If it were an idiom, the phrase would have been superfluous. Obviously it was not an idiom. It meant exactly what we said it meant. You are really reaching and stretching trying to make that scripture say something it doesn't mean. Maybe you need to tell your church authorities they are wrong in posting the following on lds.org:
"Divine grace is needed by every soul in consequence of the Fall of Adam and also because of man’s weaknesses and shortcomings. However,
grace cannot suffice without total effort on the part of the recipient. Hence the explanation, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Ne. 25:23)."
No idiom. Total effort before grace can be given. Basic understanding of the English language and sentence structure. The sentence can also be written with the same words as follows: "
After all we can do, it by grace that we are saved". It would mean the same thing. "That means works based salvation as your fellow TMB Brother of Jared has so eloquently and specifically told us (faith means works).
"Salvation comes through
faith which is works." John 5:29. (from a BOJ post). Aside from totally not understanding the context of John 5:29 or other scriptures, BOJ is quite clear on a works based salvation and twisting and redefining scripture to say something it doesn't say.