The Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 31:21

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~559–545 BC

1830 Edition

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven, whereby man can be saved in the Kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.

Influences

Acts 4:12 (KJV)
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 7:16 (KJV)
My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me
Hebrews 6:1 (KJV)
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Matthew 28:19 (KJV)
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
1 John 5:7 (KJV)
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Changes

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven, whereby man can be saved in the Kkingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.

Simple English

This is the way. There is no other way or name given anywhere that can save people in God’s kingdom. This is what Christ teaches. It is the only true teaching of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are one God forever. Amen.

Paraphrase

This is the way. There is no other way, no other name under heaven by which anyone can be saved in God’s kingdom. This is the doctrine of Christ—the only true doctrine of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who is one God, without end. Amen.

Notes

31:21

The Book of Mormon declares that there is only one Eternal God (see also Alma 11:28-29), yet the Doctrine and Covenants teaches there are many gods (D&C 121:32; 132:18-20,37). As does Abraham 4:1 in the Pearl of Great Price.

In June 16, 1844, Joseph Smith gave a public doctrinal address, historically named the "Sermon in the Grove." He is recorded as saying, "I will preach on the plurality of Gods. I have selected this text for that express purpose. I wish to declare I have always, and in all congregations, when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods. It has been preached by the Elders for fifteen years."

The sermon survives through the notes of four contemporaneous recorders: Thomas Bullock, William McIntire, George Laub, and Alexander Neibaur.

It was later printed in History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 6, pp. 473–479, and in The Words of Joseph Smith, ed. Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook.