2 nephi 31 meaning

We find the Nephite prophets across 1000 years of ministry staying true to the concepts and phraseology introduced by Nephi in this passage. Furthermore, Nephi counseled his people to ". For the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son” (2 Nephi 30:2). Faith, hope, and charity characterize the mode of life by which converts to Christ’s gospel must endure to the end. 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. . ... Denver said: Even understanding the meaning of these words is challenging. Recognizing that there is a six-element formula that defines the gospel of Jesus Christ helps us to see another important rhetorical feature of this passage. The first section (2 Nephi 25–30) integrates the view of the future as seen by Nephi and Lehi in their visions with that of Isaiah. See also the note at 1 Nephi … 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 formulation of the gospel—as received by Nephi in that vision—provided the basic model of how to come unto Christ for the Nephite dispensation and is the one the saints of the last dispensation have been directed to study and teach. Steadfastness in Christ, perfect brightness of hope, love of God and everyone, feasting upon the word, enduring to the end. Mosiah. Read this week's KnoWhy connected with the Come Follow Me curriculum, and watch a video elucidating an insight in Unlike the two later passages in which Mormon presents Christ teaching his gospel as quotations without editorial commentary, Nephi provides us in 2 Nephi 31 with a highly developed presentation of his own understanding of the gospel as derived from what he was taught by the Father and the Son, quoting them repeatedly to make and substantiate his points. He begins: 15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. [10]. It is easy for modern-day readers of the Book of Mormon to miss the central importance of this passage Nephi had in mind as he wrote. See Noel B. Reynolds, “Nephi1,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism (New York: Macmillan, 1992), 3:1003–5. . 185 Heber J. The doctrine spans the entire Book of Mormon time period and probably was taught in the plates of brass as well. Leaving no doubt of how important this principle is for all men to understand, Nephi concludes: “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” (v. 16). Enduring "to the end" (2 Nephi 31:20). Are we done once we’ve entered the path? 12. Enos. In the process of telling us what the Father and the Son taught him on the original occasion, Nephi presents the basic gospel message five times using a total of twenty-three short-hand statements of the gospel. 2 Nephi 12. 68-69). “Whosoever is of my church and (5) endureth . The second section of Nephi’s final sermon, the focus of this essay, is also marked off as an inclusio by Nephi’s two references to “the doctrine of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:2 and 21). 2. 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 . . . So life is a little crazy over here :) But I am so excited to share these lesson helps with you! . Second Nephi 31 is also the earliest comprehensive statement of the gospel message in the Book of Mormon—even though several previous passages make it clear that Lehi, Nephi, and Jacob knew the gospel—as it clearly sets forth all six elements of that message as it is recognized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today, including: These same six elements are included in both of the other Book of Mormon presentations of the gospel or doctrine of Christ that were given by Christ himself.[9]. (John 14:26; see also Acts 13:2), Naturally, these propositions present a problem. Jesus himself will come to the righteous Nephites after the wicked have been destroyed during the cataclysmic events attending his death. 179. . Nephi understands clearly that the reason he was shown the example of Jesus Christ’s baptism in vision was so that he and his people “might know the gate by which ye should enter” (v. 17). The passages discussed to this point seem to suggest that the principal themes for appreciation of the Book of Mormon in LDS discourse have never quite matched up with the perspective the Lord presents repeatedly to his prophets. 2 (Fall 1996): 26–56, for a basic survey of how each of these six gospel principles is developed and used by writers throughout the Book of Mormon. 21–22). [23]. It bears considerable similarity to the path described by Lehi and Nephi in their great vision, but seems to be a more abstract version, possibly as a result of the decades of experience Nephi has had in explaining it to his people. (Joseph & Moses)] (Joseph & Moses)] According to Richard D. Anthony, somewhere along the line, somebody, be it scribe, translator, or mischief maker, did not want the world to have the "key of knowledge" even a "fulness of the scriptures." 2 Nephi 26:31 — What Does Nephi Mean When He Says We Cannot Labor for Money? Even though holy already, the Son of God was required to humble himself before the Father and to witness by baptism to a covenant that he would obey his commandments in order to fulfill all righteousness. Here is a partial listing of distinctive insights we can take from this chapter: 1. As they learn to appreciate its true value and content, it may help them understand the gospel of Jesus Christ even more correctly and more fully than has been possible on the basis of other scriptures or traditions. Noel B. Reynolds, “The Gospel According to Mormon,” Scottish Journal of Theology 68, no. 2 Nephi 31:21 The Only True Doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Which Is One God Without End: Barry Bickmore writes that the Bible contains four propositions about God that every Christian denomination must reckon with in its theology. While these differences do not constitute contradictions, it does seem that in his final presentation, Nephi has taken the long view of human lives as a whole, while Lehi’s account of the same vision was very focused on the present prospects for faithful living by his own immediate family. 