# 3 Nephi 27

*Paraphrase*

### What Should We Call the Church?

As the disciples traveled around preaching what they’d seen and heard, baptizing people in Jesus’ name, they gathered together for intense prayer and fasting. Jesus appeared to them again while they were praying to the Father in his name. He stood among them and asked, “What do you want me to give you?” They said, “Lord, we need you to tell us what to call this church. People are arguing about it.”

The Lord said, “Why are people complaining and arguing about this? Haven’t they read the scriptures? You must take on the name of Christ—my name. That’s what you’ll be called on the last day. Whoever takes on my name and stays faithful to the end will be saved on that day. So whatever you do, do it in my name. Call the church by my name. And when you pray to the Father in my name, he’ll bless the church for my sake. How can it be my church if it’s not called by my name? If a church is called by Moses’ name, it’s Moses’ church. If it’s named after a man, it’s that man’s church. But if it’s called by my name, then it’s my church—as long as it’s built on my gospel. You are built on my gospel. So call everything you do by my name. When you pray to the Father for the church in my name, the Father will hear you. And if the church is built on my gospel, the Father will show his own work through it. But if it’s not built on my gospel—if it’s built on human effort or the devil’s work—they’ll enjoy themselves for a while. But then the end comes. They’re cut down and thrown into the fire, and there’s no way back. Their actions follow them. It’s their own deeds that destroy them. So remember what I’ve told you.”

### The Gospel Explained

“I’ve given you my gospel. Here it is: I came into the world to do my Father’s will, because my Father sent me. My Father sent me to be lifted up on the cross. And after I was lifted up, I drew all people to me. Just as I was lifted up by men, so everyone will be lifted up by the Father to stand before me and be judged by their works—whether good or evil. That’s why I was lifted up. By the Father’s power, I’ll draw everyone to me so they can be judged by what they’ve done. Whoever repents and is baptized in my name will be filled. And if they stay faithful to the end, I’ll declare them innocent before my Father on the day I stand to judge the world. Those who don’t endure to the end will be cut down and thrown into the fire. They can’t come back, because of the Father’s justice. This is the word he’s given to all people. He keeps his promises. He doesn’t lie—he fulfills every word. Nothing unclean can enter his kingdom. Only those who’ve washed their clothes in my blood—through faith, repentance, and faithfulness to the end—will enter his rest.”

“Here’s the command: Repent, all you people everywhere. Come to me and be baptized in my name so you can be made holy by receiving the Holy Spirit. Then you’ll stand pure before me on the last day. This is my gospel. You know what you need to do in my church. Do the things you’ve seen me do. Follow my example. If you do these things, you’re blessed. You’ll be lifted up on the last day.”

### Write Everything Down

“Write down what you’ve seen and heard, except for the things that are forbidden. Record what happens to this people, just like past events have been recorded. From the books that have been written and will be written, this people will be judged. Those books will reveal their deeds. Everything is written by the Father. The world will be judged from the books that are written. You’ll be judges of this people, according to the judgment I give you—and it will be just. So what kind of people should you be? I tell you: be like me.”

“Now I’m going to the Father. Whatever you ask the Father in my name will be given to you. Ask, and you’ll receive. Knock, and the door will open. Whoever asks, receives. And to the one who knocks, the door opens.”

### Joy Now, Sorrow Later

“My joy is complete because of you and this generation. The Father rejoices, and all the holy angels rejoice, because of you and this generation. Not one of you is lost. I’m talking about those who are alive right now, in this generation. None of them are lost. They bring me complete joy.”

“But my heart breaks for the fourth generation after this one. They’ll be led captive by Satan, just like the son of perdition was. They’ll sell me out for silver and gold and things that rust and rot, things that thieves can steal. When that day comes, I’ll visit them and turn their own deeds back on their heads.”

When Jesus finished speaking, he said to his disciples, “Enter through the narrow gate. The gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and only a few find it. But the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to death, and many walk that path—until the night comes when no one can work.”

---

*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/3-nephi/27)*
