To Live Blamelessly Before God was Offensive

Three months ago, I visited the home of a neighbor. Though our conversation was generally amicable, there was also an edge, a tension. As a High Priest and High Councilman, his man sat on the committee that excommunicated me from the Mormon church. While he is generally a good and decent man, he also imagines his authority to stand in judgment of another.

As our conversation progressed, I mentioned an assurance that I love. I live blamelessly before God! It is incredible to have peace with God in this way. This concept was completely foreign to me while I was a Mormon. In those sixty years, I had no understanding that such a thing was possible.

No doubt, this man is like I had been. He is probably unable to imagine that a man or woman can live blamelessly before God. His response to my claim was a roar of angry indignation, “Oh, so now you think you are perfect!” I assured him I do wrong, think wrong, speak wrong, and act wrong daily. But still, have the peace of knowing I live blamelessly before God.

Let Us Reason Together

I suggested that we get lunch, open the Word of God, and explore my claim. In my community, the harvest season is a very busy time for many, this man included. It begins in late summer with gathering the wheat into storage bins. Then potatoes and sugar beats are dug from the earth and placed into long-term storage. This man drives a fuel tanker and rushes from field to field so the equipment can begin running at first light and continue well after the sun goes down. He committed to call and schedule that lunch when the harvest was complete. As I write this, we are in the last few days of December, and the man never called. My heart breaks because if there is a possibility that one can live blamelessly before God, why would this man have no interest?

While this message is directed to a single Mormon man, it describes a pattern that perfectly fits hundreds I have met and millions I do not yet know.

A Sermon, Live Blamelessly Before God

This past Sunday, I preached a sermon on Romans chapter 4. I called this man twice and left a voicemail each time. I invited him to attend church and hear the message. I promised we would learn that Jesus commanded us to be perfect, that Moses told us how, and Abrahan showed us. Both testaments of the Bible speak of this often. Jesus spoke of it unceasingly. The instructions of Moses are so important that they are quoted, word for word in Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and James.

This man did not respond to my repeated invitations. He did not come to hear. Because I love this man, his wife, and his children, my heart breaks at his stubbornness. People who are trapped by false religion love and desire their traditions more than God’s truth. And when pressed, shunning and anger are the last refuge of one who has no valid response.

Conflict and Confusion

This man has built his house on sand instead of Jesus, the Rock. His foundation rests on the teachings of false prophets.

Jesus commanded, be ye therefore perfect, and Paul, among many others, declared it is only possible through belief in the one true biblical Jesus. Mormon leaders boldly disagree.

One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation.

Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 206. See also The Book of Mormon Student Manual Religion 121 and 122, 1989, p. 36

Ask a Mormon

• Spencer W. Kimbal directly refuted the Apostle Paul. Both cannot speak for God because their messages are polar opposites. With whom do you stand, Spencer W. Kimball or Paul as recorded in Holy Scripture?

Jesus commanded, be ye therefore perfect. A current Mormon prophet adds to scripture to deceive the Mormon people. He delivered a talk entitled, “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually”. ¹

Ask a Mormon

• What authority does Jeffrey R. Holland have to add or take from the words of Jesus?

Jesus said, be ye perfect. Moses told us how. Abraham showed us how. Both Testaments tell us of men and women who followed Abraham’s example and found peace with God. The promise is so important that Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and James quote Moses’ instructions word for word.

Ask a Mormon

• With so many witnesses, spanning thousands of years, why do you trust men who throw Paul and Jesus under the Mormon bus?

Tested, Questioned, and Challenged

When a person questions me about my faith, I rejoice. You see, I can open the sacred Word of God and defend every pillar upon which I stand. I rejoice because the question or challenge creates an opportunity to reason together and draw near to God. Because I love this opportunity so much, I have questions regarding those who react differently.

A Logical Conclusion

I only see three possibilities:

• Mormonism is true and biblical Christianity is wrong.
• Biblical Christianity is true and the Mormon people are in error.
• We are both wrong together.

Because of our differences, it is clear that we cannot both be right together.

Ask a Mormon

• Regardless of which conclusion is correct, can you explain why we should not reason together as God directs?

1. Jeffrey R. Holland, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/10/be-ye-therefore-perfect-eventually