There’s a common misconception that Latter-day Saints believe we have to “work our way to heaven.” Of course this isn’t true. Who on the planet would ever live perfect enough to “work their way to heaven?” The only person I know who lived a perfect life was Jesus Christ. All of us need grace to bridge the gap between our efforts and what God requires. I think Michaelangelo’s “Hand of God” would be the most accurate depiction of the LDS belief in Faith, Works and Grace.

We reach toward His reaching. We do what we know to do, repent as we go along, strive to follow Him more faithfully, and leave the rest to the atonement of Jesus Christ. I think the miscommunication about faith, works and grace between Latter-day Saints and other Christians boils down to the definition of the word “faith.” If faith means simply “having a belief in something” but not necessarily acting upon it, then Latter-day Saints would say you need more than faith. But Latter-day Saints use faith as an action word. True faith in Jesus Christ leads you to take action. What good is believing that a seed will grow if you never take action to plant it in the ground? Held in your hand forever, you’ll never taste the fruit. True faith makes you put that seed in the ground, and patiently hope long enough to enjoy the harvest.

I like the way Ether 12:3-4 puts it::

“…by faith all things are fulfilled — wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, making an achor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.”

The action-oriented faith is clear in this passage. Faith makes you hope, and hope anchors your soul and makes you sure, steadfast, and always abounding in good works. This, naturally, brings glory to God. True faith changes your life. It transforms you into someone better. That is because when you humble yourself enough to act in faith on what God asks you to do, you activate His grace in your behalf. This is when amazing things happen and miracles occur.

As Moroni said, “I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”

If you want to pass the trial of your faith, you’ll take action upon commandments and spiritual impressions. As you step into the darkness, Christ’s grace is activated on your behalf. It doesn’t matter how untalented, weak or incapable you may be, with God all things are possible.

“And if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble: and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me: for if they humble themselves before me and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).

This entry was posted on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 10:48 pm and is filed under Favorite Scriptures, lds beliefs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.