THE ATONEMENT.
"We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."
By this atonement is brought the victory over death; the resurrection of the body to life; the raising of man to a position where he is not subject to death. But it goes farther in the article of faith read. It brings salvation by obedience to the Gospel. Salvation, then, is more than a redemption from the fall. The latter comes to man without his agency, so far as the mere restoration to life is concerned. That is the doctrine which the Apostles taught: "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. xv: 21, 22). Since the Savior brought to pass the resurrection and the life, His atonement has a universal application, and "there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust" (Acts xxiv: 15).
Does the atonement do more? The Latter-day Saints reply in the affirmative. Matthew (chap. i: 21) records that the angel declared to Joseph, when foretelling the birth of the infant Jesus, "For He shall save His people from their sins." The Apostle Peter says: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts iv: 12). By obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel, salvation comes to man; it is that which is added to the children of men by the atoning blood of the Redeemer, when the requirements of His Gospel are complied with. Until this is done, there is no salvation from sin. The Apostle John makes this unequivocal declaration: "This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John i: 5, 7). If we would be cleansed from all sin by the blood of Christ Jesus, the condition is that "we walk in the light as He is in the light." If this be not our course, the Apostle says, "we lie and do not the truth." To these teachings is placed the seal and testimony of the Divine Master Himself, in His sermon on the mount: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. vii: 21). "In vain do ye worship me," said He to those who followed the tradition of men instead of keeping "the commandment of God" (Mark vii: 7, 8).
THE GOSPEL ORDINANCES—FAITH.
"We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: First—Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."
The principle of faith is the moving cause of all action in intelligent beings. Faith in the Lord is the fundamental principle leading to obedience to His will. It is the assurance which we have of unseen things. By its exercise we are alone able to approach the throne of grace. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Heb. xi: 6). It is not a mere passive belief; but being a principle of action and power, it inculcates works in harmony with itself. The Savior says: "Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father" (John xiv: 1, 12).
It is the belief of the Latter-day Saints that the Gospel is the working law of Christ; that faith in Him, to have life, must be accompanied by works in accord with the mental exercise of faith. As the Apostle James says: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (i: 22). This Apostle writes, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also;" and in the second chapter of his epistle (verse 14-24) he states: "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
The Lord said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment" (Matt, xxii: 37, 38). He also explains what it is to love God: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John xiv: 21). This is faith in and love of God: keeping His commandments.