2 Nephi 31
1 And now I, Nephi, make an end of my prophesying 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 words of my brother Jacob.
2 Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few
words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I
shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying.
3 For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord
God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto
the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language,
unto their understanding.
4 Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you
concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize
the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.
5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be
baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need
have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!
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
obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended
upon him in the form of a dove.
9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straightness of the
path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having
set the example before them.
10 And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. $ Wherefore, my
beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the
commandments of the Father?
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 give the Holy Ghost, like unto me;
wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.
13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son,
with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God,
but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye
are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism — 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
baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue
of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.
14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto
me, 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 deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known
me.
15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my
Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be
saved.
16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall
endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he
cannot be saved.
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 baptism by water; and then
cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path 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, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, 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 path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye
have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken
faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a
perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if
ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the
end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none
other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the
kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the
only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
which is one God, without end. Amen.