The Covenant Path Part 4

One is examines the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from a biblical perspective viewpoint when warming is sponsored by Mormonism research ministry since 1979 Mormonism research ministry has been dedicated to equipping the body of Christ with answers regarding the Christian faith in a manner that expresses gentleness and respect. And now, your host for today's viewpoint on Mormonism. What do Latter Day Saints mean when they talk about overcoming all things welcome to this additional viewpoint on Mormonism. I'm your host, Bill McKeever, founder and director Mormonism research ministry and with me today is Eric Johnson. My colleague at MRM we are looking at a conference message that was given by a member of the quorum of the 12 apostles. A man by the name of D. Todd Christopherson. It's titled why the covenant path. The difference of the covenant path is uniquely and eternally significant. It is found in the May at 2021. Addition of the Leo hold a magazine and it begins on page 116. Today we are going to be looking at page 118 under the subheading bound to God and this is what Christopherson says a second unique aspect of the covenant path is our relationship with deity. The covenants God offers to his children do more than guide us. They bind us to him, and bound to him.

We can overcome all things that has a footnote in the footnote reads John 1633. This is what John 1633 says this is Jesus speaking. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace in this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world.

That's interesting that he would cite John 1633. In making that kind of a statement because he's saying here that we can overcome all things, yet the citation that he mentions is Jesus saying I have over come all things though. It's not that the New Testament doesn't use the word overcome because it certainly does. But again, we need to look at the context of what those verses are saying to us in order to get a proper understanding and the reason I say that is because LDS leaders certainly have misunderstood, misrepresented what that word overcome means and were going to talk about that. But before we do, what is it say in Revelation 27 it says he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God. So we have the idea that if you overcome your going to be able to go to heaven.

The paradise of God. And another passage is first John chapter 5 the first five verses in the English standard version.

The subheading is overcoming the world. This is what John wrote everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God and everyone who loves the father loves whatever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God. When we love God and obey his commandments, for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not burdensome for everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world.

Our faith verse five.

Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the son of God. So we overcome by our faith but yet the way it's being described by Mr. Christopherson that gives the impression that you overcome by your deeds bye-bye what you're doing. I'm not saying that faith is not a part of that. Please don't misunderstand me, but certainly in the context of Mormonism. The word overcome as a significant difference than for what Eric has just read from first John chapter 5 will be give you an example, we have Brigham Young, who in 1855.

This is found in the Journal of discourses, volume 3, page 265 he said this, we are commanded to overcome all our lustful desires. Also, our pride, selfishness, and every evil propensity that pertains to the flesh to keep the commandments of God and all the commandments pertaining to the holy priesthood. The question I've been asking this week is if that is what is being required of Latter Day Saints what Latter Day Saints do you know who has met that requirement. Do you know any Latter Day Saints who is overcome all of their lustful desires all of their pride, all of their selfishness and every evil propensity that pertains to the flesh that I would say this is becoming a Christian.

Jesus as cleaned up my act significantly, but I still have a long way to go. As I'm sure most Latter Day Saints.

If you were to ask them specifically, they would admit they have a long way to go as well but Spencer W. Kimball also talks about this kind of overcoming very similar to the way Brigham Young described it in this is found in Kimball's book the miracle of forgiveness.

Page 16 he writes. And let us not suppose that in calling people to repentance. The prophets are concerned only with the more grievous sin such as murder, adultery, stealing, and so on, nor only with those persons who have not accepted the gospel ordinances all transgressions must be cleansed all weaknesses must be overcome before a person can attain perfection and godhood. All weaknesses must be overcome before a person can attain perfection and godhood. What's interesting about Kimmel statement is in that same book. He speaks of the importance of doing it in this mortality. Now it's not that some leaders haven't given confusing statements, making it appear that somehow you can make up for lost time in the next life. But of course that kind of thinking.

I personally think undermines the whole concept of a mortal probation as is taught by the LDS church. In other words, we are here during this mortality to prove ourselves worthy. If we can do it later on. What's the point of this mortality. Kimball does that throughout his book. He starts off the chapter 1 and the title of it is this life is the time any sites from Alba 3432 for behold this life is the time to prepare to meet God. So I am going to say at least 6 to 8 times. He very clearly says you can't do it in the next life.

