Use of God's Law: Contrasting Views

Witnessing	Use of God's Law
Fundamentals	Contrasting Views

Before addressing specific ways to use God's law in witnessing to Mormons, we need to clearly see the contrasting views Christians and Mormons have concerning the purpose of the law and the consequences of sin. We must also recognize the confusion resulting from different terminologies and the existence of different definitions for the same terms. Only the most crucial contrasting views are covered here.

You can visit the Basic Mormon Doctrine area of this site to access our Dictionary of Mormonese and our Biblical Terms Glossary. Both provide more detail on differing terminology and contrasting definitions. Click of the image of the Salt Lake Temple in the navigation bar above.

Christians identify the purpose of the law from the Bible: Romans 3:20. God gave us the law to reveal our sinfulness by demanding the impossible of us. By causing us to recognize our inability to keep these commandments, the law prepares us for the gospel.

The Mormon view is represented in their non-biblical doctrine:

"Although God's laws are exact and immovable, they are revealed and given to mankind for one specific purpose--to bring to pass their ultimate joy . . . God gives laws and commandments to his children to provide the only means whereby they may become like him." (Doctrine & Covenants Student Manual, pp 393, 394)

This view is actively taught:

"I quoted the third article of faith. It has two parts: 'We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, [then the conditions] by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.'" ( President Boyd K Packer "The Touch of the Master's Hand" Ensign May 2001)

Mormonism reasons that Christ wouldn't tell us to do something we can't do.

Christianity recognizes: Who can love God wholeheartedly? Who can love his neighbor as himself? Who can keep himself free of every greedy, lustful, selfish thought? No one can! Romans 3:12.

Christians see that there is no 'almost' in perfection. Read James 2:10. One sin convicts us of breaking the whole law. Read Romans 6:23. One sin results in death, the alternative to eternal life; that is eternal death! Read Isaiah 33:14 and Matthew 3:12. An extremely unpleasant eternal existence awaits those who reject God's offer. This is the existence most will receive. Read Matthew 7:13-14.

The Mormon view is that all people, even the most hideous unrepentant unbeliever will receive an eternal reward better that this life.

"The book (Doctrine and Covenants) explains clearly that the lowest glory to which man is assigned is so glorious as to go beyond the understanding of man. It is a doctrine fundamental in Mormonism that the meanest sinner, in the final judgment, will receive a glory which is beyond human understanding, which is so great that we are unable to describe it adequately." (John A. Widtsoe, quoted in Doctrine & Covenants Students Manual, p. 166)

Only an apostate, that is someone who leaves the Mormon Church, is in danger of going to outer darkness (the Mormon term for what Christians would call hell is Outer Darkness). For this reason, the idea that their sins will cause God to banish them to outer darkness doesn't even enter their minds.

Knowing these contrasting views can help Christians and Mormons avoid talking past each other. Understanding the Mormon view elevates the importance of using God's Law to witness to Mormons. The next article will expand on this need. Recognizing the stresses placed on Mormons by their doctrine helps us identify common ground on which to witness. Subsequent articles in this section will detail how to witness in such areas.