There are so many powerfully and eloquently written words in the scriptures. Nephi’s final sermon, testimony, and farewell are without a doubt among them. In 2 Nephi 31, Nephi records that his mission is coming to an end. But he will say “a few words” concerning “the doctrine of Christ,” “even as plain as word can be.” As we studied what he wrote in chapters 31-33 this is what we discovered the “doctrine of Christ” to be: We must have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end by following Him. Baptism is “the gate” to get on “the path which leads to eternal life.” All we have to do then, is “follow the Son, with full purpose of heart” “relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save” for “there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.”
How do we know how to follow the Lord Jesus Christ? Nephi makes it abundantly clear what the two unfailing sources of divine direction are: we are to “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell [us] all things what [we] should do” and, we must live true to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, which will “show unto [us] all things what [we] should do.” Nephi then says, “Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ.” Having said that, again with stirring passion, he exhorted, “pray always.”
We follow the process Nephi describes as individuals and there comes a time when we must know for ourselves whether or not these things are true. When we’re little, someone – a parent, usually – helps us get steady on our feet. When we feel secure and confident enough – and with a lot of encouragement – we toddle a few steps toward the out-stretched arms of someone else. We do that spiritually, as well. There are those around us who instruct us and help to build our confidence and keep us balanced – parents and other family members, leaders and teachers at church, and hopefully, our circle of friends. There comes the time, though, for each of us, when we learn to stand on our own and move forward with hope and conviction born of personal testimony toward the out-stretched arms of the Savior. Through feasting on the words of Christ and seeking personal revelation from the Holy Ghost, we literally remove the blindfold (like Rachel did) and see things with our own spiritual eyes – instead of relying on William to describe a picture to us. We experience how “spiritual salt” tastes and discover that that’s better than having Bryce describe what salt tastes like and how it enhances the flavor of other foods. These quotes from the week explain this more fully:
“Individual, personal testimony of gospel truth, particularly of the divine life and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ, is essential to our eternal life. “And this is life eternal,’ said the Savior, ‘that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent’ [John 17:3]. In other words, life eternal is predicated upon our own individual, personal knowledge of our Father in Heaven and His Holy son. Simply knowing about them is not enough. We must have personal, spiritual experiences to anchor us. These come through seeking them in the same intense, single-minded way that a hungry person seeks food” (Elder M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, May 1996, 80).
“. . . Reading the experience of others, or the revelation given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things can only be obtained by experience through the ordinances of God set forth for that purpose. Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject. . . . I assure the Saints that truth . . . can and may be known through the revelations of God in the way of his ordinances, and in answer to prayer” (Prophet Joseph).
These excerpts from a book written by Elder Holland, teaches us what Nephi tried to do in chapters 31-33:
“In a marvelous final testimony to his people, as well as to the unborn and unseen of the last dispensation yet to come, Nephi made ‘an end’ of prophesying (including prophesying about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon) and concluded his writing – and his lifetime of teaching – with a ‘few words . . . concerning the doctrine of Christ’ [2 Nephi 31:1-2]. . . .
“The ‘doctrine of Christ’ as taught by Nephi in his grand, summational discourse focuses on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It does not, in this declaration attempt to cover the entire plan of salvation, all the virtues of a Christian life, or the rewards that await us in differing degrees of heavenly glory. It does not, in this declaration, deal with the offices of the priesthood, the ordinances of the temple, or many other true doctrines. All these are important, but as used in the Book of Mormon, ‘the doctrine of Christ’ is simple and direct. It focuses on the first principles of the gospel exclusively, including an expression of encouragement to endure, to persist, to press on. Indeed, it is in the clarity and simplicity of ‘the doctrine of Christ’ that its impact is found. Nephi knew it would be so. He wrote, ‘I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying’ [2 Nephi 31:2] (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant, 49-50).
“[Nephi’s] listeners, like some contemporaries, may have given quizzical looks at hearing such simple doctrine. Can this be ‘the doctrine of Christ?’ they may have wondered. Is this the message? Is this the ‘good news?’ They had no need to worry. It was not more complicated than it sounds. There was no other sandal to drop. They had only to comply with these oft-stated first principles and ordinances and persist in them with two great safequards, two unfailing sources of divine direction. As they ‘pressed{ed] forward,’ they were to ‘feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ [would] tell [them] all things what [they] should do.’ Then they must live true to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, which would ‘show unto [them] all things what [they] should do.’ . . .
“This is not easy or whimsical teaching, but it is plain and it is simple. It is not convenient or even comfortable doctrine for some – especially the repentance part – but it is very plain and very precious. The doctrine of Christ is not complicated. It is profoundly, beautifully, single-mindedly clear and complete” (Elder Holland, Christ and the New Covenant, 55-56).
Other quotes based on Nephi’s teachings:
“Nephi teaches us, ‘when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth [the message] unto the hearts of the children of men’ (2 Nephi 33:1). Please notice how the power of the Spirit carries the message unto but not necessarily into the heart. A teacher can explain, demonstrate, persuade, and testify, and do so with great spiritual power and effectiveness. Ultimately, however, the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter” (“Seek Learning by Faith” [an evening with Elder David A. Bednar, Feb. 3, 2006], 1).
“Our main task is to declare the gospel and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection. Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand. ‘And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye,’ said Nephi, ‘for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things.’ (2 Nephi 33:11). Every many must judge for himself, knowing God will hold him accountable” (Pres. Ezra T. Benson, Ensign, May 1975, 65).
“No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so” (George Cannon, as quoted by his g-grandson, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in Safety for the Soul, his October 2009 General Conference Address).
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