Commandments and Exceptions

The 10 Commandments are not relative but God does make exceptions at times. For instance, the commandment "Thou shalt not [murder]." However, killing in defense of family or country is not considered murder. Capital punishment is not murder. Another commandment says, "Thou shalt honor they parents." Does that mean a child should do whatever their parent tells them? What if a child was forbidden to accept Christianity. According to God, accepting Christ, even if we are disowned or it causes a division in the family is considered honoring our parents.

The same principles also apply to the commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." In the Garden of Eden, Adam was given one wife. This was considered the ideal and prototypical relationship. But if you read further in the Bible, God has at other times allowed the practice of polygamy under specific circumstances. If done under these specific circumstances, polygamy was not adultery any more than capital punishment is murder.

The Nephites were commanded to have only one wife, but an exception to this commandment is given. Just like there are exceptions given for divorce. God says, "if I desire to raise up righteous seed, I will command otherwise."

Abraham is a good example of entering into polygamy for the purposes of raising up a righteous posterity. Abraham was led to find God. He had left his family and home and his idolatrous ways. But it seemed he would have no posterity to leave this great legacy despite being promised great posterity. Sarah hadn't borne him any children. So, the Bible says, Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a second wife. Jacob had 4 wives for this purpose and the results are the 12 tribes of Israel. Imagine how many people there are who praise God they were born through the bloodline of Abraham.

Abraham covenanted with the Lord that he would be the father of many nations. Since Sarah had given him not children, he received other wives to fulfill the covenant. He took an active roll in making sure the covenant blessings were realized. And because of this faith, it was accounted unto him for righteousness. This example teaches us that if we are promised something by God, we shouldn't just sit on our hands and wait for God to deliver, but we should be anxiously engaged in realizing Gods promises to us.

Exodus 21:10-11 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.

Here Moses addresses polygamy very plainly right after recording the 10 commandments in Exodus. There is no suggestion that taking another wife = adultery if the husband continues to provide the 1st wife her food, reignment and duty of marriage. If, however, the husband cannot provide these 3 things, because his attentions are focused on another woman exclusively, then the actions of the man would constitute adultery, and under the conditions of marriage, she is free to divorce. LDS polygamy operated similarly. Divorce was easier to obtain. If a woman entered into a polygamist marriage and she didn't feel that her needs were being met, she was able to divorce and remarry monogamously. However there are only occasional examples of this occuring.

According to Exodus 21, It seems Moses wouldn't have a problem with a man taking another wife if he was able to provide fully for both households. And if you look back at Jewish history it is clear that polygamy was a common practice; certain sects more than others. That said, I am glad this kind of thing is not practiced any more. Unfortunately, in our society, there are an increasing number of men who have 4 children by 3 women and don't pay child support for any of them.

Deut. 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.

God makes polygamy a part of the Law of Moses for this same exception. The Law of Levarite marriage says that if a man marries and dies before his wife and he have any children, then his wife should be married to his brother so that the brother can raise seed up for his deceased brother. In many cases, the 2nd brother would have already been married; especially since the brother who dies without children would likely have been the younger brother. The older brother who would accept his brother's wife would have received the birthright and "extra portion" which would assure he had sufficient to fulfill the obligations under the Law. Therefore, Levarite marriage is another example of Biblically sanctioned polygamy.

David also took many wives and it was accounted unto him as righteousness. Only in the issue with Uriah and his wife was the sin (D&C 132:39). Solomon was also given many wives. Solomon was condemned because he took wives of non-Israelites or strangers and that resulted in Solomon turning to their gods, and building temples and idols up to other gods to appease his wives who worshiped other gods.

There is one other important exception that justifies polygamy and doesn't make taking another wife adultery. That is the commandment and duty to care for the fatherless and the widow. While many aspects of the Law of Moses were fulfilled in Chirst, our duty to care for the widow is still part of Christ's new and everlasting covenant. 1 Timothy Chapter 5 discussed the law for the care for widows. According to this chapter the first responsibility to care for a widow was on the widows own family. But if the widow were young (less than 60), Paul taught that the widow should remarry.

