4. 2 Nephi 11–25. When we speak under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we, like the angels, are speaking “the words of Christ.”. [W. Cleon Skousen. A male candidate was first circumcised. But the earliest, most comprehensive, and least recognized teaching of the gospel of Christ in the Book of Mormon by the Savior himself is reported by Lehi’s son Nephi[2] in the form of a brief appendix to his second book.[3]. 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. [7]. 2 Nephi 2. Nephi also quotes the Son’s warning (and prophecy) that for all those who—after receiving the fulfillment of the first promise—should then turn away and deny him, “it would be better for [them] that [they] had not known me” (v. 14). 2 Nephi 31:16 Unless a Man Shall Endure to the End . (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. The Father endorses the words of the Son as “true and faithful,” and reformulates the warning positively as a promise: “he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” We see confirming evidence that this instruction was part of Nephi’s original vision when he quotes this same language in his first report of that vision (1 Nephi 13:37—“if they endure to the end”). While the negative consequences of this event are well known, the subsequent revelation that came to Joseph Smith seems to suggest that these happenings actually created the opportunity to include Nephi’s account of the gospel into the combination version of the Nephite record that Joseph would be publishing. 2 Nephi 31:4-7 If the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, how much more need have we, being unholy, to … 1, p. 191) 2 Ne 2:26 that he may redeem the children of men from the fall In 2 Nephi 31, Nephi artfully combines quotations from the Father and the Son with his own insights and testimony to present the basic gospel message five times in varied ways, which build cumulatively to a comprehensive conclusion. Steadfastness in Christ, perfect brightness of hope, love of God and everyone, feasting upon the word, enduring to the end. [Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, pp. Other examples of New Testament passages that feature meristic statements of the gospel include Ephesians 2:8, Matthew 3:11, 24:13–14, Acts 2:38, 19:4–6, and Romans 1:16. On Nephi’s model, we should not see faith as just a first step. KnoWhys KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 31 KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 32 KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 33 Recommended Resources Learn about the Book of Mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned Book of Mormon scholars like John W. Welch and Brant A. Gardner in the ScripturePlus app. Before discussing these gospel elements in more detail, we should first examine the context and the approach chosen by Nephi for this key passage. 28–29, 34). For a briefer version, see also “Nephi1,” 3:1003–5. 2 Nephi 4. Being "willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism--yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water" (2 Nephi 31:13), 5. 2 Nephi 9. Christ’s new followers have only made it “thus far by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save” (v. 19). the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; have they been shown unto me that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter" (2 Nephi 31:17). [13]. He cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name” (2 Nephi 9:41). A third brief inclusio is created at the end of the sermon as Nephi expands the discussion to explain his phrase “voice of angels” and ends a second time repeating the full clause at 2 Nephi 31:21: “This is the doctrine of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:6). [3]. Jarom. The long discussion of prophecies about different peoples and what would happen to them in the future, depending on whether or not they accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ, turns out to depend in turn on the choices made by individual members of those groups. The doctrine spans the entire Book of Mormon time period and probably was taught in the plates of brass as well. In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Latter-day Saints are directed at least five times to look to the Book of Mormon for “the fulness of the (everlasting) gospel” (D&C 20:9, 27:5, 42:12, and 135:3) or “all those parts of my gospel” (D&C10:46). (1) First, is that the Bible contains several strongly monotheistic statements. But it also includes eventually the Lamanites, the Jews, and the Gentiles who will read and believe his words in the future. 3 Nephi. Nephi also sees it as fundamental, but mentions it in last place, leading first with repentance, and thereby establishing a teaching model that is often followed by later Nephite prophets. This week we cover: Nephi’s last words The Doctrine of Christ Connection My Jesus. For a more detailed discussion of this passage and its implications, ee Reynolds, “This Is the Way,” 79–91. They will subsequently “be scattered among all nations” until a distant future in which “they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ the Son of God and the atonement . This discussion of Nephi’s fivefold presentation of the gospel in this chapter is drawn directly from Reynolds, “The Gospel of Jesus Christ as Taught by the Nephite Prophets,” 35–36. The impossibility of successful deception was emphasized by Nephi’s brother Jacob, who taught that “the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel. 2 Nephi 31: 17. The second great promise and prophecy the Father has extended to all his children from the beginning[29] was that everyone who repents and chooses to be baptized and then receives “the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost,” and then endures to the end—“the same shall be saved” (vv. The most comprehensive and authoritative account of the full gospel of Jesus Christ was given around 590 BCE by the Father and the Son to Nephi, a young prophet from Jerusalem—and probably as well to his father, Lehi. 9. 