Latter-day Saint members are oftentimes confused when they're challenged with the claim that the LDS religion isn't a Christian religion. According to them their religion should indeed be considered Christian. But it seems that if they were to take a long, hard look at what LDS leaders are describing as Christian they would come to see that their leaders are teaching things that stand in stark contrast to the Bible.

For example; repentance and forgiveness. The concept of what it means to be forgiven in the LDS Church becomes a great burden to "be perfect."

The Christian, however, views salvation and forgiveness in a very different light. The Christian understands that his salvation is not contingent upon "sinless perfection." The Christian understands that the very reason Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected is precisely for the remission of our sins. A propitiation. A payment. A ransom. We have been redeemed by God's grace.

The righteousness of Christ is imputed to the Christian believer through grace through faith rather than through works and obedience to the laws, ordinances and principles of the LDS Church.

Romans 4:19-25 states:

 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

The Christian, unlike his LDS friend, through faith in God's mercy and forgiveness, is able to confess before God the sins that plague his walk with God. Through such prayers and supplications the Holy Spirit is allowed to work in and through the believer's life. Obedience is important, but no one is so obedient that they can "earn" or "deserve" eternal life. The Bible states clearly: "For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God." The true test of repentance isn't to "be perfect." No one has ever achieved that. The true test of repentance is acknowledging our sins before a holy God and agreeing with Him that we're still in need of a Savior.

Conversely, if a Mormon desires to attain "exaltation in the celestial kingdom," the highest of all Mormon kingdoms, now-deceased LDS president Spencer W. Kimball states it’s not enough to merely "try" to renounce all sin. He states in his book The Miracle of Forgiveness that the Mormon must abandon all sin if such a one desires exaltation (Mormon godhood). That begs the question: What does it mean to be forgiven in Mormonism?

The following quotes are from The Miracle of Forgiveness, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, 1969. Last I checked, The Miracle of Forgiveness was still no. 3 on Deseret Bookstore's top-ten recommended reads and the book is still available through Deseret Bookstore. (Deseret is owned and operated by the LDS Church). All emphasized excerpts are mine unless otherwise noted thus: emphasis in original. 

And as I have stressed throughout this book, even though forgiveness is so abundantly promised, there is no promise nor indication of forgiveness to any soul who does not totally repent – pg. 353. -Spencer W. Kimball, Mormon president, 1973-1985

• Trying is not sufficient

Nor is repentance complete when one merely tries to abandon sin (italics in original) – pg 164.

Forgiveness is cancelled on reversion to sin:

Those who feel that they can sin and be forgiven and then return to sin and be forgiven again and again must straighten out their thinking. Each previously forgiven sin is added to the new one and the whole gets to be a heavy load... Thus when a man has made up his mind to change his life, there must be no turning back - 170.

A Mormon missionary once told me, "I do my best and Jesus does the rest." While I commend him for understanding the need for a Savior from sin, Kimball disagrees that sinless perfection is unattainable. Kimball states that sinless perfection is an absolute necessity to be attained by the hopeful, worthy, eligible or meritorious Mormon; all of which are adjectives used by Kimball in his book to describe those Mormons that desire to attain Mormon eternal salvation, i.e. exaltation. Also according to Kimball, such failure to do so disqualifies one for Mormon exaltation. Such a one will be considered unworthy to enter into God’s presence.

Kimball comments on pages 354-355:

. . . the repentance which merits forgiveness. It is that the former transgressor must have reached a ‘point of no return' to sin wherein there is not merely a renunciation but also a deep abhorrence of the sin—where the sin becomes most distasteful to him and where the desire or urge to sin is cleared out of his life,...
 

And on page 163:

There is one crucial test of repentance. This is abandonment of sin. Providing that a person discontinues his sin with the right motives – because of a growing consciousness of the gravity of the sin and a willingness to comply with the laws of the Lord – he is genuinely repenting. This criterion has been set by the Lord: "By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins – behold, he will confess them and forsake them." (D&C 58:43. Italics added)

Kimball is quoted in Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, pps. four and five:*

Men came to earth consciously to obtain their schooling, their training and development, and to perfect themselves….
 