1 Tim 5:14-18 I will therefore that the younger women (less than 60) marry (remarry), bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Many of the second wives of Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young were widows of other church brethren. So, in these cases, having multiple wives and supporting multiple households is not considered adultery.

James 1: 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
visit = episkeptomai = to care for

What is amazing is that the "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox" is used to justify the lavish lifestyle of many Christian pastors and bishops when this chapter is clearly referring to the duty of the elder who is using their own hard-earned money to care for multiple households. It is the elders who are caring for the widow and the orphan who rule (their homes) well who should be counted worthy of double honour. Further evidence that elder is referring to male believer in the church and not the pastor or bishop is that 1 Tim 1:19 "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses." The Pastor or Bishop would be serving as the judge and not be the accused.

Evidence that polygamy was practiced by the Jews at the time of Christ and the Early Christian saints can be found in the pastoral epistles of Paul. In speaking of the qualifications for a Bishop, Paul stress that bishops and other church leaders need be the husband of one wife. I presume this is to provide ample time to manage the flock and attend to the work of the ministry instead of caring for several households comprised of widows (polygamy) and orphans (adoption). If polygamy wasn't a common practice, I am not sure why Paul would have brought it up.

Polygamy was required of the early LDS Saints for their exaltation because they were commanded and empowered to receive it. If they had rejected that perfecting work, then they would be rejecting the Holy Ghost which guided them into that practice. And therefore, would have have been rejecting Christ (John 13: 20). God does not require it of us today, so it is not a practice to be desired, and is not part of our path to perfection and sanctification.

Also, with regard to commandments and exceptions to them, I try to live by the following mantra: It should only be an rare exception when I am the exception.

Another Biblical Reference to Steel

Steel was the means of Assyrian conquest and power. The Assyrians conqured the Northern Kingdom and Egypt by Tiglath-Pileser III (Pul) and Shalmaneser V, Sargon II and Sennacherib from 740 to 722 BC. Nahum a prophet in Ninevah prophesying about the fall of Assyria in 612 BC makes a amazing reference to steel.

New American Standard Bible Nahum 2:3
The shields of his mighty men are colored red, The warriors are dressed in scarlet, The chariots are enveloped in flashing steel When he is prepared to march, And the cypress spears are brandished.

KJV Nahum 2:3-4
The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken. The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.

Flaming torches or flashing steel is 'esh pĕladah in Hebrew
'esh = supernatural fire
pĕladah = steel or finer iron

The word for torch is not pĕladah but lappiyd, which is used in the very next verse.
lappiyd = torch or flame

The Hittites', who are believed to have first discovered the secret to making forged steel, word for steel was "an-bar" which means "fire from heaven." Here we see the connection with steel and meteorites (supernatural fire) which was the ancient source of steel or nickle-iron. So, I agree that 'esh peladah or "firey iron" is referring to steel.

"And I wish that I were not any part of the fifth generation of men, but had died before it came, or been born afterward. For here now is the age of iron. Never by daytime will there be an end to hard work and pain, nor in the night to weariness, when the gods will send anxieties to worry us. (Hesiod, Greek Poet, 8th Century BC).

Temple Prophecy of Ezekiel 37 Part 2

After prophesying that in the Last days, that God would establish his sanctuary and tabernacle in Israel, Ezekiel sees a vision of an enormous temple in later chapters. The size of the temple Ezekiel is shown would encompass a state or even a nation. So, some use this to support the idea that Ezekiel's prophecy does not apply to LDS temples and the whole thing altogether is figurative.

Ezek 43:10-12 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.

