Difference between revisions of "Elect"

Latest revision as of 15:14, 20 October 2024

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently called the Mormon Church) proclaims, “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (Article of Faith 1:3).

The Savior said, “[M]ine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:7).

God commanded mankind to have faith in Him, repent of sins, be baptized by immersion, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure in faithfulness to the end. As people make and keep sacred covenants with Him, laying their wills on the altar, they are born again the sons and daughters of God.

God's Plan of Salvation

Mankind existed before this lifetime in the presence of God the Eternal Father as His children. “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and . . . has a divine nature and destiny” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World). Instead of having physical bodies, each soul lived as a spirit.

In that sphere, called premortal life or the preexistence by Latter-day Saints, Heavenly Father taught His children about His plan for them to return to live with Him again. His great concern for mankind’s benefit and progression compelled Him to create an earth whereby each person could receive a body, experience mortality, and use moral agency to choose how to live his or her life. Ultimately, life on earth would determine each person's eternal destination. God’s Son Jesus Christ became the Savior and Redeemer of the world, for God the Father knew mankind would sin on earth and without a Savior would not be able to return to Him. Lucifer rejected God's plan, saying he would force everyone to return to live with God again and because of that, Lucifer wanted all of God's glory. God cast Lucifer and all who followed him, one-third of the hosts of heaven, out of His presence. Lucifer, also known as Satan, and his followers attempt to lure mortal people away from the path back to God.

The redemptive power of the Atonement, the Grace of Christ, enables mankind to be saved. Without Christ there would be no salvation, no resurrection, no election.

The scriptures clearly teach of God's mercy to all people. His power is not limited, because free will enables individuals to choose to follow Him. His power is not limited because some of His children choose not to follow Him. The idea that for God to be All Powerful He must either elect some of His children to be saved or compel the salvation or damnation of every soul is not substantiated by the scriptures. God is All Powerful regardless of, and in spite of, His children, not limited by them.

God wants to save all mankind.

Jesus taught,

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (Luke 11:9-12).

Those who seek the Grace of Christ will find it. “For my grace is sufficient for you, and you shall be lifted up at the last day” (Doctrine and Covenants 17:8).

Who Are the Elect?

While all are the spirit children of God, the elect receive His gospel and live according to His commandments. They are born again. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).

An individual’s very nature can be changed through Jesus Christ’s atonement.

And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and his daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God” (Mosiah 27:25-26).

The Bible Dictionary teaches that

[N]o one is unconditionally elected to eternal life. Each must, for himself, hearken to the gospel and receive its ordinances and covenants from the hands of the servants of the Lord in order to obtain salvation. If one is elected but does not serve, his election could be said to have been in vain, as Paul expressed in 2 Corinthians 6:1.

The concept held by many that God unconditionally elected some to be saved and some to be damned without any effort, action, or choice on their part is not correct, for the scriptures teach that it is only by faith and obedience that one’s calling and election is made sure (2 Peter 1; Doctrine and Covenants 131:5). [1]

Modern-day Apostle Elder David A. Bednar also clarified a few points about being the elect of God.

The dictionary indicates that chosen suggests one who is selected, taken by preference, or picked out. It also can be used to refer to the elect or chosen of God (Oxford English Dictionary Online, second ed. [1989], “Chosen”).

To be or to become chosen is not an exclusive status conferred upon us. Rather, you and I ultimately determine if we are chosen. Please now note the use of the word chosen in the following verses from the Doctrine and Covenants:

“Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

“Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men” (Doctrine & Covenants 121:34–35).

I believe the implication of these verses is quite straightforward. God does not have a list of favorites to which we must hope our names will someday be added. He does not limit “the chosen” to a restricted few. Rather, it is our hearts and our aspirations and our obedience which definitively determine whether we are counted as one of God’s chosen. . . .

[W]e become God’s chosen and invite His tender mercies as we use our agency to choose God (“Tender Mercies of the Lord,” April 2005).

The Lord said, “All flesh is mine, and I am no respecter of persons” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:16). Everyone has the capacity to accept Jesus Christ as the Savior. God desires each of His children to return to Him.

“For thus saith the Lord-I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:5).