Salvation (Daniel Wisnom/D-Weezy)

What exactly is salvation? Is there just one simple meaning of the term? Or are there multiple definitions for such a wonderful word? Is it a personal matter or as Ezra Taft Benson put it “is it a family affair?” In the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the term salvation has various meanings. After a little research I was able to find several different meanings of salvation, which include: Salvation from physical death, Salvation from sin, Spiritual rebirth, Second death and eternal life, or the greatest gift.
When I first think of salvation, I think of salvation from physical death. Everybody will eventually die, but it is by the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ that all of us will saved from physical death; that is all will be resurrected. President Gordon B. Hinkley said “Through Him, and by Him, and of Him, all are assured salvation from death and are offered the opportunity of eternal life.” In 1 Corinthians 15:22, it reads “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” It is because of this that every human soul is saved. Think about that. Every single person who has ever breathed a breath will be saved. Hitler will be saved. Mussolini will be saved. EVERYBODY will be saved. What makes that possible? The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible. This is his free gift to us.
The next thought of salvation that comes to mind is salvation from sin. Is this too a free gift from Jesus Christ? If you were to look upon a majority of people in the world today, it would seem that way, but it is not a free gift. What must we do to attain it? We must be cleansed and pure from all sin through the Atonement. We must have a testimony and have faith in Jesus Christ. We must repent and be baptized by full immersion, and then receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. We can’t be saved in our sins. However, it is by the grace of God, that we may all be saved. Sister Sarah E. Miller said “Not only does the Atonement wash the sins of repentant offenders, but it also reconciles with God all who may feel estranged from His love, including the abused and their families.” In Helaman 5:10 it reads, “he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.” These are the conditional things that we need to do in order to be saved, but the rest depends on our faithfulness to the Lord’s commandments. The Savior made the path, and we need stick to the trail and not wander the straight and narrow path now matter how enticing another direction may look.
The next thought that comes to mind regarding salvation is spiritual rebirths. The New Testament contains Jesus's teaching that everyone must be "born again" and that those who are not "born of water and of the Spirit . . . cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). This rebirth begins as we are baptized and when the gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed upon us. In Mosiah 5:5 it says that this comes as a “willingness to enter into a covenant with God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days.” David A. Bednar said “The spiritual rebirth described in this verse (Mosiah 5:7) typically does not occur quickly or all at once; it is an ongoing process—not a single event. And just as salt is essential in transforming a cucumber into a pickle, so covenants are central to our spiritual rebirth.” All who have sincerely repented, been baptized, received the Holy Ghost, “take upon them the name of thy son”, and have felt His influence in their lives, can say that they have been born for a second time. So how many rebirths are there one might ask? Well, we can be renewed every Sunday as we renew our baptismal covenants and watch and partake of the sacrament that was reverently blessed and passed by the Aaronic Priesthood.
As I was glancing over some scriptures of salvation, I read something concerning salvation from second death. What is that? After a little reading I discovered that second death is death of the spirit. It is being shut out from the righteous and being thrown into outer darkness. This death will not come until Judgment, but the good thing is, it will only happen to a few of us. In D&C 76:40-45, it says something along the lines that every person who has ever lived on the earth is assured salvation from the second death.
Lastly, there is eternal life. In the scriptures, the words saved and salvation often refer to eternal life, or exaltation In Abraham 2:11 it reads…”shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.” Eternal life is considered dwelling with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for all time and eternity. Russell M. Nelson said “His Atonement made resurrection a reality and eternal life a possibility for all who would ever live. Eternal life, or celestial glory or exaltation, is a conditional gift.” In True to the Faith it states that exaltation requires that men receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, and that all Church members make and keep sacred covenants in the temple. If the word salvation is used in this sense, no one is saved in mortality. That glorious gift comes only after the Final Judgment.

Ezra Taft Benson-1986 Ensign
Gordon B Hinkley-1992 Ensign
Sarah E. Miller-2006 Ensign
David A. Bednar-2007 Ensign
Russell M. Nelson-2008 Ensign
1 Corinthians 15:22
Helaman 5:10
Mosiah 5:5
Mosiah 5:7
D&C 76:40-45
Abraham 2:11