Ezekiel is being shown Enoch's temple in the original city of Zion. The entire city was a temple city and that is why the whole city was taken up to heaven and Christ's presence "Shechinah" was there, and Christ himself could walk among them in His glory. Those of the city of Enoch will return with Christ at His Second Coming. In the rapture we will meet each other in the air. Zion from below will meet Zion from above.

D&C 84: 100 The Lord hath redeemed his people;And Satan is bound and time is no longer.The Lord hath gathered all things in one.The Lord hath brought down Zion from above.The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath.

Moses 7:63 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;

Ezekiel is describing Enoch's temple. Other temples are patterned after this temple but obviously cannot be exactly the same because they fit the circumstances and needs of the people a the time. You will notice that even after seeing this vision, the second temple was not created exactly like it. And in a way Earthly temples are not perfect. The perfect temple would encompass the entire Earth. The entire Earth would be the temple and God could walk in His glory upon the entire face of it. Therefore, the perfect temple would be no temple. There would be no place set aside as holy, everywhere and everyone would be holy.

The temple built in the city of New Jerusalem will be more like this temple in that the entire city will be a temple city. Also, modern day temples are not exactly like Enoch's temple. They are of the same pattern, but Christian temples have no need for animal sacrifice. Christ is the final and infinite sacrifice and the temple ceremony is fully focused on administering that sacrifice and the everlasting covenants associated with Christ. There is no need for priests to offer their own animal sacrifices any more. Those who have been sealed, washed, anointed, clothed, named and ordained as kings and lords (priests), are to minister Christs sacrifice and not their own. Those priests do not represent themselves and nothing man can do can forgive sin. Priests in Christian temples represent Christ and His infinite sacrifice.

Again, the temple Ezekiel was seeing is the temple of Enoch. There is not temple in Heaven because all of heaven in holy. The future temples of New Jerusalem and Old Jerusalem might be as big. But with temples; bigger is better. If it were up to God, the size would envelop the entire Earth. Remember the pattern of the temple is scalable. It can apply to the individual soul, marriage, home and family, a holy building, a temple city, a royal priesthood, holy nation and peculiar people, and the eventual Celestial Earth.

Dan 2:34-35, 44 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. . . . and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain (a temple), and filled the whole earth. . . . And in the days of these kings (iron and clay = European nations in the Last Days) shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

And so the kingdom of God will. In the days of those kings, (Last Days, European nations = iron mixed with clay) It is the stone cut out of the mountain without hands that will grow until it becomes a great mountain (temple) and fill the whole Earth.

Mark 14: 58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
Heb. 9: 11, 24 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; . . . For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Acts 17: 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

I know what Paul is saying about God dwelling in our hearts. Remember the context of who Paul is speaking too who is trying to teach them about the Holy Ghost. But that doesn't mean that the prophecies about the literal restoration of Christian temples in Old Jerusalem and New Jerusalem will not also happen. God will literally rebuild the temple but it will not be made after the manner of men and it will not be made after the order of the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood but it is to be made ofter the eternal and everlasting order of the Melchizedek. God Himself will build His Holy House.

The pattern of the temple is scalable from the individual, to the holy building, to the holy city, to the holy nation, to the Celestial Earth. The perfect temple would be no temple at all. The entire Earth would be celestialized. The stone cut out of the mountain without hands would become a great mountain (temple) and fill the whole Earth. So, that when John was shown the Celestialized Earth, he saw no temple. There was not place set aside for God. The entire Earth will be made holy and will be God's dwelling. It doesn't make sense to refer to a heavenly temple either, because all of God's kingdom is holy, not just one part of it. Temples on Earth are a finite representation of the kingdom of God in the heavens.

Rev. 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

Temple Prophecy of Ezekiel 37 Part 1

Ezek 37 contains a marvelous prophecy about the restoration of Temple in the Last Days. But the temple is not going to be a Jewish temple. It will be a Christian temple. How are they going to know what it is supposed to look like or what should be done in it? Animal sacrifice is done away with the sacrifice of Christ. I guess a Latter-day prophet will be necessary although a surprising amount of detail about Christian temples can be found in the Bible.

