Saved is a Matter of Salvation

The Mormon church and the orthodox doctrines that are the foundation of Mormon beliefs teach that the way to obtain godhood is the most important aspect of the goal, and is singled out to be the pinnacle of the concept, "after all we can do."(1) Salvation to the Mormon world is not a thought that is single in the mind of a Mormon member. It is multi-faceted. It carries many stages or degrees just as layered as their heavens. The part of salvation a member is awarded, is depicted by how hard a member of the Latter-day Saints is willing to work. The harder and the more determined a member is, the higher the degree. Kinda like going to school. If you want a Phd degree, yet only work on an Associates degree; that's what you'll get, an Associates. But if you work hard, you'll get that Phd. The Phd of the Mormon world is godhood in the celestial kingdom.

The Mormon salvation has three degrees just like their heavens. The first, unconditional or general salvation. Second, conditional or individual salvation. Third, salvation. The breakdown of each type of salvation goes as follows:

1. Unconditional or General Salvation: "..that which comes by grace alone without obedience to gospel law, consists in the mere fact of being resurrected. In this sense salvation is synonymous with immortality; it is the inseparable connection of body and spirit so that the resurrected personage lives forever. This kind of salvation eventually will come to all mankind, excepting only the sons of perdition."(2a) "They are resurrected, but they are not redeemed from the devil. 'They shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to God's justice; and they cannot die seeing there is no more corruption.'(3) They will, therefore, be damned; their eternal progression will be cut short, they will not fill the full measure of their creation, but in eternity will be ministering servants to more worthy persons."(2b) "One of the most fallacious doctrines ordained by Satan and pronounced 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."(4) "...one of the untrue doctrines found in modern Christiandom is the concept that man can gain salvation (meaning the kingdom of God) by grace alone and without obedience. This soul-destroying doctrine has the obvious effect of lessening the determination of an individual to conform to all of the laws and ordinances of the gospel,such conformity being essential if the sought for reward is in reality to be gained."(5)

2. Conditional or Individual Salvation: "...that which comes by grace coupled with gospel obedience, consists in receiving an inheritance in the celestial kingdom of God. This kind of salvation follows faith, repentance, baptism, receipt of the Holy Ghost, and continued righteousness to the end of one's mortal probation."(6a) "And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God. And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God , the Holy one of Israel, has spoken it."(7) "Even those in the celestial kingdom, however, who do not go on to exaltation, well have immortality only and not eternal life. Along with those of the telestial and terrestrial worlds they will be ministering servants, to minister for those who are of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory."(6b) "Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven..., ...For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever."(8)

3. Salvation: "...in its true and full meaning is synonymous with exaltation or eternal life and consists in gaining an inheritance in the highest of the three heavens within the celestial kingdom. With few exceptions this is the salvation of which the scriptures speak. It is of this which the Lord says, 'There is no gift greater than the gift of salvation.' (D&C 6:13) This full salvation is obtained in and through the continuation of the family unit in the eternity, and those who obtain it are gods. Full salvation is attained by virtue of knowledge, truth, righteousness, and all true principles. Many conditions must exist in order to make such salvation available to men. Without the atonement, the gospel, the priesthood, and the sealing power there would be no salvation. Without continuous revelation, the ministering of angels, the working of miracles, the prevalence of gifts of the spirit, there would be no salvation. If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol 2, pp. 1-350) (9) "The "Mormon" elders will tell you that all people must receive this gospel - the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and be baptized for the remission of sins, or they cannot be saved." (10)

The whole of these definitions of salvation by the Mormon faith is easily summed up into one thought: You must be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in order to be saved and obtain salvation...or be damned!
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1. 2 Ne 25:23, The Book of Mormon
2 a&b. Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie, pg. 669
3. Alma 12:18 The Book of Mormon
4. The Miracle of forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, pg. 206
5. Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie, pg. 671
6 a&b. Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie, pg. 669-670
7. 2 Ne 9:23-24, The Book of Mormon
8. Doctrine and Covenants 132:16-17
9. Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie, pg. 670
10. Jounal of Discourses, Brigham Young, vol 7, #45