Reflections on the Atonement and Grace

I had a client who was not a member of the LDS faith, ask me, "I don't get you Mormons... you think that you will be saved by works and not by faith!" I responded, "I believe in Grace". He then stated, "No you don't, you're religion never talks about it... they only talk about the works you can do". I reflected on this and thought, "I think we might just use another word more often to explain Grace--The Atonement". I have come to realize that in the Gospel, "works" refer to repentance, keeping the commandments, etc.. And why do we do these "works", so that the Savior can help us progress--but we need His Grace--there is no way we can do it on our own. He paid our debt by His infinite sacrifice--and now it is paid--our sins were paid in full nearly 2000 years ago, now all Christ requires of us is to progress a little each day so that we will want to be with Him again and grow into a charitable, merciful Christlike person who He knows we can become! I believe this doctrine is consistent with all of our other Christian brothers and sister. After explaining my understanding of "Grace", I told my client that "I do 'works', [e.g.] service, repentance, attempting to love everyone, etc., so that I can be a better person (which I feel is God's will for me)--not to earn my way to heaven, but to want heaven. I have realized that my works are mutually exclusive of grace, but my faith in Christ, my faith in the gift of Grace that He has given me--all that he has given me--increases as my behaviors become more like His behaviors, and I do works as He would do works." My client responded that his belief is actually the same. We came to a mutual understanding. As we do a little more, we become a little better. As we conform our life to gospel standards, we become more charitable. When we break commandments we become more selfish. No matter what religion we are, if we have charity, eventually (in this life or the next), our lives will begin to conform to gospel standards and we will be saved and gain Eternal Life--b/c we want it! As President Hinckley stated, "We must try a little harder everyday, to be a little better!" Always do your best, and when your best isn't as good as it was yesterday, keep trying, never give up and everything will be okay--this is the spirit of Grace. Christ doesn't make up the difference, He is the difference! ...Also, why do we do missionary work? So that the world can know how to have hope now and how to have a Celestial life in the present! We need to get the good news (the gospel) out there-- there are too many people lost in misery, with no hope and no purpose! I see it everyday in my profession.