Ezek 37:26-28 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

So, God prophecies that He will set up His sanctuary and tabernacle in Israel. I assume it is speaking of the temple. But this temple won't be like the Ancient Jewish Temple. That Temple administered the Law of Moses. But this temple will administer the everlasting covenant.

Isa. 2:2-3, Micah 4:1-2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

So, this temple is supposed to be built in the Last Days and not in the Millennium. It must be an important prophecy because it is found twice.

Rev. 7: 3-4, 14-15 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. . . . And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. herefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

While the Beast is busy marking his followers, God is busy sealing His Saints in their foreheads before the day of tribulation as a protection. Those who are sealed in Rev 9 will not be hurt by the tribulation.The sealing in the forehead is an ordination by the laying on of hands. Instead of just those from the tribe of Levi and the sons of Aaron serving God day and night in His temple, those who will be given this "honor" will be many (144,000 = countless number), from every tribe of Israel, or from every kindred, tongue, and people. Because the Blood of Abraham has been sprinkled among all the nations, so God will gather His elect from among all the nations.

Heb. 5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. This tells us how those who are sealed are to be called.

Like Aaron they will be washed, anointed, clothed in the undergarment and the robes of the priesthood. While Aaron's robes were colored, Christian temple robes are white which represents that those sealed have been washed in the blood of Christ. That is why John asked who all these people were who are wearing white robes in the temple. I am sure he was used to seeing colored robes in the temple.

And John promises those who truly believe in Christ and overcome that they can be among the 144,000 who will partake of the tree of life (major theme and motif in the LDS endowment), they will be dressed in white robes, and given a new name, and will take upon themselves the name of Christ, and they will be given power over the nations in that they will be made kings and priests unto the Most High God and are promised to sit with Christ in his throne with him and shall "inherit all things"(Rev 2-3)(Rev 21:7). And Christ will come and receive them as King of kings and Lord of lords after protecting them during the tribulation and they will be meet the Lord in the air while the wicked are burned at His coming and then land on the Earth where Christ will reign 1000 years.

Isa. 52: 8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

So, with so much that is supposed to happen in the Last Days, how is it all supposed to come about without modern prophets and revelation? Who knows what a Christian temple is supposed to be like. And why isn't the work already begun? That is a lot of people to seal in preparation for the tribulation. That might even take multiple temples that are one in purpose (I think I like the symbolism of that). Many temples that are considered One temple because the exact same thing is done and taught in every one. Good news; priesthood, prophets, modern temples have been restored and are being built thoughout the world. God is sealing the faithful in preparation for th the time of tribulation, and His Second Coming. Come and See.

Sanctification In This World

Matt. 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Matt. 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

LDS beleive that we are saved 100% by grace. Any good work or ordinance that is performed is not done by the believer alone. Man can do no good work of himself, but it is done by the empowerment of the Holy Ghost working in the believer. Christ's atonement just doesn't overcome the consequences of sin in the next life, but it has the power to change us "in this world" that our love can be made perfect. This is the process of sactification. And even though the work of the Spirit may not fully perfect us in this life, we are assured that after all we can do, or after all the works that God works through us, then is Christ's grace sufficent for us. For Christ will save is from our sins and not in our sins.

Ammon and the sons of Helaman talk about preaching the Gospel of Christ and they glory not in themselves, but they praise God and boast of their God who made them instruments (Alma 26:3) in his hands and allowed to witness His power in changing the hearts of their breathern.

Alma 26:11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Ammon and his brethern comment on the mercy of God which was extended to them despite their unworthiness. They went about trying to destroy the chruch or God, but God in His mercy sent an angel to reclaim them in stead of destroying them like they deserved. But they recieved that spirit and CHrist, and the Holy Ghost and God was able to sactify them, empower them to repentance, and do many mightly miracles through them by the power of Christ's atonement.

