Resolved: Grace Requires that We Strive for Obedience.

I will suspend the Mormon digression thus. In order to enter the Celestial Kingdom in and of itself (being in heaven, mainstreamChristian salvation), all that is needed is baptism by water and the gift of the Holy Ghost. That`s 2 Ne. 31. They are called saving ordinances because we have something greater in mind than just being an angel in God`s presence, and salvation in our view properly said includes that, but to attain mainstream Christian salvation is simply baptism and the laying of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. If you were really a former member of the Church, you`d have known that, so the fact that you`re trying to present the temple recommend process as being arbitrary and some sort of requirement for being in heaven with God shows you`re either disingenuous or else you`ve forgotten quite a bit. The ThiefWe can`t be sure the thief was never baptized. Also, the original Greek is ambiguous. There is no punctuation, so the adverb "today" doesn`t necessary apply to "thou shalt" but rather "I say". Seeing as Jesus didn`t go to God that day nor for three days after ("Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to the Father" (John 20:17)), we are left with two interpretations:A. Paradise is not Heaven; This would make sense, considering the rest of the Bible. Jesus went to another paradise, such as Abraham`s bosom, and the thief did as well, to await his judgment (and future baptism as one who had not known Christ). B. The verse is better punctuated "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in paradise."C. The thief had been baptized, but had fallen away.But impermissible is the notion that Jesus was in heaven with the thief, for he had not ascended to the father that day. 1. Paul`s rejoicing at not having baptized:This is glaringly obvious from the context. Paul is addressing those who were making sects based on ministers rather than on Christ. In your own citation he says "Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name". The verses immediately preceeding those you cited read:"11. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?"Now here`s Paul back at you. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ… and if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”. Galatians 3:27-29. Those who are baptized are they who become Abraham`s seed, and receive the promises. Finally, the binding fiat of the risen Lord."He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." I know it does not say that he who believeth and is not baptized will be condemned, but I`m of the opinion that when Christ gives a suggestion, it`s best to follow it. Want to be saved? Believe and be baptized. Believe and remain unbaptized at your own peril, because Christ has established it as the way. 2. Orthodoxy. I won`t contest this one at the moment because there are stronger cases to be made. Even if you ceded on this point, it would still be belief and not works, so not worth our time. 3. Agreed. 4. Second question: "The demons knew who Jesus was intellectually but they did not accept him as their authority and willing to turn from sin to him."As far as accepting him as an authority, at least in principle, they do this better than many Christians do. His every direct command is obeyed, and they in several instances worship him, "And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, thou art the Son of God." Mark 3:11. Jesus didn`t make them do that. On the contrary, He often told them to hold their peace rather than testify of His divinity. The next verse is 12, "And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known." They, of their own volition, made a confession of the Lord Jesus. When imposters came and tried to cast one out in the name of Jesus, they said "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" (Acts 19:15), so they obviously recognized him as an authority. Every direct command given by Jesus to a demon was obeyed. The problem is, they don`t use their own agency to seek to do good. They obey only when directly commanded, and all their confessions and all their faith didn`t save them. You said it correctly, they have to be willing to turn from sin. In other words, they needed works, which they would never do. It`s not enough to believe, to confess with your lips the Lord Jesus, or obey when Christ appears in front of you and commands you. 6. That`s another work you`ve agreed to. We need to confess. Confessing our sins to God is an act. 7. Agreed.8. This person is serious about serious sins and not doing them, but doesn`t find his small vices (a white lie every now and again, for example) to be worth changing. 9. Grace unto salvation does indeed require work, however, God pours out grace to many, and it is His prerogative to determine how and when we get it. Our Father maketh his sun to rise upon the just and the unjust. I am unworthy of all the many blessings He has given me, but I still get His grace because He knows I am trying. I am not like Peter. I am not yet certain of my salvation, I have not made my "calling and election sure" at this moment. I am still doing as Peter said, adding to my faith, virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and so on so forth. "If you truly believe in Christ as your lord and savior you will begin changing your life to conform to Christ's teachings."Here`s the rub. If I (speaking in the general sense and not of me personally) know that Christ loves me so much that he will save me as I sin, perhaps I won`t go out of my way to sin, but I will a lot more readily justify myself in its commission. I will think "Jesus knows this very is hard for me. Good thing I`ll be saved, even if I indulge this one time". Or else, "I am doing a lot better than a lot of Christians, and they are going to be saved just like me. I don`t drink, I`m not violent, I`m not a thief like that guy on the cross with Jesus. This one little white lie surely won`t keep me from salvation."