~559–545 BC

2 Nephi 31

Nephi concludes his prophecies, speaking plainly about Christ's doctrine. Even Christ, though holy, was baptized to fulfill righteousness. Those who follow Christ with real intent, repenting and being baptized, receive the Holy Ghost and can speak with angels' tongues. They must endure to the end.

Plain Talk About Christ’s Doctrine

I’m bringing my prophecies to a close. I can only write a few things I know will happen—just as I can only include a few of my brother Jacob’s words.

What I’ve written so far is enough, except I need to say something about the doctrine of Christ. So I’ll speak to you plainly, the way I always prophesy. I love plain talk. That’s how the Lord works with people. He gives light to our minds. He speaks to each person in their own language, in ways they can understand.

Why Jesus Was Baptized

Remember what I told you about the prophet the Lord showed me—the one who would baptize the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world. Now think about this: if the Lamb of God, even though he was holy, needed to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness, then how much more do we need it? We’re not holy.

Let me ask you: how did the Lamb of God fulfill all righteousness by being baptized?

You know he was holy. But even though he was holy, he showed us that in his mortal body he humbled himself before the Father. He witnessed to the Father that he would obey him and keep his commandments. After he was baptized, the Holy Spirit came down on him in the form of a dove.

And it also shows us how narrow the path is, how tight the gate, that we must enter. He set the example.

He tells us: 'Follow me.' So here’s my question: can we really follow Jesus if we’re not willing to keep the Father’s commandments?

The Father and Son Speak

The Father says: 'Repent and be baptized in the name of my beloved Son.'

And the Son’s voice came to me saying: 'Whoever is baptized in my name will receive the Holy Spirit from the Father, just as I did. So follow me and do what you’ve seen me do.'

So if you follow the Son with your whole heart—no fakery, no games with God, but with true intent—repenting of your sins, showing the Father you’re willing to take Christ’s name on you through baptism, following your Lord and Savior down into the water just as he commanded, then you’ll receive the Holy Spirit. You’ll receive the baptism of fire and of the Holy Spirit. Then you’ll speak with the language of angels and praise the Holy One of Israel.

But the Son’s voice also came to me with this warning: 'After you’ve repented, after you’ve shown the Father through baptism that you’ll keep my commandments, after you’ve received the baptism of fire and the Holy Spirit and can speak this new language—the language of angels—if after all that you turn your back on me, it would have been better if you’d never known me at all.'

And I heard the Father’s voice saying: 'What my beloved Son says is true and faithful. Whoever endures to the end will be saved.'

So I know this: unless someone endures to the end, following the example of the Son of the living God, they can’t be saved.

The Gate and the Path

Do what I’ve told you I saw your Lord and Redeemer do. I was shown these things so you’d know the gate you must enter. That gate is repentance and baptism by water. Then comes the washing away of your sins by fire and by the Holy Spirit. Once you’re on this straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life—once you’ve entered through the gate—you’ve done what the Father and the Son commanded. You’ve received the Holy Spirit, who testifies of the Father and the Son, fulfilling the promise: if you enter by the way, you will receive.

But after you’ve gotten onto this straight and narrow path, let me ask: is that all? Is it done? No. You’ve only made it this far because of Christ’s word, because of your unshaken faith in him, because you’re relying completely on the one who is mighty to save. So you have to press forward with steadfast faith in Christ, with a bright burning hope, and with love for God and everyone around you. If you press forward, feeding on Christ’s word and enduring to the end, then the Father says you’ll have eternal life.

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.

Influences

  • 31:2 — 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,
  • 31:3 — Revelation 22:5 (KJV)
    And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
  • 31:4 — John 1:29 (KJV)
    The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
  • 31:4 — John 1:29 (KJV)
    The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
  • 31:5 — Matthew 3:14 (KJV)
    But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
  • 31:5 — Matthew 3:15 (KJV)
    it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness
  • 31:7 — 1 Corinthians 6:16 (KJV)
    What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
  • 31:8 — Luke 3:22 (KJV)
    And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
  • 31:10 — Matthew 9:9 (KJV)
    And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
  • 31:10 — John 21:22 (KJV)
    Follow thou me
  • 31:11 — Acts10:48 (KJV)
    And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
  • 31:11 — Mark 1:11 (KJV)
    And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
  • 31:12 — John 5:25 (KJV)
    Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
  • 31:12 — Luke 11:13 (KJV)
    If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
  • 31:12 — John 8:38 (KJV)
    I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
  • 31:13 — Acts 11:23 (KJV)
    Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
  • 31:13 — 1 Peter 4:14 (KJV)
    If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
  • 31:13 — Acts 8:19 (KJV)
    Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
  • 31:13 — Matthew 3:11 (KJV)
    I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
  • 31:13 — 1 Corinthians 13:1 (KJV)
    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
  • 31:13 — 1 Corinthians 13:1 (KJV)
    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
  • 31:14 — Mark 16:17 (KJV)
    And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
  • 31:14 — 2 Peter 2:21 (KJV)
    For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
  • 31:15 — Revelation 21:5 (KJV)
    And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
  • 31:15 — Matthew 10:22 (KJV)
    he that endureth to the end shall be saved
  • 31:16 — Matthew 16:16 (KJV)
    And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
  • 31:16 — Acts 15:1 (KJV)
    And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
  • 31:17 — Mark 1:4 (KJV)
    John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
  • 31:18 — Matthew 7:14 (KJV)
    strait is the gate, and narrow is the way
  • 31:18 — Matthew 7:14 (KJV)
    Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
  • 31:18 — 2 John 1:9 (KJV)
    Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
  • 31:18 — Acts 10: 47 (KJV)
    Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
  • 31:18 — Acts 2:38 (KJV)
    ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
  • 31:19 — Colossians 3:16 (KJV)
    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
  • 31:20 — Matthew 10:22 (KJV)
    And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
  • 31:20 — Matthew 19:16 (KJV)
    And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
  • 31:21 — 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.
  • 31:21 — John 7:16 (KJV)
    My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me
  • 31:21 — 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,
  • 31:21 — 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:
  • 31:21 — 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.