Alma 26:17-22 Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state? Behold, we went forth even in wrath, with mighty threatenings to destroy his church. Oh then, why did he not consign us to an awful destruction, yea, why did he not let the sword of his justice fall upon us, and doom us to eternal despair? Oh, my soul, almost as it were, fleeth at the thought. Behold, he did not exercise his justice upon us, but in his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls. And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent. Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God;

Many mock the LDS church and our correct focus on faith in Christ, which empowers us to become new creatures, and empowers us to repentance, ordinances, and sactification in this world. And although we may not depart this Earth fully perfected in every way, we are promised that after all we have received God and allowed Him to work in us, never having rejected the workings of the Holy Ghost; Christ's grace will be sufficent; for Christ saves us from our sins and not in our sins.

Is it pride and arrogance to speak of allowing God to change our sin natures in this world? The Bible teaches that all men have will and we are made free to exercize it by the grace of Christ. Our will is what God purchased with the sacrifice of His son. God asks for us to give him what he has purchased and redeemed which is a broken heart and a contrite spirit or a willing heart and a willing mind.

That is the great sacrifice of Jeuss Christ who said in the Garden "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." This isnt arrogance unless it was arrogant for Christ who was the great exemplar of humility. Christ recogized his will which was separate from the Father and had his will swollowed up in the will of the Father. God does not force us. He stands at the door and knocks and if we "allow" him enter, then he will sup with us. Again there is no coersion with God. Christ says that he who receiveth Him who I will send receiveth Him. (Matt 10:40, John 13:20)When Christ gave the Holy Ghost, He commanded his disciples; "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John 20:22)(Acts 2:38)(Acts 8:17)

1 Cor. 2: 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This process of sactification is described by CS Lewis in "Mere Christianity" who said, once Christ enters in, he will start tearing down walls and we will ask what God is doing. We had in our mind a nice little cottage on the Hill. But God has in mind a temple. This is the work of sanctification that Christ will do after we allow him to enter into our hearts. But the process of being made into a temple doesnt happen overnight and we could still reject the temple for the cottage we had origionally envisioned for ourselves.

Remember the Parable of the Sower:

Mark 4:16-17 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Here we see in this example that the seed or word (Christ) was initially received with gladness. But the word fell on stony ground and it didnt get root and nurishment (sanctification by the Holy Ghost), and was soon scorched in the heat of the day. God allowed someone who had already received to reject. This person fell from grace, they turned away, they failed to finish the course, keep the faith, and endure to the end.

Sanctification by the Holy Ghost of believers is the oil in the lamps of the 10 virgins and it is the usury God expects after giving us the talents of gold. All the virgins were believers, but not all were ready and waiting with extra oil for the bridegroom to receive Him.

This is not Cheap Grace! LDS are the ones who say the atonement was much more then spitting and the cricifixion. Most Christians have no concept of the kind of spiritual suffering that occured in the garden and on the cross. Paul boasted in his sufferings and went to his martyrdom with courage. But this kind of physical torture was nothing compared to what Christ took upon himself. Hear it from the mouth of Jesus Christ Himself.

D&C 19:15-18 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

The LDS definition of grace is not "cheap" because it aknowledges the power of God to empower believers to change, to repentence, to receive ordinances, to become sanctified, and to become perfected now in this world. The LDS definition believes in a God of miracles who can work miracles through the lives of those who believe in Him. The LDS definition of grace is associated with the God of the Bible who promises us that He will save us from our sins. Others definition of grace says that God accepts us into his kingdom as we are now without any need for change in this world. That definition of grace ignores repentance, and sanctification. That definition of grace is associated with a counterfeit, inmaterial, unknowable God who claims the cross will save you in your sins but cannot change you in this world.

