Mormons believe that they must DO something to get to heaven. The Matthew scripture sited by Bob in his answer, is a demand for for RELATIONSHIP. I can know of Einstein but he would not know me. Please remember that the punishment for sin, all sin, was eternal seperation from God. It was God's GIFT that we have salvation.

I would add something to my brother's answer to this question. I would just like to point out that the debate over the relationship between faith and works has been raging for millennia. Ezekiel clearly tells us that that, just as God forgets the sins of the sinner who repents, He also forgets the righteousness of the righteous person who turns to sin (Ezekiel 18:20-32 http://scriptures.lds.org/ezek/18/20-32). Is this not just? Why should someone who claims to be "saved" be able to go out and commit sin? Another important scripture in this is James 2:14-26. In these verses, James tells us several times that "faith without works is dead." In these verses, James tells us that faith motivated the actions of various people from that Old Testament. However, this faith was not sufficient for salvation until it was backed up by actions. In this I am not trying to discount the importance of faith either, for as Paul wrote to the Hebrews, "But without faith it is impossible to please him [God]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6 http://scriptures.lds.org/heb/11/6#6) So, we do believe in both grace and works. None of us are perfect. God understands this. That is why He sent His Son to pay for our sins. However, he does expect us to continue to strive for perfection and to continually repent when we fall short. It is only by doing this in faith that He exists and will forgive us that His grace can make up for our shortcomings. As Nephi wrote in the Book of Mormon, "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23 http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/25/23#20)

we do not believe that we are only saved by FAITH. look in JAMES... faith without works is DEAD! we show faith bu t we must live the commandments and do the correct things to be righteous... we show our dedication through: faith word of wisdom works repentance etc

So then what you are saying is that Jesus died on the cross in vain? if all you ever had to do was live a righteous life, then Jesus never had to die right? Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Get it? OUR righteousness is like a filthy rag, be good you're whole life, heck, be righteous your whole life, but to God YOUR righteousness is compareable to a filthy rag. And all that you do (he's referring to good that you do) will fade away like a leaf fallen from a tree. The only way to God, not "elohim" the man who lived righteous enough to become a god which does not exist, your God is not the Father of my Jesus, but the only way to the living God is through Jesus Christ, and when you come through him it is only then will you want to live a righteous life, it is not the righteous life that brings you to God it is God that brings you to the righteous life.

By the way folks, when you quote James, "faith without works is dead", it does not mean that your works does something toward your salvation. Your works are done because of your belief in the Gift of Grace. Spreading the Good News of Grace for example is a work of faith, because we can only believe in salvation by Faith, but it gets you no closer to salvation because you say something. If you think your works get you into heaven, then EXACTLY how much work do you have to do, and what work it is, EXACTLY! And yes, when Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment, he said: " Love the Lord your God and the other is like it, Love your neighbor. So why don't we just focus on LOVING ONE ANOTHER.

We believe that we are saved by both grace and works. There was an article about it that I used for Family Home Evening once. It's called "Are We Saved By Grace or Works?" I can't remember who wrote it.

I would have to say that our works are a natural fruit of faith. If a man believes in Christ, he will follow Him and live after His manner. His "works" will emulate Christ's. The Savior did say, "...by their fruits ye shall know them..." Our Faith is bolstered by works and the revers is true as well. We cannot live a Christ-Like life and NOT have Faith and definitely the opposite is true. To argue that one is greater than the other or that one is necessary and the other not, is evident of misunderstanding the Scriptures and logic itself must stare you in the face.

We definitely believe in grace. Although the Apostle Paul counsels us to “work out [our] own salvation” (see Philippians 2:12), this is impossible to do without “relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save” (2 Nephi 31:19)—that is, the Lord Jesus Christ. I think the Prophet Jacob said it best: “[I]t is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved” (2 Nephi 10:24). Hope that helps!

WARNING: The following text is from the Book of Mormon. 20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another— 21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants. 22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you. 23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him. 24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

I'm clipping this despite it's polemic tone because it both frames and outlines the answer nicely. The videos are also a bit polemic but helpful: "LDS QUOTE: Nowhere can I see that it says that a person can earn his way by works into the Celestial Kingdom. In fact your last scripture notes that it is by grace we are saved, after all we can do. IOW faith plus works. EVANGELICAL RESPONSE: Then, you're overlooking the obvious in your own scripture: there IS no grace from God, until all of the possible works have first been accomplished. Thus, salvation and grace are only available AFTER every possible work of the individual has been performed. Logically, then, Mormon salvation is attained in this order: first perform all possible works (2 Nephi 25:23), deny yourself of all ungodliness (Moroni 10:32), forsake all sins (D&C 58:43), and reconcile yourself to God (2 Neph 10:24). THEN have faith. THEN, by God's grace you are saved. All confirmed by the LDS slogan: Do your best, and God will do the rest. Thus, logically, LDS salvation and grace are earned by ones works, ones denial of all ungodliness, ones forsaking of all their sins, and ones reconciliation to God. In the very LDS definition of grace, we read, "grace cannot suffice without total effort on the part of the recipient." You can deny it all you want, but that's earned grace and earned salvation. Which begs the question, how much "total effort on the part of the recipient" is required, in order to finally receive God's grace? No Mormon knows. Exhaust yourselves, and that may still not be enough. Therefore, the LDS definition of salvation by grace (i.e.everlasting life in the kingdom of God), is the exact opposite of the biblical definition: 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. Ephesians 2:8-9. Contrast Eph. 2:8-9 with 2 Nephi 25:23: for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. Faith isn't even mentioned. Only works. "Faith plus works."? Be honest. In LDSism, it's all the works you can do first, before any faith. When have you done enough works? You don't know. When have you given your "total effort"? NO Mormon knows. How do you reconcile yourself to God? No Mormon knows. In the Bible, God did the reconciling, not man: 2 Cor. 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Rom. 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. In Mormonism, man does the reconciling to earn God's grace: 2 Ne. 10:24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. Just the opposite..." http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&catid=3&id=79778#79778

Short answer: "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 3 ---------------------- ---------------------- Long answer: Because Christ broke the bands of death with His resurection all mankind are unconditionally saved from physical death: "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:55 - Christ took uponhimself the burden of our sins: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5 - He did for us what no man could possibly do: "And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people." Mosiah 3:7 "And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name" Mosiah 3:9 "For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned" Mosiah 3:11 - His work is done, and He has done it for all mankind from Adam to the end of the world: "I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body— I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world." Mosiah 4:6-7 - Our works are nothing compared to what Jesus Christ has done for us, by our works alone we are condemed: "Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more." 2 Nephi 9:7 - Not everyone who says they believe will go to Heaven we have a part to play in our own salvation: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" John 17:3 "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" Mosiah 5:13 "If ye love me keep my commandments" John 14:15 -------- We are God's children, if our salvation were entirely dependant on His works every one of us would be saved, there would be no Hell. Parents think which of your children would you not save if it was in your power? But not every one is saved So there is some condition we must meet.

What about your Mormon Underwear? LOL

We are saved by grace. We are judged by our works.