I know St. Peter will call my name

I recently read an article about atheists advertising on buses in Britain. Here is a link to the article: http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090109/882/twl-ad-watchdog-called-upon-to-solve-ath.html . Basically, they posted an ad that said, "There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." For me the saddest part of this was the implication that the stereotypical person of faith is worried. I think it safe to say that the ad implies that we (the religious) are worried specifically about our status with God. About salvation. Unfortunately, I agree with that perception. Since my faith is LDS, I will only speak about this perceived stereotype among those of the LDS faith. Unfortunately, I would say that among LDS the behavior that inspired this slogan is even more rampant.

It is sad that people whose Lord said, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light", should be so weighed down with worry about salvation. This should not be so. What is there to worry about? Righteousness? Why? We know the answer to that. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."(Romans 3:23) "For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; for what I hate, that do I."(Romans 7:15) If the question is: Can I be righteous enough to earn salvation? The answer is no. Fact: All of us will sin again, despite our very best efforts not to.

After we are baptized, we begin a new life. Paul says ,"We should walk in a newness of life." (Romans 6:4) What does that mean, and how does that keep us from worry? To "walk in a newness of life" means:

"Let no sin reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: buy yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." (Romans 6:12,13)

Paul continues in Romans 8:1 speaking of those who are baptized. "There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." Essentially, we will not be denied salvation even though we continue to sin so long as we also continue to live 'after the spirit'. This is the doctrine of justification. Note: this does not free us of the temporary consequences of our sins. Paul states clearly in Hebrews 11:6 that "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." (see also vs. 11)

So what is there to worry about? We know that as long as we continue to live by the spirit, or "endure to the end" (2 Nephi 31) we will be saved. The worry might be about doing everything perfect right now. Remember, "it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength." (Mosiah 4: 27) Be diligent in your efforts, but not depressed when you are not as good as you would like. One of the most comforting verse of scripture for me is Romans 5: 8.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

As I continue to live by the spirit I can live knowing that my mood, my headache, the traffic, and all of the other little things that help me continue sinning do not put my salvation at risk. I can repent of all of it, and I will be forgiven. I also know that I by putting my life is God's hands I will improve. In the future I will not make the same mistakes I do presently. I do not worry about salvation. It is not something I earn, it is a gift. So to the atheists I say that it is my knowledge of God that allows me to enjoy life and not worry about the next one.

I will conclude this lengthy blog with one of my favorite (lengthy) quotes:

"We may, indeed, be sure that perfect chastity--like perfect charity--will not be attained by any merely human efforts. You must ask for God's help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity (or courage, or truthfulness, or any other virtue) may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven. The only fatal thing is to sit down content with anything less than perfection."

C.S. Lewis. Mere Christianity, pg 101-2.