Preeminent, then, is our using this life to perfect ourselves, to subjugate the flesh, subject the body to the spirit, to overcome all weaknesses, to govern self so that one may give leadership to others, and to perform all necessary ordinances.
 

As far as Kimball is concerned, one must make manifest that point of sinless perfection, in this "mortal probation," before one will be found eligible to have attained the highest of Mormon kingdoms; exaltation to godhood in the celestial kingdom where men will supposedly rule over other worlds where they’ll produce offspring with their celestial, polygamous wives to inhabit those worlds.

At the outset of Kimball’s book, he describes his book's mission statement. He states the ultimate goal for the Mormon.

This book is not presented to entertain, but rather it has the serious purpose of presenting scriptures, experiences and exhortations with the hope that thereby many will be enticed to repent of their sins and indiscretions and set out to purify and perfect their lives – pg. IX.

Turning away from sin by changing one's actions to obey the teachings of Jesus Christ. The repentance process consists of feeling sincere regret or sorrow for doing wrong, confessing the sin(s), asking for forgiveness, making restitution for any damage done, and promising not to repeat the sin. (underline added)

Kimball defines LDS repentance the same on pgs. 207 - 209:

What, then, must a Mormon do to earn his exaltation? As Kimball stated; he must repent of all sin. I find that ironic because I’ve yet to meet any Mormon that is sinless. If sinless perfection is an achievable goal, then why has no Mormon attained it? Could it be because the Bible is true insofar that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?"

Other quotes of interest from Kimball showing that he believes sinless perfection is mandatory and possible:

• Desire is not sufficient

...it is not real repentance until one has abandoned the error of his way {ed. "stopped sinning"} and started on a new path {ed. "no sin"} – pg. 163.

• No forgiveness without repentance

  The Lord’s prophet Amulek had said emphatically: "...Ye cannot be saved in your sins." (Al. 11:37. Italics added) – pg. 165.

  ...when she had proved by her works and the living of the commandments that she was “born again” and was a new creature – when she had done these things the forgiveness of the Savior could overshadow her and claim her and give her peace – pg. 166.

   

• Repentance takes time

  Repentance is inseparable from time. No one can repent on the cross, nor in prison, nor in custody – pg. 167.

• 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 – pg. 206.

• And the Lord further emphasized the fact:

  And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end – pg. 207.

Even the Book of Mormon itself claims one must deny himself all ungodliness before God's grace can be sufficient:

Moroni 10:32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Such thoughts that state the person that still sins cannot be saved contradicts the Bible. We read in the book of Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Are we really to believe that a man cannot be saved by the grace of God? We read in the book of Ephesians 2:8-9: 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The very definition of grace is that of "unmerited favor." Since Kimball states unequivocally that salvation must be earned, the Mormon concept of achieving sinless perfection in this "mortal probation" is yet another reason to question the veracity of Kimball's claims.

Can I do it later?

According to an official website of the LDS church, one cannot delay his full repentance until after this life.

• Celestial kingdom—Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ reside in the celestial kingdom.  If you live according to the gospel? of Jesus Christ and are cleansed from sin by the Atonement?, you will receive a place in this, the highest kingdom, where you will live in God’s presence and know complete joy.
• Terrestrial kingdom—People who refuse to accept the gospel? of Jesus Christ but who live honorable lives will receive a place in the terrestrial kingdom.
• Telestial kingdom—Those who continue in their sins and do not repent until after they have died, will eventually receive a place in the telestial kingdom.

As stated at the outset of this article, i.e. "I do my best and Jesus does the rest," some Mormons admit they aren't perfectly sinless just yet, but are working toward that goal and expect to achieve it in either this life or the life to come. While that might soothe the Mormon's own mind, an honest Mormon will take a long, hard look at Kimball's book.

