The Co-operative Plan of Salvation

The Co-operative Plan of Salvation Christ Alone Cannot Save You — Your Individual Effort Essential By James E. Talmage, of the Council of the Twelve We believe that through the Atonement of Christ all man- kind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. In earlier articles of this series it has been shown that mor- tality is divinely provided as a means of schooling and test, whereby the spirit offspring of God may develop their powers and demonstrate their characters. Every one of us has been advanced from the unembodied or preexistent state to our pres- ent condition, in which the individual spirit is temporarily united with a body of flesh and bones. Yet this promotion to the mortal state is regarded by many as a degradation; and we are prone to bewail the fallen condition of the race as an un- mitigated calamity. The Scriptures make clear the glorious truth that man may rise far above the plane upon which he existed before his birth in the flesh. We have stooped that we may conquer; we have been permitted to descend only that we may attain greater heights. The transgression of our parents in Eden was foreseen, and the Divine plan provided a means of redemption. The Eternal Father, who is verily the Father of our spirits, well understood the diverse natures and varied capacities of His unembodied children; and it was plain to Him, even from the beginning, that in the school of mortal life some would succeed while others would fail; some would be faithful and others false; some would choose the good, others the evil; some would seek the way of life while others would follow the road to de- struction. He foresaw that His commandments would be dis- obeyed and His law violated; and that men, shut out from His presence and left to themselves would sink rather than rise, would retrograde rather than advance, and would be lost to the heavens. It was plain to Him that death would enter the world, and that the possession of bodies by His children would be of brief individual duration. A Redeemer was chosen, and that even before the founda- tion of the world. He, the first-born among all the spirit chil-

THE CO-OPERATIVE PLAN OF SALVATION 705 dren of God, was to come to earth, clothed with the attributes of both Godhood and manhood, to teach men the saving prin- ciples of the eternal Gospel and so establish on earth the terms and conditions of salvation. In consummation of His mission, Christ gave up His life as a voluntary and vicarious sacrifice for the race. Through the Atonement wrought by Him the power of death has been overcome; for while all men must die, their resurrection is assured. The effect of Christ's Atonement upon the race is twofold:

1. The eventual resurrection of all men, whether righteous or wicked. This constitutes Redemption from the Fall, and, since the Fall came through individual transgression, in all jus- tice relief therefrom must be made universal and unconditional. Thus we read: "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life" (Rom- ans 5:18).
2. The providing of a means whereby reparation may be made and forgiveness be obtained for individual sin. This con- stitutes Salvation, and is made available to all through Obe- dience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. Between redemption from the power of death and salva- tion in the Kingdom of Heaven there is a vital difference. Man alone cannot save himself; Christ alone cannot save him. The plan of salvation is co-operative. The Atonement effected by the Lord Jesus Christ has opened the way; it is left to every man to enter therein and be saved or to turn aside and forfeit salvation. God will force no man either into heaven or into hell. Hear the words of an Apostle of old, concerning the right- eous judgment of. the Almighty: "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unright- eousness, indignation and wrath; Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that icorketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God?' (Romans 2:6-11). Jacob, a Nephite prophet, has given us a masterly summary of the results of our Lord's Atonement, both as to the universal redemption from death, and the conditions upon which indi- vidual salvation may be obtained: "For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merci-