called followers of Jesus Christ “[God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10). This places emphasis on the Lord’s work rather than on our own and teaches that our ability to perform good works stems from the change that the grace of Jesus Christ causes to take place within us when we turn to Him in faith (see also 1 Corinthians 15:10 and Philippians 2:13). Paul taught that we are not saved by either faith or works alone, as both are critical to salvation. Faith and works empower us to receive the merciful blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. For more information on the subject of grace, see the commentary for Romans 3:23–24 and for Romans 4:4, 16; 5:2, 15–21; 6:1–2, 14–15. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained: “Salvation in all its forms, kinds, and degrees comes by the grace of God. That is, because of his love, mercy, and condescension, God our Father ordained the plan and system of salvation which would ‘bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.’ (Moses 1:39.) Pursuant to this plan he sent his Only Begotten Son into the world to work out the infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice. …

Gospel Topics - The Only True and Living Church

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