The Critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints love to accuse the LDS of replacing Christ and his atonement by working our way to be "worthy" of his kingdom! This accusation comes because as LDS we use terms like, "worthy to go to the temple" or "worthy of the blessings of the Lord". Our critics believe this use of the term "worthy" means the LDS people are trying to work their way into heaven, instead of using the Atonement of Christ alone! While it is true that we believe in living a "worthy life,"(repenting of our sins, resisting our sinful nature, and striving to follow in the footsteps of Christ) we believe it is Christ’s atonement that makes us worthy of him! As Latter-Day Saints we believe that if we sincerely refrain from sin, and seek forgiveness the Lord will see our efforts and count us worthy of him. The critics say that man can do nothing to be worthy of the Lord! Who is right? Let’s see what the scriptures have to say about man’s ability to be worthy.
Striving to be Worthy
The apostle Paul explained it this way, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"(Philip 3:14). What was this prize that Paul was pressing toward? He explains in Philip 3:12 "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend…" Paul recognizing that he is not "already perfect", sees a need to improve to "press toward the...prize." Though Christ makes us perfect to enter into his kingdom, no one would be foolish enough to think that a man should not improve his standing with God! Could a man be more obedient? Could a man sin less? Could a man love more? There is always room for improvement.
Walk Worthy
Paul taught the Colossians, "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God"(Col 1:9-10). Does the idea of walking worthy imply no effort on our part? Paul teaches clearly that mankind can improve and "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work."
Paul tells the Thessalonians "As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged everyone of you as a father doth his children. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory"(1 Thes 2:11-12). Here, the Thessalonians are instructed to "walk worthy of God" even after they have been called into his kingdom! This certainly implies that the saints ought to put forth efforts to be "worthy" of God!
In Ephesians, Paul again teaches the saints that they should live worthy lives before the Lord. "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called"(Eph 4:1).
Counted Worthy
The Lord sometimes requires his saints to go through trials much like Job did, but what is the purpose for these trials? "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer"(2 Thes 1:4-5). The saints are taught that the Lord counts their patience in persecutions and tribulations as "worthy of the kingdom of God."
Read what Paul taught the saints who embraced the gospel, "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ"(2 Thes 1:11). Paul tells these saints that he prays that "God would count you worthy", that "the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified". By our attempts to be worthy of the Lord, even after we have accepted Christ, people see the change in our lives and Christ gets the glory for this change. After accepting Christ, if we continued our sinful nature, fewer people would see a need to seek him for forgiveness of their sins!
Sin and Worthiness
When John was giving his praise and condemnations to the seven churches he said "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy"(Rev 3:4). It cannot be denied that because these members of the church in Sardis put forth the effort they were blessed to walk in white. In addition we were told they were also accounted worthy! These members of the church in Sardis ought to be an example unto us, to not defile our garments with the stains of sin (Jude 1:23). But some may ask, how can we be found worthy if we have stained our garments with sin? John tells us "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"(1 Jn 1:6-7, 9). Being "worthy" doesn't mean never committing sin again, it means trying not to sin but if we do sin, seeking forgiveness for our sins by confessing them!
Christ warns his disciples to beware of sins that will take their focus off of his coming and the final judgment. "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man"(Luke 21:34,36). The Lord wanted them to not only be accounted worthy to escape the calamities that were to come, but also to be worthy to stand before the Son!
Being found Unworthy
Jesus also taught his disciples how they could find themselves unworthy of him! "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me"(Matt 10:37). Christ also teaches his disciples to strive to follow his example in order to be worthy of him. "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me"(Matt 10:38). The scriptures do teach that a man may be found worthy and unworthy of the Lord even after he accepts Christ.
Conclusion
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has continued to receive modern day revelation that agrees with the above scriptural accounts of worthiness. "There has been a day of calling, but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are worthy. And it shall be manifest unto my servant, by the voice of the Spirit, those that are chosen; and they shall be sanctified (D&C 105:35-36)." Once again the Lord seeks those who are worthy to represent him! In D&C 107:100 the Lord warns those who are slothful. "He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen."
The critic's argument about our inability to be worthy before the Lord seems like most of their other arguments when compared to the scriptures...pure fabrication! As LDS strive to “walk worthy” of the Lord we are just following the instructions given in the scriptures! A good question to ask is, who are the critics following when they tell us it can’t be done?
