1 Nephi 10

1 Nephi 10: 18-19

For he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

The other day in a conversation with a friend he said, "All churches think they have the truth, but what I'm interested in is what makes your church different from the others."

Something that I think makes our church unique is our perspective. True, most churches think they either have THE truth or enough of it that they don't need to look elsewhere. But this scripture in the Book of Mormon teaches that the way that God has dealt with man has never and will never change. The way that all man receive salvation is the same for all people that have ever lived on the earth. This means people that died 4,000 years ago receive salvation from God the same way as people who live on the earth right now. We also believe that all people who live will be given an opportunity to be taught the gospel after they are dead. As the apostle Peter taught:

1 Peter 4:6

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

God's plan has never changed and he has continued to re-establish his kingdom on the earth every time that his people have dwindled in unbelief and iniquity. We believe that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints is not only the restoration of the same church that Jesus Christ established, but that it is just the modern-day version of a church and religion that has existed in various forms and at various times throughout the history of the earth, and that is being preached right now to the spirits of the dead by the servants of God from all dispensations of time.

Does this mean that we think Moses and Jesus and Abraham were Mormon? No, it does not. But it does mean that we believe the same spirit and power of God that existed in the teachings and religion of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus is on the earth today in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints.

I can see how critics of the church can claim that we believe that all people throughout the history of the world must become "Mormon" to be saved, but I think this is a tragic misrepresentation. The fact is that we do not believe that. It is an oversimplification (sometimes purposeful) of what we do believe, which is that all people throughout the history of the world, including mormons, must follow the gospel of Jesus Christ to be saved. And we believe, as Nephi taught, that you can learn that gospel through revelation from God regardless of your religion, race, lifestyle, or the time period in which you lived. "He that diligently seeketh shall find, and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..."