This week’s “Reflection” by Jason Gaudy, Elder

When I think about how many things could've derailed early Christianity, adding to the gospel seems like the most dangerous possible thing that could've happened. Finally, we had been set free and immediately people began to try to help God along. Immediately we began to fill in the blank. Jesus +_____________ . What have you filled in the blank with? Whatever it is, by adding legalistic requirements to the gospel, we lose it all together. It seems that it is part of our nature to not truly understand the concept of grace.

As we share with others through our words and our lives, how Jesus saved us and taught us how to live, may we all remember to give them the gospel of freedom and life not of ritual and tradition. The conditional gospel of Jesus +_________ is no gospel at all. May we prefer God's truth over prestige and personal preference. May the good works that we do be as a result of the joy and gratitude we have from our salvation not out of guilt or shame or obligation.