Chapter 31
Nephi tells why Christ was baptized—Men must follow Christ, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end to be saved—Repentance and baptism are the gate to the strait and narrow path—Eternal life comes to those who keep the commandments after baptism. About 559–545 B.C.
1 And now I, Nephi, make an end of my aprophesying
unto you, my beloved brethren. And I cannot write but a few things,
which I know must surely come to pass; neither can I write but a few of
the bwords of my brother Jacob. "cannot" because you aren't allowed to; or it's too much; or it's too hard to make plates and etch it on?
2 Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few words which I amust
speak concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall speak unto
you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying. I think he wants to speak "plainly" because it's important that we understand. We just got through with 13 chapters of Isaiah which aren't "plain" to most people. I think he wants the following to be plain to anyone.
3 For my soul delighteth in aplainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the bunderstanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their clanguage, unto their understanding. We can ask God to explain things to us according to our ability to understand. This also supports the idea that God doesn’t work in darkness or trickery. He delights in plainness. Just wondering why Isaiah and Revelations aren't "plain" then....
4 Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you concerning that aprophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize the bLamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world. John
5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being aholy, should have need to be bbaptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be cbaptized, yea, even by water! No one is exempt from needing this ordinance.
6 And
now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God
did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?
7 Know
ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth
unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth
himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would
be aobedient unto him in keeping his commandments. It sounds like the importance of baptism is to witness publicly, the covenant we make with God, in humility, to be obedient to his commandments. Nephi sees that many in our day don't think they need to be baptized...that it's enough to be 'spiritual'.
8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the aform of a bdove. This is not the same as having hands laid on your head and the words spoken, "receive the Holy Ghost". Christ received the Holy Ghost at that moment, but most do not. We must "receive" the Holy Ghost and seek to receive the baptism by fire, which is the real meaning of "receive the Holy Ghost". I think for those who have 'eyes to see and ears to hear' that this was spoken of ALOT in Oct 2022 GC and has been talked about again this April.
9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the agate, by which they should enter, he having set the bexample before them. Baptism is the 'gate' to the 'strait' path. There is only one 'gate', so it is a narrow one. I believe the 'covenant path' that is spoken of so often by our leaders is the path that leads to the 'door' or 'gate' that is the Baptism by Fire where Christ 'employs no servant'. Then we are on the 'strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life'.
10 And he said unto the children of men: aFollow thou me. We follow Christ through the gate. He is the keeper of the gate and 'employeth no servant there'. I think that means baptism is done by His authority and the remission of sins is given by Him directly. 3 Nephi 28:11 And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto the children of men, because of me. Pres. Eyering just spoke of this April 2023 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we bfollow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? Pres. Eyeing also said if we do not love God with all our heart, might, mind and strength, we are not keeping the commandments.
11 And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.
12 And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father agive the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, bfollow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do. this is the second part of baptism - to receive the Holy Ghost "like unto" Christ.
13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall afollow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no bhypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real cintent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are dwilling to take upon you the ename of Christ, by fbaptism—yea,
by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according
to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then
cometh the gbaptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the htongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel. Here is another scripture that says we are to act with “no hypocrisy and no deception before God but with real intent”. That isn’t how he works with His children. This makes it clear that we are to have a baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost. Evidence we have received that is that we will "speak with the tongue of angels and shout praises to the Holy One of Israel". I think this comes because when we are baptized by fire/Holy Ghost we experience the love of God which results in a "mighty change of heart" which causes us to shout these praises. I'm guessing very few members have experienced this mighty change. I am seeking it now. It may come after the tribulations humble us to the point that we "cry out" to the Lord in repentance and submission.
14 But,
behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, I love how Nephi is bold in sharing that what he is teaching came by the voice of Christ saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the
Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of
water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and
can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and
after this should adeny me, it would have been bbetter for you that ye had not known me. This may be why we don't receive it casually. It is a serious thing to receive this and then turn away from it. It is mercy that we do not receive it until truly ready.
15 And I heard a voice from the Father, we don't have too many scriptures where we hear the voice of the Father. This is one of them. saying: Yea, the awords of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that bendureth to the cend, the same shall be saved. Why is it important that the Father confirm these words of His Son? Was it what He added by saying we must endure to the end? Elder Holland in Oct 2022 GC said we must make sure we don't falter, flinch, fail or flee when things get hard. THIS is enduring to the end...
16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall aendure to the end, in following the bexample of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved. And what was His example? Obedience to the Father. in all things, in spite of all things
17 Wherefore,
do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your
Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me,
that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by
which ye should enter is repentance and abaptism by water; and then cometh a bremission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. Notice it doesn't say baptism by water for and remission of your sins, but baptism by water; and then a remission of sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. It is a separate event.
18 And then after the baptism by water and fire are ye in this astrait and narrow bpath
which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye
have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and
ye have received the Holy Ghost, baptism by fire which cwitnesses of the dFather and the Son, this witness is given by the Holy Ghost. After this witness we know the Father and the Son are real unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow apath, I would ask if all is bdone? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken cfaith in him, drelying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to esave. Here is a requirement to receive this baptism by fire - "unshaken faith" in Him AND relying wholly upon Christ to save. This comes from a broken heart born of true repentance and awareness of our awful condition without his saving grace.
ye must press forward
having a perfect brightness of hope, given by the "mighty change" witness
and a love of God
and of all men. which you feel after you have felt the love of God yourself
Wherefore, if ye shall press forward,
feasting upon the word of Christ, not just His words in scripture, but all that He shall tell you personally
and endure to the end, behold,
thus saith the Father:
Ye shall have eternal life.
The 2014 Winter Olympics just ended, and I was reminded yesterday, of the words to the Olympic Theme Song.
Citius - Faster.
Altius - Higher.
Fortius - Stronger.
This is truly the "call of the Champions". Not just for the highest level of athletic competition, but for the highest level of Discipleship.
A former counselor in our Stake Presidency (now Mission President in New York Pres. Tom Morgan) gave a talk in our September 2008 Stake Conference where he elaborated on our call to excellence in our discipleship. He said we need to be:
Faster - to forgive
Higher - in our level of covenant keeping
Stronger - in our faith in Christ
Notice it does not say Fast -est or High-est
or Strong -est.
The Olympics are not about achieving a Gold Medal, but in striving to do your personal best.
To achieve our personal best we must exercise our spiritual muscle.
Every day. Every day. Every day.
Champions do not develop overnight.
They have their eye on one goal.
They are single minded in their devotion to that goal.
They practice, and practice and practice. If they fail, they try again.
Everything that you admire about an Olympic Champion, you must emulate as a disciple of Christ.
He is your personal coach.
If you follow His direction, you cannot fail.
You will achieve the Gold Medal of Eternal Life and Salvation. It is available to all.
We must each hear the Call of the Champion
and carry the torch for Christ
all the way to Zion!
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the away; and there is bnone other way nor cname given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the ddoctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the eFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is fone God, without end. Amen.
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