New Witness for Christ
“Some people even in this day of education and enlightenment profess to believe that the Mormons(members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) do not believe in Christ, but rather have some mystical theology based on a belief in Joseph Smith, or Brigham Young, or Mormon. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (known informally by the nick nameMormons) believe the Bible. Indeed, so literally and completely do their beliefs and practices conform to the teachings of the Bible that it is not uncommon to hear informed persons say: ‘If all men believed the Bible, all would be Mormons. Bible doctrine is Mormon doctrine, and Mormon doctrine is Bible doctrine. They are one and the same.’ But as it well known, the Bible does not contain all the doctrines and truths taught…Mormons fortunately, however, are not forced to rely solely on testimony of prophets and apostles of Old and New Testament…They have latter-day revelation…
Many reliable surveys have been made among present-day ministers and laymen, inquiring relative to a belief in Christ as the literal Son of God. Few have knowledge that he is such, literally, personally, actually, as other men are sons of mortal parents. Of course, to accept Christ as the Son of God, one must first believe that the Father is a God and must believe that his Father is a personal being in whose image man is created— knowledge that is not widely had among Christians. When one believes God to be impersonal, uncreated, incorporeal, incomprehensible, unknown, unknowable, a mystical three-in-one sprit that fills immensity, it is not possible to accept him as the literal Father of our Lord.
Salvation by Grace
Salvation by grace is a glorious doctrine of Christ. Although confusion and false teachings relative to it are found on every hand…Grace is simply the mercy, the love, and the condescension God has for his children, as a result of which he has ordained the plan of salvation so that they may have power to progress and become like him… All men are saved by grace alone without any act on their part, meaning that they are resurrected and become immortal because of atoning sacrifice of Christ… In addition to this redemption from death, all men, by the grace of God, have the power to gain eternal life. This is called salvation by grace coupled with obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. Hence Nephi wrote, ‘…for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.’
Blood of Christ
Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power. Much that is believed and taught on this subject, however, is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one’s salvation. For instance, many believe or pretend to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept him as our personal Savior, we are thereby saved. They say that his blood, without any other act than mere belief, makes us clean.
What is the true doctrine of the blood of Christ? Salvation comes because of the atonement, and the atonement was wrought through the shedding of the blood of Christ. In Gethsemane Christ sweat great drops of blood from every pore when he conditionallytook upon himself the sins of the world, and then the shedding of his blood was completed upon the cross.
Salvation in the kingdom of God is available because of the atoning blood ofChrist. But it is received only on condition of faith, repentance, baptism, and enduring to the end by keeping the commandments of God.
Firstborn
Christ is the Firstborn…all men lived in a pre-mortal estate before they were born into this world; all were born in the pre-mortal existence as the spirit children of the Father. Christ was the firstborn spirit child…John was fully aware of the pre-mortal status and greatness of Christ when he wrote of him: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.’ (John 1:1-2.) Christ, the Word, the Firstborn, had of course, attained unto the status of Godhood while yet in pre-mortal existence…
He is the firstborn spirit child of God the Father…He is the Son of God, literally, actually, as men are the sons of mortal parents…”
The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accept Jesus Christ as he has been reveled to them in this day…”
(Quoted from What the Mormons Think of Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pamphlet PTM12198, 10/82, pp. 3, 7, 17-20, 22, 27-28. Emphasis added.)