Introduction

Paul says that the gospel is the power of God for salvation, without it we could not be saved from our sins (Rom. 1:16). In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul proclaims a curse on anyone (man or angel!) who proclaims a different gospel than what he has taught by the power of Christ. 1800 years later, a man named Joseph Smith did just that.

Is the Mormon gospel different from the Bible's? A simple comparison should answer the question. Here is the Biblical gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose on the third day and because of this we can have eternal life (1 Cor. 15:1-17). Similar passages are found in the following verses, and many other besides (Mt. 10:32-33; Acts 16:31; Rom. 4:20-25 Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; 1 Jn. 5:11-13; etc.). Paul also said that anyone who teaches a different gospel will be accursed and condemned (Gal. 1). Is the LDS gospel different from the Bible's? Yes.

The Mormon Gospel

Doctrines and Covenants (D&C) 20:9; 27:5; 42:12; and 135:3 all state that the Book of Mormon (BOM) contains the "fulness of the gospel", as does the BOM itself in the first sentence of its introduction. This is a sugar-coated way of saying that the Bible is incomplete and that many "plain and precious things" have been lost or removed since it was originally written (see 1 Nephi ch 13). Despite all evidence to the contrary, Mormons believe that through "ignorant translators, careless transcribers or designing and corrupt priests" the true gospel has been lost (from Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 327; 8th Article of Faith). Now, this false statement about the Bible could easily describe the embarrassing truckload of evidence that points to Joseph Smith as fitting the above description. One need only look at his "translation" of the Book of Abraham (a Mormon scripture) as compared with a knowledgable egyptologist's to see that not one word was correct (it was, in fact, a pagan book of the dead - nice try though).

What is the gospel according to mormonism? It's a tough question for many LDS to answer. There is one passage in the Doctrines & Covenants (D&C) that could be seen as the gospel defined (76:40-42), and it reads much like the passage in 1 Corinthians, but there is more - According to Mormon apostle Bruce McConkie, author of the book Mormon Doctrine, the gospel is "the plan of salvation" that "embraces all of the laws, principles, doctrines, rites, ordinances, acts, powers, authorites, and keys necessary to save and exalt men..." In other words, the whole of Mormon theology. McConkie also makes this bold statement, "It (the true gospel) is found only in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." -Mormon Doctrine pg. 334. Meaning, of course, that it is not the gospel of the Bible. The discussion should now be over, for this cannot be the gospel of the Bible! But in the interest of full disclosure, let's continue.

In essence, Christ's death means nothing more to a Mormon than the gaining of the ability to be resurrected so that their works may be judged (3 Nephi 27:13-21; D&C 39:5-6). Beyond that it is all about works (and some sins cannot be covered even by these). 

"[salvation] is that which man merits through his own acts through life and by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel"
(Doctrines of Salvation, 1975, 1:134)

In the Mormon gospel we see belief + repentance + baptism + laying on of hands (to receive the Holy Ghost) + temple work + mission work + church ministry + tithing 10% of your income + ceasing from sin + abstaining from the use of intoxicants and strong drinks and tobacco and caffeine + confessing Joseph Smith as Prophet + temple marriage + baptism for the dead + geneology research... the list could go on and on and on. Only upon completion of all these things may Mormons attain to the third and highest level of heaven thus achieving the ultimate goal of the Mormon gospel - godhood. (If you doubt any of these teachings, please refer to McConkie, Mormon Doctrine pg. 116-117; Doctrines of Salvation 1:268; 18:213; The 4th Article of Faith; Smith, Gospel Doctrine pg. 107; Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 3:93; 3:247; 9:312; Gospel Principles pg 290; D&C132:19-20).

This is not just older teachings of the church. Consider the following quote from 1998's Deseret Web article by Elder Dallin H. Oaks Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Morning session, Sunday, April 5, 1998: "Believers who have had this required rebirth at the hands of those having authority have already been saved from sin conditionally, but they will not be saved finally until they have completed their mortal probation with the required continuing repentance, faithfulness, service, and enduring to the end. Some Christians accuse Latter-day Saints who give this answer of denying the grace of God through claiming they can earn their own salvation. We answer this accusation with the words of two Book of Mormon prophets. Nephi taught, "For we labor diligently . . . to persuade our children . . . to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Ne. 25:23 [another example of Joseph Smith's adding to the Word of God see Ephesians 2:8] ). And what is "all we can do"? It surely includes repentance (see Alma 24:11) and baptism, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end. Moroni pleaded, "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ [after all we can do, of course]" (see Moroni 10:32)."

Conclusion

I have a booklet sold in Deseret (LDS) bookstores titled, "Plan of Salvation At-A-Glance." I wish it were not copyrighted so that you could see it, but suffice to say it is about 4 pages long. Salvation to a Mormon is a long process involving many steps and reliant upon good works and laws for its goal to be found. It most certainly is not the gospel preached by Paul. It is not the gospel of Christ. It is the false gospel of Joseph Smith, and of his successors.