# 2 Nephi 31

*Paraphrase*

### 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.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/2-nephi/31)*
