Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Faith; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
9. As all the visible creation is an effect of faith, so is
salvation, also. (We mean salvation in its most extensive latitude of
interpretation, whether it is temporal or spiritual.) In order to have
this subject clearly set before the mind, let us ask what situation
must a person be in, in order to be saved? or what is the difference
between a saved man and one who is not saved? We answer from what we
have before seen of the heavenly worlds, they must be persons who can
work by faith, and who are able, by faith to be ministering spirits
to them who shall be heirs of salvation. And they must have faith to
enable them to act in the presence of the Lord, otherwise they cannot
be saved. And what constitutes the real difference between a saved
person and one not saved, is the difference in the degree of their
faith: one's faith has become perfect enough to Lay hold upon eternal
life, and the other's has not. But to be a little more particular, let
us ask, Where shall we find a prototype into whose likeness we may
be assimilated, in order that we may be made partakers of life and
salvation? or in other words, where shall we find a saved being? for if
we can find a saved being, we may ascertain, without much difficulty,
what all others must be, in order to be saved--they must be like that
individual to be saved: we think, that it will not be a matter of
dispute, that two beings, who are unlike each other, cannot both be
saved; for whatever constitutes the salvation of one, will constitute
the salvation of every creature which will be saved: and if we find
one saved being in all existence, we may see what all others must be,
or else not be saved. We ask, then, where is the prototype? or where
is the saved being? We conclude, as to the answer of this question,
there will be no dispute among those who believe the bible, that it is
Christ: all will agree in this, that he is the prototype or standard
of salvation; or, in other words, that he is a saved being. And if we
should continue our interrogation, and ask how it is that he is saved?
the answer would be, because he is a just and holy being; and if he
were anything different from what he is he would not be saved; for his
salvation depends on his being precisely what he is and nothing else;
for if it were possible for him to change, in the least degree, so sure
he would fail of salvation and lose all his dominion, power, authority
and glory, which constitutes salvation; for salvation consists in the
glory, authority, majesty, power and dominion which Jehovah possesses,
and in nothing else; and no being can possess it but himself or one
like him: Thus says John, in his first epistle, 3:2 and 3: Behold, now
are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be;
but we know that, when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we
shall see him as he is. And any man that hath this hope in him purifies
himself, even as he is pure.--Why purify themselves as he is pure?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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