• He cannot have an increase! He cannot have exaltation! That means worlds without end. After a person has been assigned to his place in the kingdom, either in the telestial, the terrestrial or the celestial, or to his exaltation, he will never advance from his assigned glory to another glory. That is eternal! That is why we must make our decisions early in life and why it is imperative that such decisions be right – pg. 243-244.

• From the modern apostle Melvin J. Ballard we obtain an emphasis of Amulek’s expression in these terms:

  …But this life is the time in which men are to repent. Do not let any of us imagine that we can go down to the grave not having overcome the corruptions of the flesh and then lose in the grave all our sins and evil tendencies. They will be with us. They will be with the spirit when separated from the body – pg. 10.

• By repenting now, in this life, and living a life of righteousness thereafter, we can appear before God clean and holy. If we do this, to us, as to Moroni, the place of judgment will be “the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah” – pg. 321. 

Reflect on Kimball's admonition for your life: "But into the terrestrial will go those who do not measure up to the celestial"

John 10:25-30 states:

25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one.

Some will point to James ch. 1 and 2 as evidence that works will save a man from his sins.*

James' conclusion to his argument of faith and works is found in 2:24. Much preceded that verse. If God provided us with only James' single verse (see how you're saved by works), we'd be in trouble. But we're not in trouble. Fortunately, we have much more to consider than one isolated verse.

The righteousness of Christ is imputed to the believer based upon nothing more than belief upon the Lord Jesus (Romans 18 vv. 24, 25).

In James one and two, James employs 'thus' and 'do you see?' These are words which should grab our attention; like the word "therefore." "Therefore" always follows the "what for" and we need to find out what the therefore is there for. Something preceded the conclusion. What is it?

Chapter one of James also contains an apparently troublesome works vs. grace verse. Verse 17 "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." But James comes right back in verse 18 "But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works." James is saying that if the faith is dead (as evidenced by no works) then it was never faith to begin with. He's saying that the works are evidence of faith and not the cause of it. If our works were to be the measure of our justification, not one of us would be saved from our sins.

John MacArthur provides the following commentary in the NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 1997:

2:21 justified by works. This does not contradict Paul's clear teaching that Abraham was justified before God by grace alone thorough faith alone (Rom. 3:20; 4:1-25; Gal. 3:6,11). For several reasons, James cannot mean that Abraham was constituted righteous before God because of his own good works: 1) James already stressed that salvation is a gracious gift (1:17,18); 2) in the middle of this disputed passage (v.23), James quoted Gen. 5:6, which forcefully claims that God credited righteousness to Abraham solely on the basis of his faith (see notes on Rom. 1:17; 3:24; 4:1-25); and 3) the work that James said justified Abraham was his offering up of Isaac (Gen. 22:9,12), an event that occurred many years after he first exercised faith and was declared righteous before God (Gen. 12:1-7; 15:6). Instead, Abraham's offering of Isaac demonstrated the genuineness of his faith and the reality of his justification before God. James is emphasizing the vindication before others of a man's claim to salvation. James' teaching perfectly compliments Paul's writings; salvation is determined by faith alone (Eph. 2:8,9) and demonstrated by faithfulness to obey God's will alone (Eph. 2:10) 

I once heard a pastor who summed up James one and two thus: "It's not faith by works. It's faith that works." 

He's right. The meaning is powerful. James' whole point from beginning to end is that justification comes first and the works of God naturally follow. They are not our works. They are God's works working in us and through us.

J. Vernon (may I say to you friends) McGee said (paraphrased from memory), "The surest sign that the saints persevere is found in the fact that they do."

That is the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A sure foundation. A lasting hope.

Conclusion

According to Spencer W. Kimball, the answer to the question What does it mean to be forgiven in Mormonism? is to renounce all sin. If Mr. Kimball was correct, then why are LDS members still repenting?