Hope?

Last Thursday several of us toured the Mormon Tabernacle Grounds.  We joined a tour group led by two 20 something single girls.  One was of Chinese descent and grew up in Russia.  The other was from a Hindu family in Ohio.  Each of these girls had come to believe that the Church of Latter Day Saints held the answers to their deepest needs. They were fulfilling their two year mission at the Mormon Tabernacle.  I am sure that is a great honor for any mormon.  After a tour of the beautiful grounds they shared their testimony of faith in the teachings of Joseph Smith.  While standing in front of a statue of Christ they spoke of Jesus as God's son who would redeem them if they repented daily and followed the teachings of the church.  After the tour Carolyn Anderson and I respectfully asked them a few questions.  I asked them if they knew where they would be when they died.  These girls could not answer that question.  The best they could do was explain that only God could judge the heart.  They also explained that they would be with God if they repented and lived a life of obedience.  I asked what would happen if they died without the opportunity for repentance.  They really had no answer.  Their hope was that after death they could continue to work hard to please God and therefore eventually earn a place in heaven where they would continue to work to please God.  I greatly admired their perseverance and desire to obey.  In fact, I believe that we can learn a lot from them.  Wouldn't it be awesome if every believer spent two years on a mission.  The reality however is that while sincere, they are sincerely wrong.  The Apostle Paul, in the New Testament which Mormons claim to believe said this:  

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:8)

 

Joseph Smith claimed that an Angel, Moroni, gave him gold tablets containing the teachings of the Mormon church.

The facts of the Gospel are clear.

God is Holy.  I am not. Jesus died for our sins. Those who receive Jesus as Lord are forgiven once and for all.  In response to God's grace, I am called to be holy because he is Holy. 

 

Yes, we have Hope!  Jesus is God on high who became man to take my sin upon himself.  Where will you be when you die?  I will be in Glory enjoying and worshipping God for eternity.