Do You Think You Can Just SAY You Have Faith and Be Saved?

This FAQ addresses the relationship between Faith and Works.

By Words Alone:

In the November 2001 General Conference edition of the Ensign, page 18, the Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS church said, “Many people think they only need confess that Jesus is the Christ and then they are saved by grace alone.”  On page 197 of Teachings of Presidents of the Church – David O. McKay (2005 Priesthood curriculum) it says:  “The Church does not accept the doctrine that a mere murmured belief in Jesus Christ is all that is essential to salvation.”  These statements and others by LDS church leaders show they do not understand the doctrine of “Saved by Faith Alone”.  Because of the way in which they describe it, many LDS members equivocate “Faith Alone” (a matter of the heart and Spirit) with “Words Alone” (insincere lip service).  When someone says “I believe I am saved by faith alone” they hear “I believe I can just say ‘I believe in Christ’, spend the rest of my life in sinful pursuits, and still be saved”.

This erroneous view is reinforced by seeing people who claim to be ‘Christian’ and yet act no different from the wicked of the world.  A person with only words is nothing but a hypocrite.  Every religious body has hypocrites.  They say the words, but their hearts are not involved.  They have the words, but not the faith!  LDS leaders may well say “No one is saved by words alone” and all of Christendom would agree with them.  But this is not the same as “Saved by Faith Alone”.