It has to be done. Now listen to this statement by Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie in his book Mormon doctrine. This is the 1966 edition, page 512 and he citing a book that his father-in-law wrote Joseph Fielding Smith titled man his origin in destiny. He says mortal persons who overcome all things and gain ultimate exultation will live eternally in the family unit and have spirit children, thus becoming eternal fathers and eternal mothers citing doctrine and covenants section 1 3219 to 32 but notice how this starts off mortal persons who overcome all things that seems like a reference to this mortal probation and why doing these things you must do in order to receive celestial exultation have to be done in this life, not later on if mortal persons are to overcome all things, and in that context, we get the impression that he's talking about overcoming all of our shortcomings in all of our sins who is actually doing this, we had James Talmage in the book, articles of faith citing from the 1984 edition, page 83 Nellis not forget Talmage was commissioned by the first presidency to write articles of faith.

This is what he says about celestial glory. There are some who have striven to obey all the divine commandments who have accepted the testimony of Christ obey the laws and ordinances of the gospel and receive the Holy Spirit.

These are they who have overcome evil by godly works and who are therefore entitled to the highest glory. These belong to the church of the firstborn onto whom the father has given all things. They are made kings and priests of the most high. After the order of Melchizedek.

They possess celestial bodies whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written as being typical. They are admitted to the glorified company crown with exultation in the celestial kingdom. Let's go back and let's dissect what he says when he speaks of those who have striven to obey all the divine commandments who have accepted the testimony of Christ and obeyed the laws and ordinances of the gospel. These are they who have overcome evil by godly works but yet when we read in John's epistle in first John chapter 5 we overcome by our faith. Here, it seems pretty clear that you overcome by godly works, which is not refining in that passage in first John 5C godly works are absolutely essential. But what you do. If that's the case with Titus 35 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saves us. Obviously, Paul disagrees with what's being said, hereby Talmage because it's not by any righteous work that we can perform and another citation we can give is Richard G. Scott and apostle who spoke at a general conference in April 2001 and said time and time again at funerals. Statements are made that the deceased will inherit all blessings of celestial glory. When an individual has in no way qualified by obtaining the necessary ordinances and by keeping the required covenants that won't happen.

Such blessings can only be earned by meeting the Lord's requirements. Listen to this, his mercy does not overcome the requirements of his law, they must be met just reading that should scare just about any Latter Day Saints listening to that comment. His mercy does not overcome the requirements of his law, you better hope it does.

I certainly hope it took his because I need that undeserved mercy if I have to meet all the requirements of the law in order to get that mercy.

There was no possible way that I could ever hope to receive the God has for me as a believer but not only what Richard G.

Scott says a 70 by the name of Theodore M.

Burton, and this was given in a conference message titled salvation and exultation. This was back in 1972. Wouldn't he say about exultation exultation come as a gift from God dependent upon my obedience to God's law. No works.

I do solely of my own power can bring this to pass only by the grace of God has this course been open to me, but only through obedience to the laws of God, can I claim my inheritance in the celestial kingdom of my heavenly father as a son within his family. I cannot be exalted in my sins that must work until I overcome them.

Now when he talks about. I cannot be exalted in my sins. No doubt this is probably a reference to Elma 1137, which says that God cannot save us in our sins.

Are we all fallen and in sin. Even if you're a believer you're still in sin, you're still a fallen human being.

You still commit sin.

The difference of course is your sin has been forgiven because of your faith in what Christ did for you. It doesn't give you a license to sin, but it does give you that righteous standing. You might say when it comes to how God views you. It's not that we have become perfect. That's certainly not the case. But when he says I cannot be exalted in my sins, but must work until I overcome them. But what happens to a Latter Day Saints. Should they die before they have successfully overcome them. I don't mean to sound mean but all Latter Day Saints who die die before they overcome them. Let's be honest we have all sin we have come short of the glory of God. That being the case nobody can live up to these standards that these LDS leaders have laid down for the Mormon people. Thank you for listening you would like more information regarding this research ministry. We encourage you to visit our website www.mrm.org you can request a free newsletter Mormonism research.

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