In a short book interacting with, and critiquing, various aspects of Roman Catholic theology, Latter-day Saint author Arch S. Reynolds wrote the following about the relationship between faith and works:
Chapter XI
Faith and Works
The Protestant Churches, many of them, teach that God’s grace alone is sufficient to salvation; that the works we do it extraneous to the doctrine. Luther was the best example of this doctrine in modern times. The Catholics on the other hand, however, teach that works are necessary; but let us consider what they teach as works: “The good works recommended by the Bible are prayers, fasting, and almsgiving.” (No. 456) It is very likely that the Catholics got their ideas of Almsgiving from the Apocrypha Old Testament, Ecclesiasticus 3:30.
That works consist of something more than prayers, fasting, and almsgiving is shown in James 2:25 abut Rahab who received the messengers of Israel and sent them out another way. Also James 4:17, “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” The passage in James 5:13 has the concrete interpretation of prayer: “Is any among you be afflicted? Let him pray. Is any be merry? Let him sing psalms” James 5:16 says: “ . . . confess your faults one to another (not to the priests) that ye may be healed.” Some of the works necessary to salvation are revealed by Christ to the Apostles: “He that believeth on me, the works that I do (miracles, etc.,) shall he do also.” (John 14:12) Paul stated to Titus the things essential thus: “ . . . In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works.” (Titus 2:7) He said to the Phillipians: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil, 2:12) Romans: “God will render to everyone according to his deeds.” (Rom. 2:16) Again, “Be not weary in well doing.” (II Thes.3:13) These passages give good evidence that good works mean much more than mere prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Paul says further: “Give cheerfully for God loves a cheerful giver.” Why should not a person give to the poor and for the upkeep of the Church, but that does not disparage the doctrine of good works in everyday life, doing all manner of good to your fellowmen.
As our Book of Mormon has it: “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.” (Mos. 2:17) Or as Benjamin Franklin says: “Serving God is doing good to man.”
Faith is the assent of the soul—it is spiritual insight by which we arrive at ultimate and demonstrable truths. It grows with the exercise of obedience and becomes a reciprocal means of cooperation. It is an unfailing energy, an invisible surmise. Its beginning is experiment, while its ending is experience. Action grows out of it. Prayer is also another aspect of faith, since it is performed by those who have a trust and a confidence in the efficacy of its exercise.
If we wish to help ourselves, we must tune-up and get ready to preach the Gospel. We often times get off key and make ourselves in disharmony with our fellowmen and God. The disharmonious notes of those who wish to falsify the truth often are instilled into the minds of the weak and vacillating. When we refuse to permit God’s word to enter our minds we lose the right pitch. Let us get back on the right key even if we must ask the services of some of our fellowmen and the God who loves us beyond comparison to give us a lift when needed. (Arch S. Reynolds, Catholic Doctrine versus Mormonism [2d ed.; Springville, Utah: Art City Publishing Company, 1951, 39-40, italics in original)
