Nephi’s Final Testimony
I can’t write down everything we’ve been teaching—I’m not as strong with words on the page as I am when I’m speaking. When someone speaks by the power of the Holy Spirit, that power carries the message straight into people’s hearts. But so many people harden their hearts against the Spirit—they leave no room for it. They throw away what’s been written and treat it like it’s worthless.
Still, I’ve written what I’ve written, and I believe it has great worth—especially for my people. I pray for them constantly. At night, my tears soak my pillow because of them. I cry out to God in faith, and I know he hears me. I know the Lord will use my prayers to help my people. What I’ve written may seem weak, but it will become strong for them. It urges them toward good. It reminds them of their ancestors. It speaks of Jesus and persuades people to believe in him and hold on until the end—which means eternal life. It speaks hard truth against sin, plain and clear. No one will be angry at what I’ve written unless they’re under the Devil’s influence.
Pride in Plain Truth
I take pride in speaking plainly. I take pride in the truth. I take pride in my Jesus—he’s rescued my soul from hell.
I love my people, and I have great faith in Christ that I’ll see many of them clean and blameless when they stand before him. I love the Jews—and I call them Jews because that’s where I came from. I love the Gentiles too. But I can’t have real hope for any of them unless they’re reconciled to Christ, unless they enter through the narrow gate and walk the path that leads to life—and stay on that path until their time is up.
A Final Plea
So listen closely—my dear friends, the Jews, everyone to the ends of the earth: believe in Christ. If you don’t believe these words, at least believe in him. If you believe in Christ, you’ll believe these words. They’re the words of Christ—he gave them to me. They teach everyone to do good. If you doubt that these are Christ’s words, think it over carefully. Christ himself will show you—with power and blazing glory—that they’re his words on the last day. You and I will stand face to face before him, and you’ll see that he commanded me to write these things, weak as I am. I pray to the Father in Christ’s name that many of us—maybe all of us—will be saved in his kingdom on that great and final day.
And now—my dear friends, all of you from the family of Israel, and everyone to the ends of the earth—I speak to you like a voice calling from the dust. Farewell until that great day comes. And to those of you who refuse God’s goodness, who reject the words of the Jews, my words, and the words that come from the Lamb of God—I say goodbye forever. These words will condemn you on the last day. What I seal on earth will be brought as evidence against you at the judgment. The Lord commanded me to do this, and I must obey. Amen.
Influences
- 33:2 — John 8:37 (KJV)I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
- 33:4 — Hebrews 11:34 (KJV)Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
- 33:8 — Matthew 12:44 (KJV)Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
- 33:9 — 2 Corinthians 5:20 (KJV)Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
- 33:10 — John 8:24 (KJV)I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
- 33:12 — Matthew 24:40 (KJV)And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
- 33:12 — John 6:39 (KJV)And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
- 33:13 — 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV)And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 33:15 — 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.
- 33:15 — John 12:48 (KJV)He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.