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Beliefs > Question & Answer > Heavenly Kingdom
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I was very interested in your description of your beliefs- I am a Baptist. Do you believe that you must be saved then to go to Heaven? Do you get baptized? We baptize like John the Baptist -dunking whole body- and they get baptized when they are old enough to know what is going on and they get saved first (ask Jesus to become their Saviour) - Do you believe everyone you knew and loved that died went to Heaven ? Do you believe in Hell, where those who do not believe go? It is of course described in detail in the Bible. It does say in the Bible that works will not get us to Heaven ("by grace are ye saved through faith, it is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast...") So by accepting Him as Saviour we are saved and we can only be saved because Jesus died on the cross for us and he was resurrected on the third day...I don't quite understand what Heavenly Parents we have... isn't our only parent God, our Heavenly Father? He did create us and put us here with the family we have...do you believe that He is coming back "like a thief in the night" (the rapture?) He comes back through the clouds and takes up his saints (the dead in Christ shall rise- the ones already dead that were saved and the people still alive on Earth who are saved all rise into the air to be with Him) - all of us on Earth that are saved will go back to Heaven with him during the rapture - but those who did not believe will be left on Earth to go through the tribulation...do you believe in that from the Bible? I think it sounds like we believe alot of the same things. Truthfully, when you mention the Mormons to a Baptist you usually get negativity but I am one who likes to read and find out the truth of what you really believe and it sounds like you do believe that Christ is your Saviour and that because of his death we can go to Heaven. You did not mention your belief on Hell though. It sounds to me like you believe that Jesus was God's son and you believe the Bible- do you believe the Bible is the word of God as written down by the prophets? Maybe we are the ones who are wrong in not studying these other prophets that you mentioned.
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Yes, we believe that a person must be saved in order to return in the presence of God. Our understanding of that salvation is that if all will come unto Christ, have faith in him and repent of their sins, be baptized by immersion for the remission of those sins, and receive the laying on of the hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then live their lives, in a Christ-like worthy way, enduring to the end, they will receive eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
Yes, we do get baptized by immersion. The very way that John the Baptist baptized our Savior.
You asked, "If every one I knew and loved went to heaven when they died?" I surely do believe this, and am confident that all of God's children who live Christ centered lives will enjoy the same blessings.
You asked, "If I believe in Hell." I believe that there is a place where a few of our Heavenly Father's children will spend the eternities, and whether we call it hell or outer darkness or anything else, it is reserved for Satan and his followers.
I agree with you that it is by grace that we are saved through faith and that grace is a gift of God. Without the grace of Christ our works are meaningless, but we go a step further on this. In James 2:14-26
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 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?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 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.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
we can see that the goodness of our lives, the compassion, the charity, the kindness, the righteousness, and the keeping of commandments is an exercise of our faith. The Savior clarifies that in Matthew 25:34-40
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
We can see clearly that if we have not properly treated our fellowmen, we can not inherit eternal life. This perspective in no way diminishes our dependence upon him, for his grace and mercy. Without mercy no amount of works would be effective, but because he has commanded us to live righteously and keep his commandments, those works that we do please him and shows to him our willingness to do all that we can do which is precious little compared to his great gift.
Yes, I believe, as you, that "he is coming back like a thief in the night." The righteous will rise from the earth to meet him.
I'm glad that you do not feel negatively about my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The word "Mormon" is a nick-name given to us because of our belief in a book titled The Book of Mormon. Which is the record of a people who lived in the America's for a thousand years, and who were visited by Christ after his resurrection. It is a fascinating study, and I hope that you will have a chance to take time to read it. The words of God to us through those prophets is equally important as the word of God to the prophets and apostles of old and anyone who reads it and prays about it's truthfulness, with a sincere heart with real intent having faith in Christ will know the truth of it by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
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