Again, the LDS concept has nothing to do with what we have or havn't done on our own. Man cannot do good on his own. The LDS concept of grace is more powerful. Our grace takes transformative effect "in this world". That is the difference. Other Christians are still waiting for grace to take effect in heaven. LDS are already enjoying the miraculous sanctifying fruits, powers, and glories of God's grace here and now.

Christs body on the cross redeems us or buys us, reconciles us with God, justifies us, and reverses all the effects of the FAll of Adam. But then we are brought back into the presense of God to be judged of our own works. And the outcome of that Final Judgement is what Christ's shed blood in the Garden is all about. God promises that our prior sins will not me mentioned to us if we have repented, and been sanctified already. We are commanded to remember both the Body and Blood of Christ.

But the Book of Mormon reveals while Jesus will be our advocate, we will also have an acusser. Who will accuse and comndemn us. We will. We will stand before God knowing that you have had all this time to repent and apply the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and be sanctified "in this world" but we have waited until it is everlastingly too late. And we will not feel comfortable to stay in the presence of God. So, with the bright recollection of all our own guilt, we will condemn ourselves and judge ourselves to dwell in a lesser kingdom. If we haven't already given up our sin nature by that time, we wont trust ourselves to live in Gods presence and not sin. therefore our confidence will not wax strong. Christ will be your advocate. But we will be our own comdemnation.

Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Yes, only those who are sanctified does Christ's offering apply. If a believer does not meet the requirements of sanctification then the "one offering" does not apply

In Alma 11: 34-37, the lawyer Zeezrom asked Amulek if Christ saved his people in their sins. Amulek said that no unlean thing can enter the kingdom of God. That the atonement of Christ applies to the sanctified. Or that, the power of the atonement is to be applied now "in this world" and in the Millenium before the final judgement. And that the power of the atonement has the power to sactify us "in this world" and is not something that will just happen later. Amulek teaches that we are saved from our sins and not in our sins.

The Book of Mormon warns not to say "Eat Drink and be Merry for tomarrow we die, and God will justify us in commiting a little sin" That attitude is not receiving and appyling the atonement of Christ "in this world"

The Book of Mormon warns not to "procrastinate the day of your repentance." We should receive and apply the grace and power of Christ here and now and become sanctified. Not just Christ's righteousness imputed to us, but transformed ourselves. Yes, Christ accepts us how we are (now), and his righteousness is imputed to us (now) so that we can receive the Holy ghost which we do not deserve (now), but that Holy Ghost will then change us (now). Paul says the same.

1 Cor. 6: 9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

Everything that LDS do after we believe is part of our sanctification. The only reason is sounds like LDS believe that baptism is required is because if the Holy Ghost invites you to receive it then to reject the Holy Ghost is to reject Christ and you are like the seed who accepted Christ but dried up and didn't take root and was offended. So, if the Holy Ghsot isn't inviting you to receive certain perfecting works, then they are not required for your salvation. But they are required for mine because the Holy Ghost has invited me to receive them. But it sounds to outsiders that our leaders say it is required. But that is because they have the authority to tell us what to expect the Holy Ghost will be inviting us to receive. And while we will likely not be prefect by the end of this like, we will have 1000 years in the Millenium to finish the work of sanctification. And by then by God's grace, all things are possible, even the transformation of my sin nature. This is God's work. I believe God can do it. I have witnesses progress and changes already here and now.

Any good works I do are thanks to God. But as part of Gods grace, he has prepared sanctifying ordinances and other institutions for the prefecting of the Saints. According to the Bible there are a number of things God has commanded that we recieve in the process of sanctification.

Holy Ghost (Rom. 15:16)
Baptism (John 3:5)
Sacrament (1 Cor 11:24)
Prayer in Adversity (James 1:4)
Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Organization of the Church (Eph. 4:11-12)
Preisthood (Heb 5:8-9)
Everalasting Temple Covenant (Ezek 37:26-28)
Marriage (Eph 5:25-27)
Love of Christ (1 Jn. 4:17)