What is Moral Obligation within Mormon Theology?

What makes right acts right and wrong acts wrong?

Kim McCall

presented at the 1980 Sunstone Theological Symposium

Religion is often viewed functionally as performing two important roles in the life of a believer: first the explanation of the physical phenomena -- interpreting the universe, mans existence, and the events of history and daily life; and second the justification of a way of life -- providing both the grounds for belief in a moral code and the motivating reasons for obeying that code. My contention in this paper is that the Mormon view of God and his relationship to man eliminates God's ability to play a substantial part in this second functional role of religion, the provision and justification of a moral code. Morality, in Mormonism, is independent of the will and dictates of God.