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Even if we can't pray away someone else's free will or convince God to bend the rules regarding the requirements of salvation, there can still be merit in praying on behalf of others with a slightly different attitude. Perhaps "let them have experiences that will lead them to the truth," or "let their hearts be softened, that they may give heed to the Holy ...

The Westminster Shorter Catechism has as its first question: What is the chief end of man? and the answer provided (with references): Man's chief end is to glorify God, [a] and to enjoy him for ever. [b] [a]. Ps. 86:9; Isa. 60:21; Rom. 11:36; I Cor. 6:20; 10:31; Rev. 4:11 [b]. Ps. 16:5-11; 144:15; Isa. 12:2; Luke 2:10; Phil. 4:4; Rev. 21:3-4

The LDS Plan of Salvation can be found on the official LDS website here. In summary, the following are the main points: We all once lived as spirit children of God in our premortal life. While we were in our Premortal life, our Heavenly Father presented us with his plan of happiness, as described in Abraham 3:22-26 We chose, in our premortal life, to ...

In John Piper's talks on Calvinism, he addresses this very point - why pray or even evangelise the non-saved since God has already elected who will be saved and who not. His answer is that our action is the means by which God often achieves His will. So if God has ordained that Bob will be saved through the witness of Jim, then Jim will witness and Bob will ...

It's hard to follow after David's very good, exhaustive answer, but here is a different approach, which emphasizes more the procedural flow of it as a literal "plan" (David's first few bullet points). My answer is a summary, or in some cases, a re-statement, of what is found in the LDS missionary manual, Preach My Gospel (Chapter 3, Lesson 2). All ...

In Luke's gospel, Jesus informs Simon (Peter) that Satan had desired to try his faith to the verge of overthrow, but that, through the prayers of Jesus, his faith would be strengthened. He was further admonished to do the same for his brethren (strengthen them) once he had been converted (see Acts Chapter 2). Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, ...

I believe that the "chief end of man", or "why man was created" can be summed up in what Jesus said when a lawyer asked him a question. Matthew 20:36ff "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great ...

The ultimate purpose of man must not, it seems, be tied to that which is not ultimate. It is true that God does give mankind commands such as "Be fruitful and increase in number". However, it is important to note that mankind's fulfillment of this command did not prompt God's greatest act. It was rather the separation of mankind from God through sin ...

The confusion comes in when we conflate "salvation" with "ending up in Heaven for eternity." "Salvation" has three meanings in Scripture: Initial conversion (being "born again") Sanctification (of believers) Ultimate redemption (resurrection, etc.) It is clear that the first two can happen without the person necessarily ending up in Heaven for eternity, ...

Absolutely! It's impossible for nothing to happen when you pray. (Even if it looks like nothing will happen at all.) As it is written in Romans 4:9 (NIV) Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. Faith is the currency of heaven, and it is through faith and prayer that spiritual battles are won. (Including the battle for the soul of the one ...