Grace and Works

I wrote this to answer a friend's question in 2011.

I have been thinking about when members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talk about grace and works, and I agree that it can be confusing. On one hand they stress the necessity of ordinances and good works, but when you ask whether they believe they can be saved on their own merits, they are shocked.

I think what is happening here is a lack of common background. Most Christians have centuries of shared struggle as great, good men have wrestled with interpreting the scriptures. There have been many councils and reformations. Though the resulting sects do not agree on all things, there is a shared awareness of difficult issues and defining terms.

What do Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe about Justice, Mercy, and Grace?

I love this video. It explains how we need a mediator in our lives, and how our Savior meets both the demands of justice and our need for mercy.

A woman said recently that she didn't think she could walk with Christ when she died. Are any of us worthy to do so?  Can any of us grow and change on our own? I know I've tried, but like a person lost, I repeatedly end up back where started. If we try to become Christlike by ourselves, we will fail. We make mistakes everyday (almost every moment). Only through the power, the grace, which our Savior gives us, can we change. He can do anything. He has paid for all our mistakes. He has the power to help us change. All we need to do is try.