I bear you my testimony that the Bible scriptures quoted here are true, and that you should pay very close attention to them for your eternal welfare.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

    Are you one of many L.D.S. who cherishes the hope that you will someday be found worthy to go to the celestial degree of glory, and if you are really good to even attain exaltation?  Perhaps you have been so caught up in striving for Godhood, that you've pretty much forgotten about remission (or forgiveness) of sins, thinking that that was all taken care of when you were baptized.  And after all, if you're better than most folks, that should count with God, shouldn't it?  Let's see...

    Little doubt you've heard of the great prophet Isaiah and maybe even read his book in the Old Testament.  The Book of Mormon quotes heavily from this prophet of God.  Isaiah wrote...
 

    But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.  (Isaiah 64:6)

Think of it!!  The great prophet Isaiah included himself in this verse!!  Are you more righteous than he was?  Suppose you died tonight and finally stood before God clothed in the filthy rags of your own righteousness.  Do you think He would be very impressed?

    Then there's the great Apostle Paul.  His devotion to Christ put him way out in front of many of his fellow-believers.  Surely, if someone was going to earn right-standing with God, he would be the one.  Much of the New Testament was written by him.  Paul wrote...

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:...For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;...For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: ...For the good that I would I do not:  But the evil which I would not, that I do....O wretched man that I am!  who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 3:10, 23, 7:18, 19, 24)

Amazing!  One of the most spiritual Christians of all time had to lament the fact that he was falling  far short of God's glory.  This man certainly entertained no illusions about earning right standing with God.  It would have been an utter waste. Are you more righteous than he was?

    With your eternal destiny at stake, can you really afford to put your faith in feelings, prophets, and books that contradict the Bible?  You may be extremely sincere and even have had supernatural experiences that seem to prove Mormonism (i.e. a 'burning in your bosom' or even the appearance of 'angels' or 'dead relatives') but please be aware and beware of the master counterfeiter.  His power is clearly shown in the New Testament by verses such as, "....the working of Satan with all power and signs any lying wonders," (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
    A good rule of thumb regarding prayer is: "Never pray about something when God has already spoken out on the subject".  To do so is to open yourself up for demonic delusions.  You may be surprised to learn that you shouldn't pray about the Book of Mormon.  The test for this book is not to pray about it, but to compare it with Biblical teachings.  Put it to the 'Berean test' (see Acts 17:11).  Speaking of the Book of Mormon, did you know that it condemns you?

    The Book of Mormon makes it very clear what you need to do to be saved.  2 Nephi 25:23 tells us, "...for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do".  The L.D.S. Church pamphlet, "What the MORMONS think of CHRIST" (p.28) says, "This is called salvation by grace coupled with obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel", and goes on to quote from 2 Nephi 25:23.
    Do you ever have bad days?  Are there times when you don't do all that you could?  If this is true, then this verse tells you that you aren't saved!  If God's plan of salvation is "You do your best and God does the rest" then all of us are doomed, because none of us is consistently doing his best.  Fortunately, God's salvation plan is radically different.  There is real hope for any who are willing to come this way; the "faith-way".  As it tells us in Ephesians 2:8,9...
 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Some men would love to have us believe that a church with a "works for salvation" scheme is the way, but Jesus said:
 

"I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me".  (John 14:6)

Notice that Jesus said "by me" and not "by good works", or "by the one-true-church".  Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie doesn't really believe what Jesus said, however.  He wrote:  "There is no salvation outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, pp. 1-350)".--Mormon Doctrine, p. 670.  We read:  ""Will everybody be damned, but Mormons"?  Yes,..." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 119)

    Perhaps you thought you could get by with keeping most of the commandments, and God would sort of wink at the others.  Not so in Mormonism.  Listen to what Joseph Fielding Smith had to say...
 

So in the celestial kingdom, we must be worthy in every point, or we fail to receive the blessing.  The kingdom of God must exist in absolute unity.  Every law must be obeyed, and no member of the Church can have a place there unless he is in full accord.

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Joseph Fielding Smith had some interesting things to say in this regard.
 

Therefore the words of James are true.  Unless a man can abide strictly in complete accord, he cannot enter there, and in the words of James, he is guilty of all.  In other words, if there is one divine law that he does not keep he is barred from participating in the kingdom...(Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 3,p. 26)

Any "keep-the-commandments-for-salvation" scheme is doomed to failure.  You absolutely couldn't do it by the Law of Moses, and you won't do it by what some have called the "higher law" of L.D.S. laws and ordinances (after all, the "higher law" must be as tough or tougher than the "lower law" because God doesn't lower His standards.  Do you know how many Jews made it by keeping the Law of Moses?  The Bible gives us an exact number,...that is, zero!!  Paul put it well in Romans 3:20;
 

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:  for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Did Christ die for nothing?  He did if you could make it by the law...
 

I do not frustrate the grace of God:  for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.  (Galatians 2:21)

Are you frustrating the grace of God by your insistence on trying to gain right standing with God based upon keeping the commandments?  Keeping the commandments is good, but woe unto the man or woman who has their hope in them or in their own righteousness!  You'd better give it up and come God's way or you'll never experience the grace of God,...you'll be doomed forever.  Are you willing to pay that kind of price?
 

Born-again Christians have a true hope.  It can be yours too.  "...and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" (1 Peter 1:13).  A Christian song goes:

My hope is bulit on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

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