Faith and Works: The Clearing of a Seeming Conflict

FAITH AND WORKS* The Clearing of a Seeming Conflict By Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, of the Council of the Twelve "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I wiVi love him, and will manifest myself to him." These are the words of the Savior spoken to his disciples and one of them not fully comprehending his meaning asked him a ques- tion. Jesus answered and said unto him: "If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. "He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings, and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." There are throughout the Christian world various opinions re- garding what is necessary to bring about the salvation of men. Some there are who have accepted very literally, but without comprehend- ing the meaning of it, the expression that was uttered by Paul to the Ephesians. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: "Not of works, lest any man should boast." Those who accept that view as literally as it is recorded, with- out any reference to the context, disregard or reject the epistle of James which, apparently to them teaches a very different doctrine, for James says this: "Yea. a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble. "But wilt thou know, O vain man. that faith without works is dead?" And so the controversy has been going on since the days of the Reformation, if not before, in regard to these scriptures. Some men contending for the doctrine of James and some for the doctrine of Paul, both misunderstanding what Paul has written and what James has written, for in reality there is no conflict. The world is full of good honest people who believe that all that is necessary for one to do in order to be saved is to confess the ♦These remarks were made in the Salt Lake Tabernacle at the Liberty Stake Conference on July 20, 1924.

1146 IMPROVEMENT ERA names of Jesus Christ with their lips. A professed minister of the gospel once told me that if the entire Bible were lost with the excep- tion of one passage which is found in the tenth chapter of Romans, the 9th verse, that one verse would be enough to save the world. It is as follows: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt be- lieve in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Now, of course, this is a very extreme view. It would not be enough to save the world for the very good reason that the Lord has said unto us that we are to live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, and we are, as I have read to you, under the necessity of keeping his commandments. I desire to point out wherein there is no conflict whatever in the teachings of these two apostles of old; that Paul taught the doc- trine that was taught by James, and James was in full accord with the doctrine that was taught by Paul; the fact being that they are approaching the subject from different angles. Paul was dealing with the class of people who believed that a man could not be saved unless he subscribed to the law of Moses, that a man was under the necessity more or less of saving himself, and who denied the full power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. James on the other hand was defending the necessity of works, counteracting the idea which prevailed among others who professed faith in Christ, that if they had faith it was all-sufficient. Therefore they approached this subject from different viewpoints, and each of them teaches the truth. I might illustrate this. Many times I have passed down the street and have looked in a store window and have read a sign. As I have approached it from the right certain words appeared advertising certain goods. As I have passed and come into full front view, then something else has appeared, and as I have passed on to the left and have looked back at that sign, other words appeared, three differ- ent and distinct signs, but all referring to the goods that are to be sold in that shop. I might stand on the right side and say: "This sign says so and so." You may stand on the left and say: "No, you are wrong, I can see it, and it says so and so," and we might contend over it, and we would both be wrong although we would both be partly right. You have heard the story of the two knights who contended over the shield that was on the arm of the statue, one declaring that it was made of gold and the other that it was of silver, and so they con- tended until they came to blows and each received a mortal wound. But as they fell to the earth and changed their positions the one that was on the right saw that the gold shield was silver, and the one that was on the left saw that the silver shield was gold.

