Faith and Works

"For it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." - Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 25:23


As Latter-day Saints, we believe that both faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world and works are needed to be saved. (Ephesians 5:5)


Some say that it is by faith that we are saved. Since the real, saving faith that the Savior requires of men naturally leads to good works and a willingness to obey God's commandments, that statement could be viewed as correct. So, possessing that kind of faith causes one to have works as well. Ultimately, the combination of faith and works is what saves the soul. Both components are essential. Let us define each.



Faith

"Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." - Book of Mormon, Alma 32:21

Faith is to believe in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Unless a man believes this, he cannot be saved. It is through the Atonement (His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, His death on the cross, and His resurrection) that our salvation is made possible. Christ paid the price for our sins, which is why we can be forgiven and not have to suffer as He did, if we repent. But if we will not repent, then we must suffer even as He did. (D&C 19: 16-19)



Works

"Faith without works is dead, being alone." - James 2: 17-18

I personally do not believe that God would issue commandments and not expect His followers to obey them. They are not suggestions: they are commandments. We must earnestly seek to obey him, therefore. James 4: 17 tells us "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is a sin." Also, we shall be judged according to what we do. Matthew 16:27 reads, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Without the Atonement, we could not be saved. Without Christ's role in our salvation, we could not be saved.

God is intelligent, in fact omniscient, and He knows what's best for His children. God gives us commandments to help us work toward perfection so that someday we may become like Him. Christ said, "Come follow me" and "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5: 48) I don't think these were hollow suggestions. They were instructions to place the believer on the path to happiness, perfection, and a life with God.

Some would still say that it is not necessary to obey God's commands. James 2: 14-26 is, in my opinion, the best passage to justify the Latter-day Saint concept of faith plus works.

Why don't Latter-day Saints baptize infants?

We believe that little children are free from guilt, and thus sin, until they reach the age of accountability. I must admit that I do not know the exact time for when a child becomes accountable before God, whether it be when he is baptized or before or after. I will continue to research it, but for now I'll just have to leave that question unanswered. It would be my guess, though, that it is different for every person.

Since we believe that little children are sinless, we believe that they are saved if they should die. Some of our good Christian friends might ask, "What about the Fall of Adam?" I say, what about it? Article of Faith #2 states that "we believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression." Christ's Atonement takes care of Adam and Eve's transgression, so we are born into this world as innocent as can be. Little children who die are made alive in Christ. (Mark 2:17, Mark 10: 13-16) (Moroni 8, D&C 29:46)