Because we care where the path leads.

LDS missionaries are earnest, kind, and deeply committed. But beneath the surface of their dedication is a belief system that cannot save them. That’s why we share the gospel with them—not to win an argument but to point them toward the only One who can truly give them peace with God.

Is Mormonism Christian?

That depends on how you define the word “Christian.” Mormonism claims to be Christian because they follow Jesus, believe in his death and resurrection, and seek to live good lives. But the Jesus of Mormonism is not the Jesus of the Bible. The way to eternal life with God taught in Mormonism is not the way taught by Christ or his apostles.

Still, labeling Mormonism “non-Christian” usually is not helpful in conversations. It tends to provoke defensiveness and distract from the more important issue: What does a person need to be right with God and live forever in his presence?

That question cuts through the confusion and gets to the heart of the gospel. For a deeper dive, check out these articles: “Are Mormons Christians?” and “Are the Mormon Jesus and the Christian Jesus the SAME Jesus?”

Are Mormons Saved?

Mormons will often say, “Yes, I’m saved by Jesus”—and they usually mean it sincerely. But their definition of saved is very different from what the Bible teaches.

In LDS theology, salvation most often refers to bodily resurrection—being raised from the dead. Because Jesus rose, nearly everyone who has ever lived will also be resurrected and go to one of three levels of heaven. In that sense, almost everyone is “saved.”

But the Bible uses the term “saved” to mean much more than physical resurrection. It means being rescued from sin, death, and hell and brought into a restored relationship with God through the forgiveness of sins. It means being declared righteous in God’s sight and promised eternal life with him.

Mormonism teaches that only those who reach the Celestial Kingdom, the highest level of heaven, will live forever in the presence of Heavenly Father. To qualify, a person must be baptized into the LDS Church, keep sacred covenants (including temple ordinances), and live a worthy life.

In other words, grace alone isn’t enough—you must become enough.

So when a Mormon says, “I’m saved,” they often mean they will be resurrected and go to some level of heaven—not that they are certain they will live with God forever.

That’s why the real question isn’t, “Are you saved?” but rather, “How do you know you’ll live forever with God?”

From a biblical perspective, salvation—eternal life with God—is a gift, not a reward. It is received by faith in Christ alone, not earned through obedience or worthiness.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8–9

“And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

Romans 11:6

That’s the message LDS missionaries need to hear.

 What Mormonism Teaches

In recent years, Mormonism has begun to use the word grace more frequently. LDS missionaries and members often say they are saved by grace or that they rely on Jesus. On the surface, this can sound close to biblical Christianity—and that’s what makes it so confusing.

Instead of clarifying the truth, this shift in language muddies the waters. It gives the impression that LDS doctrine aligns with the biblical gospel, when in reality, it still teaches something fundamentally different.

In Mormonism, grace is not God’s undeserved love freely given to sinners. It’s part of a synergistic process—a partnership between God and the individual. God gives you strength. You show your love through obedience. Together, you make progress toward eternal life with Heavenly Father.

“For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

2 Nephi 25:23, emphasis added.

The LDS manual True to the Faith explains:

“The phrase ‘after all we can do’ teaches that effort is required on our part to receive the fulness of the Lord’s grace and be made worthy to dwell with Him.”

True to the Faith, p. 77

Latter-day Saints often avoid saying they are “proving themselves worthy,” but the underlying idea remains: grace gets you started; your obedience brings you the rest of the way. Eternal life in God’s presence is still seen as something that must be attained through covenant-keeping, progress, and personal righteousness.

We’ve heard this message consistently in our conversations with LDS missionaries and members. While the language may sound more relational or Christ-centered, the focus is still on becoming worthy, not receiving a free gift.

The Bible teaches something very different. It tells us that grace is not a reward or a power to help us qualify—it’s a gift given to those who could never qualify.

“And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

Romans 11:6

True grace isn’t God helping us become worthy.

It’s God declaring the unworthy to be righteous through the finished work of Jesus.

This misunderstanding of grace stems from a deeper issue: Mormonism teaches a fundamentally different view of God—not as the eternal, unchanging Creator, but as a being who once progressed from man to godhood. Their gospel is not about what Jesus has done but about what you and Jesus do together.

Listen to this podcast episode for a deeper dive into LDS grace and how to communicate the truth and beauty of biblical grace.  

Why Share God’s Word with LDS Missionaries?

Because eternity is at stake—and the gospel is too good to keep to ourselves!

LDS missionaries do not just represent a different church. They promote a different gospel centered on a different view of grace and even a different understanding of who God is.

That’s why we speak up. Not to win a debate or prove a point, but to share the only message that can rescue them from the burden of works-based righteousness and bring them into eternal life with the one true God.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

They need the Jesus of the Bible—the eternal Son of God, who lived perfectly in their place, died to take away their guilt, and rose to give them peace with God forever.

God has placed you in their path—not by accident, but by design. You don’t have to be an expert. You just need to point them to the cross. You get to be the one who shows them that Jesus is enough.