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What Are We Working For?
By Joseph S. Peery

A clergyman said to a "Mormon" missionary: "Your position is wrong, when you urge works. Works have absolutely nothing to do with it. St. Paul said, 'For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast'." (Ephesians 2:8,9.)

The "Mormon" missionary answered: "True, St. Paul made that statement, but in the very next paragraph he says: 'For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.' (Ephesians 2:9.) St. Paul also said, 'Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.' (Philippians 1:12.) The Master, who is greater than St. Paul, said: 'My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.' (John 5:17), 'I must work the works for him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.' (John 9:4), 'For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works,"' (Matt. 16:27.)

Yes, through the atonement of our blessed Redeemer, we all will be saved from our graves. Of course we are helpless to come forth. Through the grace of God, all will rise in resurrected bodies, but our exaltation depends on ourselves. Not all rise at the same time, and all do not go to the same place. The good book tells us, "Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor." (I Cor. 3:8.) "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal. 6:7.)