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. See Reynolds, “The Fifth Principle of the Gospel,” 121–22. This sermon and the prophecies it includes will convey to Nephi’s brethren the key messages that he has distilled from that vision—with added insight from Isaiah’s prophecies—in more than four decades of teaching the gospel and the scriptures to his people. [17]. The long inclusio that constitutes the first section of the sermon is marked off doubly—first by Nephi’s references to his own prophecy as discussed above—and second by his introductory discussion of plainness in writing and prophesying: “my soul delighteth in plainness (2 Nephi 25:4),” which he repeats exactly in 2 Nephi 31:3. . In the second half (verses 17–20), Nephi restates the entire complex in his own words, developing in more detail his understanding of faith, the functions of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end more fully. I have finally decided that what makes sense to me is that baptism is our expression and the sign of our commitment to God to yield ourselves to Him in al… Indeed, chapters 31, 32, and 33 are relatively short, only 45 verses in total. The chapter began with an explicit reminder of the prophecy given to both Lehi and Nephi in their separate visions received at the first camp in the wilderness that a prophet would baptize Jesus Christ. Nephi’s admonition to “feast upon the words of Christ” refers primarily to the daily guidance we can receive from the Holy Ghost and only secondarily to study of the scriptures. 3 Nephi. 2 Nephi 8. KnoWhys KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 26 KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 27 KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 28 KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 29 KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 30 Recommended Resources Learn about the Book of Mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned Book of Mormon scholars like John W. Welch and Brant A. Gardner in the ScripturePlus app. The Pharisees were very quick to criticize the Savior whenever He did anything which was contrary to their law. the [baptism] is only valid when performed by immersion in a natural fountain or stream or in a properly constructed [vessel]. (3 Nephi 22:17.)" [16]. “Whosoever (2) repenteth and cometh unto me (3 and 4) [baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost], the same is my church” (D&C 10:67). See Noel B. Reynolds, “Understanding Christian Baptism through the Book of Mormon,” BYU Studies 51, no. 22:16 2 Nephi 31: 2–3, and 5. 2 Nephi 31:4-7 If the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water! Copyright © 2020 Alan C. Miner. you and I shall stand face to face before his bar. 57-59]. . The Second Book of Nephi (/ ˈ n iː f aɪ /), usually referred to as Second Nephi or 2 Nephi, is the second book of the Book of Mormon.The original translation of the title did not include the word "second". The prophet so transports his mind ahead that he describes a future event as if it had been already seen or heard by him. The groups themselves provide a metaphor for the relationship that will exist between each individual member of any such group and their Father in Heaven. 2 Nephi 31: 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. Omni. . . All men have been promised by the Father from the beginning that if they would repent and accept baptism sincerely, they would receive the Holy Ghost and the remission of sins. Seeking understanding, to be "brought into the light," through prayer and effort (2 Nephi 32:4, 8-9), 3. Approaching the task "with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent" (2 Nephi 31:13) 2. 2 Nephi 7. 12. Even the Son of God, “according to the flesh,” was required to so humble himself and witness before the Father.[22]. 2 Nephi 27. . Once we have learned these six “parts” or “points” of his gospel from these Book of Mormon passages, we can see them all mentioned already in an early revelation to Joseph Smith in which the Lord explained the importance of their inclusion in the final configuration of the Book of Mormon. Readers may notice some differences of spelling, punctuation, or even wording in quotations as I am using Royal Skousen, ed., The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2009), which provides the most accurate Book of Mormon text now available. That the Holy Spirit is God is shown by Peter's accusation of Ananias, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost" . But, Nephi was informed, the Lord will also manifest himself unto the Nephite prophets who would “write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious”—writings which will feature “my gospel . But as he clarifies, no convert could have made it onto this path “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” (v. 19). This scripture is not a blanket statement that implies we should not work. This view also finds support in God's statement to Isaiah that, "I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." 2 Nephi 31:20 -- On Hope "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. Seeking understanding, to be "brought into the light," through prayer and effort (2 Nephi 32:4, 8-9) 3. And by this means the Lord stated, they could “bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me” (D&C 10:62; compare 2 Nephi 31:21). Repentance and baptism by water constitute the gate by which men can enter onto the path that leads to eternal life. For example, very few of my BYU honors students realized without some help that 2 Nephi 31 is intentionally set up as a flashback, and that the material it contains constitutes a previously unreported section of the great vision given to Nephi—and presumably to his father before him—at the first camp in the wilderness while Nephi was probably still a teenager. “Full purpose of heart” suggests a total commitment of the inner man to Christ; “real intent” conveys the idea of sincere or pure motives. The doctrine spans the entire Book of Mormon time period and probably was taught in the plates of brass as well. The prophet so transports his mind ahead that he describes a future event as if it had been already seen or heard by him. We saw that Nephi formally introduced this passage by announcing that he had concluded his own prophesying. (See 2 Nephi 31:2-3) 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.” (2 Nephi 31:21) Let’s go through this carefully so that we all know and understand the doctrine of Christ. 1 Nephi 13:7-9. This happens in making promises or threats, and also in the language of contracts. This is most clearly reflected in their teachings on the gospel, baptism, and charity. (Joseph Smith, in TPJS 370). 3. NEWSLETTER LINK: The Don’t Miss This Video, Conversation Cards, and tips for kids, teens, couples and individuals can all be found in this week’s newsletter. 2 Nephi 25. 2 Nephi 26:31 — What Does Nephi Mean When He Says We Cannot Labor for Money? (4) Fourth, there is a person called the Holy Spirit who is identified as God. 31:9) and straight (2 Ne. 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