FAITH AND WORKS '1147 This is just the situation as we have it in regard to the teaching of Paul and James. It is a doctrine of the Church that is fully up- held and sustained by the Scriptures and by the handdealing of God with the children of men from the beginning, that he does not do for us one thing that we can do for ourselves, but requires of us that we do everything for ourselves that is within our power for our sal- vation. I think that is logical and reasonable. On the other hand, the Lord has done everything for us for our salvation that we could not do for ourselves, and there were some things that we could not do for ourselves, and we had to have help from an infinite source. Adam, our first parent, — and I believe that doctrine very firmly, which is now discounted in the world — through his transgression brought into the world death, and through death came suffering and sin. The first death that was pronounced upon him was banish- ment from the presence of the Lord. For Adam died two deaths, a spiritual death, or banishment from the presence of God, which is the first death, and which is like the second death which will be pro- nounced upon the wicked when they are cast out of the presence of the Lord; and he also died the mortal death. The first death, spiritual death, came upon him at the time of his transgression. The mortal death did not overtake him for many many years, for the Lord granted unto him a time of probation in which he was taught and instructed in the principles of the gospel and given a chance to repent, to show through his faithfulness his worthiness of redemption, and to be brought back again into the presence of God his father. The mortal death passed upon all men through the transgression of Adam, and every man is subject to death. Being subject to death and to sin, it is impossible for us by any act of ours to redeem our- selves from death or from our own individual sins. We are abso- lutely helpless. Every man that has been born into the world since the days of Adam, save the Lord Jesus Christ, has been subject to death, and under the transgression of his own sins, without the power in and of himself to redeem himself from either situation. Since justice demands reparation and restoration, it was neces- sary that there be an infinite atonement. Christ came into the world not subject to death and not guilty of sin, and with power to atone for the sins of the world and also for Adam's transgression. Jesus Christ came into the world the Son of God in very deed, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He was not subject to death, for he had no earthly father. His Father is the Father of our spirits, and the Father gave unto him life, that he might have life in himself, even as his Father had life in himself. And therefore Jesus Christ was not subject unto death at any time. Yet he had the power within himself as he so declared, to lay down his life and take it again, for that commandment he says he had received from his Father. Now, in order that this may be clearly stated, I want to give

U48 IMPROVEMENT ERA you his own words in regard to this very thing, as we find them recorded in the fifth and in the tenth chapter of John. In the fifth chapter of John, speaking of this power which he possessed, the Lord said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and be- lieveth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life; "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. "And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man." In the tenth chapter of John, speaking of the power which is in him, the Savior says this: "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command- ment have I received of my Father." And that marks the difference between the Lord Jesus Christ and the rest of mankind. We have no life in ourselves, for no power has been given unto us, to lay down our lives and take them again. That is beyond our power, and so, being subject to death, and sinners, for we are all transgressors of the law to some extent, no matter how good we have tried to be, we are therefore unable in and of ■ ourselves to receive redemption from our sins by any act of our own. This is the grace that Paul was teaching. Therefore, it is by the grace of Jesus Christ that we are saved. And had he not come into the world, and laid down his life that he might take it again, or as he said in another place, to give us life that we may have it more abundantly — we would still be subject to death and in our sins. As it was pointed out by Isaiah and others of the prophets many hundreds of years before his birth, Christ took upon himself the trans- gressions of all men and suffered for them, that they might escape on conditions of their repentance and acceptance of his gospel, and their faithfulness to the end. So we are saved by grace, and that not of ourselves. It is the gift of God. If Jesus Christ had not died for us there would have come to us no salvation, and we would have re- mained absolutely in our sins, without redemption, and would have become subject to Satan and his emissaries forever and ever. But through the mercies of God, Christ came into the world and his blood was shed for the redemption of men, so that all who will believe and will acknowledge him and take upon them his commandments, endur- ing to the end, shall receive eternal life.

