“We believe in salvation by grace, 'after all we can do' (2 Nephi 25:23). You must keep the commandments, pay tithing, and do temple ordinances to achieve exaltation.”

The 30-second answer

Biblical grace is 100% free gift, not a top-off after human efforts fail.

💡 Ask them back“Have you personally done 'all you can do' today? Have you lived with 100% pure thoughts, 100% obedience, and zero sins? If not, has grace kicked in yet according to 2 Nephi 25:23?”

⚠️ What not to sayDon't say "So Mormons can just do whatever they want." Acknowledge their zeal for good works, but point out that human works cannot atone for sin.

📖 The full defense

The Trap of "After All We Can Do":
If grace only applies after doing all you can do, and no human has ever done all they could do, then nobody qualifies for grace under this formula! Moroni 10:32 says you must "deny yourselves of all ungodliness" for His grace to be sufficient. Who has denied themselves of ALL ungodliness?

Grace by Definition Cannot Be Earned:
Romans 11:6: "And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace."
Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Christ Did Not Pay 99%—He Paid 100%:
On the cross, Jesus cried "Tetelestai" (John 19:30)—"It is finished!" Paid in full. We do good works out of gratitude BECAUSE we are saved, not in order to earn salvation.

✝️ Scripture anchors (NKJV)

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Titus 3:5

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 3:24

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

🔁 If they push back…

The comeback you are most likely to hear next — and a reply that keeps the conversation moving toward Jesus.

They say“Our leaders teach that "after all we can do" doesn't mean grace only kicks in at the end. Christ's grace helps us all along the way.”

You can sayI appreciate that emphasis—it's closer to the Bible. But the question remains: in LDS teaching, exaltation still depends on temple ordinances, tithing, and continued worthiness. The Bible says eternal life is a free gift received by faith (Romans 6:23), and that you can know you have it now (1 John 5:13). Can you say today that you know you will live with Heavenly Father forever?

They say“James 2:20 says "faith without works is dead." You Evangelicals just believe and then do nothing.”

You can sayAmen to James! Real faith always produces works—but works are the fruit of salvation, not the root. James shows that genuine faith proves itself; Paul shows that works can't earn it. Ephesians 2:8-10 puts them together: saved by grace through faith, "created in Christ Jesus for good works." An apple tree doesn't bear apples to become an apple tree.

🕊️ Pentecostal key — the Spirit on the streetRelease them from the crushing burden of religious performance! Share the joy of the Holy Spirit living within you and the peace of knowing you are adopted as God's child right now (Romans 8:15-16).