“Mormonism teaches that you cannot do it ALL yourself, but that Christ needed to die to help you out a little bit.”
I cannot speak for others, but in my case, Christ needed to die to help me out a LOT.
The least I can do is show my gratitude by doing the best I can.
That is a far cry from “slapping away” the gift of the Atonement.
That’s good you are getting pretty close to trusting Him alone.
Perhaps one day Mormonism will give up the sacred covenants where you bind God with promises.
“God, if I promise to abstain from tea and coffee, and live a moral life, pay 10% of my income, and attend all my Church meetings, and perform all my Church callings and learn the sacred tokens and name, and have as many children as possible, and pray twice a day (and floss)......will you promise me exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom? Was that a Yes? O.K. then we have a deal....right, God? You are okay with that aren’t you God?”
To me, this kind of covenant is simply weird. When I found freedom through faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone. It was like I had been set free from prison.
I now do good works for others because I love God and I love them. If it earns me nothing other that shear joy and the glory of God it is more than enough!