FAITH AND WORKS 1149 So far as redemption from death is concerned, since we were not responsible for it, we will be redeemed from it. Therefore, through the blood of Christ, every man shall come forth from the dead in the resurrection, and the spirit and body shall be inseparably connected. Then man, if he has been righteous, shall receive a fulness of joy, and if unrighteous, he shall suffer, of course, for his transgressions, but every man has been given immortality, which means that he shall die again no more. These are the doctrines that were taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the burden of the message which we declare unto the world — Christ and him crucified for the redemption of men. So Paul taught these people who thought that they could be saved by some power that was within them or by observing the law of Moses. He pointed out to them the fact that if it was not for the mission of Jesus Christ, if it was not for this great atoning sacrifice, they could not be redeemed. And therefore it was by the grace of God that they are saved, not by any work on their part, for they were absolutely helpless. Paul was absolutely right. And on the other hand James taught just as the Lord taught, just as Paul had taught in other Scripture, that it is our duty, of necessity, to labor, to strive in diligence, and faith, keeping the com- mandments of the Lord, if we would obtain that inheritance which is promised to the faithful, and which shall be given unto them through their faithfulness to the end. There is no conflict in the doctrines of these two men. There is no need for the world to be in conflict in regard to this question. It is merely due to the fact that they cannot or do not comprehend the mission of Jesus Christ. They do not understand what salvation means. They do not know upon what it is based. The world today is discarding the doctrines of the Church. Many men no longer accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God; they do not believe in his atonement. They have rejected the resurrection; no longer accept it as being essential to salvation, and yet it is one of the fundamental doctrines of the Church. Christ, the prototype, the ex- ample, came forth from the dead as he said he would, after he had laid down his life and had taken it again on the third day. He presented himself to his disciples and told them to handle him and see, for a spirit had not a body of flesh and bones as they saw that he had. And so they came and they handled him and further to con- vince them he partook of the fish and honeycomb. He ate in their presence and convinced them by a practical demonstration that it was he himself, the same body that had hung on the cross, which they had put in the tomb and that he had come forth again in the resur- rection. Moreover that all power, both in heaven and in earth had been given unto him through his obedience to his Father, and through the resurrection which he had received. He was the first fruits of the resurrection, and he came forth and taught mankind that as he came

1 1 5 o IMPROVEMENT ERA forth from the dead so all men should come forth from the dead, both the good and the bad; and that men should be judged accord- ing to their works and receive the reward according to merit. That is the gospel of Jesus Christ in its simplicity, just that plainly set forth in these Scriptures so that the fool may read and understand; and yet the wise man in all his learning, closes his eyes against this truth and thinks he understands. There is a striking passage in the Book of Mormon which is very significant and which appeals to me very strongly, it is: "O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and tne irail- ties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolish- ness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish." But mark you this: "But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God "But woe unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon tbeir treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their God. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also." I say that is very good common sense and good Scripture. Now another passage from this excellent volume of Scripture, the Book of Mormon: "And now my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done" — [in other words, after you have been baptized for the remission of your sins, after you have repented and after you have accepted Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and that is what is ahead of what I have been reading, then the question is asked by this writer] : "Is that all?" Behold I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life "And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way: and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen." So it is easy to understand that we must accept the mission of Jesus Christ, and we must believe that it is through his grace that we are saved, that he performed for us that labor which we were unable to perform for ourselves, and did for us those things which were essential to our salvation, which were beyond our power, and also that we are under the commandment and the necessity of performing the labors that are required of us as set forth in the commandments known as the gospel of Jesus Christ.

FAITH AND WORKS 1151 Unless a man will adhere to the doctrine and walk in faith, ac- cepting the truth and observing the commandments as they have been given, it will be impossible for him to receive eternal life, no matter how much he may confess with his lips that Jesus is the Christ, or believe that his Father sent him into the world for the redemption of man. So James is right when he says the devils "believe and tremble," but they do not repent. So it is necessary, not merely that we believe, but that we repent, and in faith observe the works until the end; and then shall we receive the reward of the faithful and a place in the Celestial kingdom of God, which I pray may be our port, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. , Far Up On the Mountain We're camping far up on the mountain, Way up where the skies seem so near, In a land where there's sunshine and shadow, And air that's refreshing and clear; We're camping way up where the pine trees Just whisper old tales that are true. Where the leaves of the aspens are dancing, And flowers are smiling through. We're camping far up where the squirrels Have secrets in every nook, Where the deer roam and foxes are playing, And trout lurk in pool and brook; We're camping far up where the robins And bluebirds sing strong and true, Where the woodpeckers ever are drumming, And honey-bees buzzing through. We're camping far up where the summer Is cool, and the day's a delight, Where the zephyrs blow friendly and often, And Elysium's portals in sight; And though sometimes the angry storm clouds Send rain and the lightning, too, Soon the stars with the pine trees are playing, And moon beams come shining through. University Station, Bin "H," Tucson, Arizona. G. MILTON BABCOCK.