Leaders warned Mormons not to sin because though God’s love is “perfect,” it is not unconditional.
The millions of Mormons who attended the 2016 LDS General Conference were warned by top Mormon Leaders that though God's love is 'perfect', it is not unconditional. This year's conference was the church's 186th Semiannual General Conference. Leaders sternly warned Mormons that they cannot live life as they like just because God's love is so deep. They stressed the fact that sin is still sin, and actions against God will not be pardoned despite His great love for man.
186th LDS Semiannual General Conference: Traditional Christian Values and Mormon Faith Crisis[/tweetthis]
89-year-old president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson said, it was Christ's “atoning sacrifice” that has brought everything together, and without which, 'all would be lost'. However, he added simply believing in Christ's missionary life wasn't enough. He insisted Mormons “work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve. We need to know God's laws and live them. Only by doing so will we obtain true happiness."
Speaking about modern day issues like gay marriage, apostle D. Todd Christofferson said God's love is “wonderful, redeeming and everlasting, but not ‘unconditional.’ " His remarks come in connection with issues erupting in the Mormon Church over acceptance of gay rights and other such issues. He added, the term “God's love” is often mistaken as being God forgives everything man does and does not judge and condemn any of his actions. However, he says God's infinite love means “to obey the law of a celestial kingdom.” He also said God's love means that He will save man 'from his sins' and not 'in his sins', as such, he stressed on the importance of repentance and said without repenting there can be no hope for salvation.
Apostle M. Russell Ballard continued on the same issue saying Mormons who have resigned membership with the church for issues such as same-sex marriage have strayed from the truth and “will not find a better home.” He added, the Mormon Church demands a lot because the path of righteousness is not easy. As such, those who find it difficult to live up to the challenge simply go astray. In November of last year, Ballard called gay Mormon couples 'apostates' and denied baptism for their children until they are 18 years of age. The 88-year-old leader also argued leaving the Mormon Church will have 'long term effects' they can not foresee immediately.
Resources
- LDS General Conference 2016
- The Salt Lake Tribune – “Frail Mormon leader Monson buoys up faithful, lauds church’s Word of Wisdom”
- The Salt Lake Tribune – “General Conference: God’s ‘perfect love’ isn’t a free pass to commit sin, Mormons told”
- The Salt Lake Tribune – “Mormons are ‘blessed to have the truth,’ so stay with the church, leaders say”
- Deseret News
- Mormon Channel
- NBC News