Why Learning the Gospel “TRUTH” is So Important – Why Can’t I Just Stay Where I Am in a Comfortable “Great Religion?” – If This is Your Situation, You Have GOT to Check This Out (KJV)

June 6, 2026 | www.gospelofjesuschrist.blog | River Wilde

I was a member of a certain church all of my life, and would even call this religion “Great!” It taught me so much, and allowed me to serve and do many aspects of what Christ actually taught. I was INDEED NOT looking to encounter what I have been through the past 3 years, but I am FOREVER GRATREFUL that it all happened.

In my search for truth, I can even say that there were times difficult emotional times, when recognizing the TRUE gospel teachings. I lost my ward family, strained family relationships, as well as other challenges. This writing is not about those difficulties, for I have learned that the benefits of learning the truth far outweigh any “temporary” loss that I might have encountered.

Today, I’d like to talk about this gospel teaching of Christ as written in scripture:

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
— John 8:32

Has learning the true gospel teachings of Jesus Christ “set me free?” If I were to answer this based upon a scale of freedom ranging from 1 to 10, (10 being the freest), I would score it at a high 100! Now let me explained why that is.

There is one gospel topic in particular that has set me free that accounts for most of that score. Here is that gospel principle taught by Christ:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”
— Titus 3:5 (KJV)

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ…”
— Galatians 2:16 (KJV)

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace…”
— Romans 11:6 (KJV)

Salvation’s definition:

“Salvation means being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, receiving eternal life, and living forever in His presence.”

Learning the TRUTH has set me free by knowing, that because of the GIFT of the atonement of Jesus Christ, having NOTHING to do with me, my church, or ANYTHING else, I will live with Him forever, in Heaven. Things can’t get more freeing than knowing this.

ALL OF MY LIFE, I have lived thinking that I was not good enough, and that I needed to do MORE to even having a shot at going to heaven. More temple work, paying more tithing, more acts of kindness…MORE, MORE, MORE!

And of those good things that I had done, were they ENOUGH? Had I repented properly. Did I confess EVERY SIN that should have been confessed to the bishop that I needed to? By repenting between me and God through prayer, was that enough? Was that fulfilling the “REQUIREMENT?”

What about the sins that I had forgotten, what happens to those? Am I held accountable for sins that were not correctly repented of?

Was this all a challenge for me because I “misunderstood this gospel teaching” and that this was not actually what the church taught?

I feel that every member of the church can relate to what I am saying. DO MORE, strive for perfection, Salvation is from Christ but we must DO ALL THAT we can first. YES, it’s even in the doctrine of the church, as noted in this scripture from the Book of Mormon:

“For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.“
— 2 Nephi 25:23 (Book of Mormon)

All of this which I have mention above, has been an emotional jail cell for me. I cannot even begin to explain how free I became AFTER learning the TRUTH of this gospel truth. My salvation has nothing to do with my good works, proper repenting practice, tithing, church attendance of all of the other rules that the church places out before us. My salvation is a GIFT from Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice is all that is required.

I now KNOW that I will be going to Heaven, because that is where Christ will dwell, and I will be with Him ALWAYS from the moment that I am raptured from this earth.

I also KNOW that I will be included in the rapture which will soon come, because I am “in Christ” as the scripture states as the qualifier:

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive (in Christ) and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

— 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 KJV

Do I feel free from learning these truths? It is almost like being forewarned that the plane that you were supposed to be on was going to crash, so you did not board that plane. You did this because of learning the truth of what was about to happen, only to see it go down in flames moments later.

I’m now free from all of the worry and guilt that I was having through the constant “requirements’ that my church was imposing, stating that it was all REQUIRED for my salvation…. “After all that I could do!” These requirements were from the church, NOT God. The CHURCH made me feel imprisoned; the TRUTH of the gospel has set me free.

I’m also free in understanding the true teaching of Jesus Christ through the process of having a spiritual rebirth. I have a greater desire to serve Christ, and a decrease of a desire to sin. I choose to live a Christ like life, NOT because of rules, or even commandments, but as a way to stay close to the Savior. This was His teachings, and I am living it.

Doing things to give HIM the GLORY, rather than for personal gain, is indeed a freeing feeling that is difficult to explain, but I can say that it is certainly better than the “old way” of doing things.

I now do not worry about having to become a god, live in a polygamist relationship and have millions of spirit children to watch over when I die. Is this freeing? You tell me! I’m TIRED of being in charge all of the time! A peaceful eternal life, I believe, does not require being a God, dealing with so many others’ problems, for all of eternity.

Rather I have learned that I will be with those I love, and live with them forever, which is God’s plan, and not from a temple ordinance.

I’ve learned all about the relationship “enhancement” that I will have with Jesus Christ during the millennial period. I’ve learned that all of my emotional scars will be healed individually by Him. They won’t just go away during the resurrection, but that I will actually have time with Christ to work through the process of this healing.

Because of learning the TRUTH, outside the “comfort” of my religion, I know that is in my future, and I am certainly grateful for these gospel teachings.

So, was it worth learning the truth about the gospel, even though it brought some temporary emotional setbacks? YES, INDEED!!!!

While you are wondering which kingdom of heaven you will end up in, I know that all of those who are “in Christ will dwell with Him in heaven. This is not something that I need to wait and see what happens, for the TRUTH has set me free with this knowledge. YOU TOO can experience the freedom of what I am sharing with you today.

What is required is a humble heart, and the ability for you to be teachable. Then, go to God in prayer, and let Him guide you to the truth. Let HIM be the one that teaches and conforms all truth…Please don’t just take my word for it, for trusting in man got us into the deceptive mess in the first place.

Psalm 118:8–9 (KJV)

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.”

Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”