Needing more then Christ (part three)

I had this next post all written up and figured out when I suddenly came to a realization of what I had stated in my last post. I had until now completely lost myself in the art of Orwellian doublethink. I had sat there and knew that justification thru Christ was enough, yet I also knew that we need to receive our ordinances and prove worthy to attain salvation. But these thoughts do not fit together. How did I come to not only ignore this cognitive dissonance but to accept it as normal? Perhaps I need to examine my beliefs a little more closely. Here is a quote by Spencer W. Kimball that spells out what I had missed.

“One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation.” (Miracle of Forgiveness p.206-207)

Wow those are some pretty strong words stating that Christ and his grace are not enough. This failure to recognize the omnipotence of the grace of Christ is perhaps what keeps us separated from the rest of Christianity. We believe in a different salvation. We have the vocabulary of Christianity, but a new set of definitions. Salvation, Exaltation, eternal life, complete salvation. So how are we different? Well, we separate salvation to coincide with our belief in the three heavens. Salvation is not enough for us; we do not remain content with merely living with God but claim and desire to become gods and to become joint heirs and equals with God.

“This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

We need to get to know God, for this is Eternal Life, or exaltation. Why do we need to know God? Joseph Smith states, in The King Follett discourse, this about the knowledge of God.

“Let us here observe, that three things are necessary, in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation.

First, The idea that he actually exists.

Secondly, A correct idea of his character, perfections and attributes.

Thirdly, An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his will.” (King Follett Discourse, Joseph Smith)

And further,

“You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 346.)

Here Joseph Smith brings up this belief of our becoming Gods and emphasizes our responsibility in this life. We need to learn about god so that we can learn how to become god. This leads to some theologically thorny ground, for we both need to accept grace but we also demand works. We need to earn our salvation by righteous living and attaining knowledge. But man can not be justified or perfected by his own works but by faith in Christ. (Man cannot earn salvation by his own merits; if he could he would become his own savior and be able to worship himself.) Faith in Christ and Righteous living, these are two separate qualifications that we must meet to achieve Eternal Life, one is not without the other.