People of other faiths spend much time and energy talking about “being saved.”  They promote being saved as the object, goal, and ultimate condition to which we should seek.  What does it mean to be saved?  A study of some scriptures is enlightening.

“It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.”  (D&C 131:6).

“...All men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.”  (1 Ne. 13:40).

“...All men ... 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.”  (2 Ne. 9:23).

“... there is none other name given under heaven save it be ... Jesus Christ ... whereby man can be saved.”  (2 Ne. 25:20).

“... There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12).

“...It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”  (2 Ne 25:23).

“He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.”  (2 Ne. 31:15).

“Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.”  (Alma 11:37).

“And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved.”  (3 Ne. 11:33).

“Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved.”  (Mormon 7:3).

“And as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.  Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved.”  (D&C 18:22-23).

“... If you keep not my commandments you cannot be saved in the kingdom of my Father.”  (D&C 18:46).

“...They shall have faith in me or they can in nowise be saved.”  (D&C 33:12).

“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”  (Articles of Faith 3).

Salvation, then, is only to be obtained through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance of all our sins, baptism in His name, and endurance to the end through the keeping of His commandments.  Being saved is not a one time event but an ongoing effort that will only be realized through the Lord’s grace “after all we can do.”  It cannot be achieved through Muhammad or the baptist or Moses or Paul or any preacher or any apostle or prophet current or ancient.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “salvation is nothing more nor less than to triumph over all our enemies and put them under our feet.”  (Teachings, 297).  “Salvation means a man’s being placed beyond the power of all his enemies.”  (Ibid, 301).

Who may be saved?  The third Article of Faith says that all are eligible.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is unique, I think, in declaring that salvation is available to anyone and everyone who seeks for and qualifies himself for it.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is also unique, I think, in declaring that heaven consists of many degrees.  Salvation may be obtained in the terrestrial and telestial kingdoms, but salvation is not the ultimate quest of a true disciple of Jesus Christ.  He who desires to follow Jesus Christ and to be in His presence eternally will seek the ordinances and make all the covenants necessary to qualify himself for exaltation in the celestial kingdom.

President Spencer W. Kimball was once touring high altitude areas in the Andes.  His companions and doctor urged him to slow down to preserve his health and strength.  He replied, “I know you are trying to save me. But I don’t want to be saved; I want to be exalted.”  (Robert D. Hales, The Ensign, Nov. 1981, 21).

That should be our goal, too.  The telestial kingdom will be a beautiful place—more glorious than earth life—but who would want to settle for a small sliver when the whole pie is available?  “All that my Father hath shall be given unto him” who receives the celestial glory.  (D&C 84:38).  That is an inheritance worth striving for.

(Questions I would like to ask a preacher:

What can you teach me about salvation?

How do you achieve it?

Who is saved?

Is salvation available to all?

Can a Mormon be saved?

How does a person know that he has been saved?

Is “being saved” a condition that can’t/won’t be changed?

What is necessary before a person can consider himself saved?

What Biblical citations back this up?)