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. See Reynolds, “Understanding Christian Baptism through the Book of Mormon,” 9–10. Among these, he is specifically shown the baptism of the Savior. But what exactly does it mean … 2 Nephi 30. Without forewarning, Nephi here relates the rest of that story by adding nineteen more verses—sharing with us what he had learned about the gospel or doctrine of Christ[5] as he watched the baptism of Christ in vision. Receiving the promise of eternal life (2 Nephi 31:20). These quotations from the Father and the Son are located in 2 Nephi 31:10, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 20. In the prophetic perfect style of writing, the prophet who speaks of the future describes the event as if it had already occurred. 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. (4) "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" (2 Nephi 31:9). [13]. These seem in this verse to be the ingredients for eternal life. if these things are not true” (Moroni 10:4), where we usually assume “these things” refers to the veracity of Joseph Smith’s account of the Book of Mormon and its origins. A fivefold presentation. In a final aside to readers—also addressed as “my brethren”—Nephi goes on to urge them to seek knowledge and understanding, to “pray always and not faint” (2 Nephi 32:7–9). 31:18, 19) where O and P had straitness and strait (meaning “narrow”), as in Matthew 7:13-14 KJV. The dates prefacing each of the bibliographic entries above will be used in these Notes as shorthand titles for the associated publications. We do not know if this image of the strait gate and the straight and narrow path is original with Nephi. whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God” (v. at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things” (v.16). The prophet Nephi, writing in the 6th century BC, similarly taught that God “speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding” (2 Nephi 31:3). In Jesus' great Intercessory Prayer (see John 17), He asked that His disciples would be made one in Him as He was one in the Father. This scripture indicates very clearly that baptism was practiced, at least among the Nephites, hundreds of years before the Savior was born. 2 Nephi 7. Previous: 2 Nephi Chapter 29 | Book Home | Next: 2 Nephi Chapter 31. . Noel B. Reynolds, "The Gospel According to Nephi: An Essay on 2 Nephi 31," Religious Educator 16, no. And 2 Nephi 31 is one of the key texts in the Book of Mormon’s presentation of Christ’s gospel. . [17]. The importance he placed on this part of that vision is reflected not only in its placement at the end, but also in the density and the complexity of its composition. 1, pp. 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). 3. 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. A male candidate was first circumcised. The Book of Mormon lists several reasons for the baptism of the Christ including the one given by the Savior himself on the eastern continent: (1) "to fulfil all righteousness" (2 Nephi 31:5); in other words, the Savior was baptized in order to keep the commandments of the Lord. The second section presents the gospel or way provided by the Father and the Son, through which all individuals will receive the invitation and support they may need to be able to enter into eternal life—in effect, the standard by which the eternal welfare of every individual, whether gentile or Israelite, may be predicted. Seeking understanding, to be "brought into the light," through prayer and effort (2 Nephi 32:4, 8-9) 3. “For this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved and . 2 Nephi 31. Nephi warns us in 1 Nephi 8 that “to be short in writing” he does not “speak all the words of my father” (verses 29–30). 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". And once they understand his gospel, they can understand the universal prophecy and promise given to all men and women in this world that if they will come unto Jesus Christ in the way he has specified, and endure to the end, they will receive eternal life—and that the consequences will be dire for those who reject him. 2 Nephi 31:15-21 -- LeGrand Baker -- a sacred conversation In these verses Nephi tells us part of a sacred conversation between himself, the Father, and the Saviour. [Barry Robert Bickmore, Restoring the Ancient Church: Joseph Smith & Early Christianity, pp. 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”). These he promised to keep. . All rights reserved. Nephi was then promised that these Nephite writings would eventually come forth to both Gentiles and Jews “upon all the face of the earth” and “make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people that the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world and that all men must come unto him or they cannot be saved” (vv. In this essay, I hope to demonstrate how foundational 2 Nephi 31 was for all Book of Mormon writers and how important this passage of scripture is for understanding Christ’s gospel in this last dispensation for a wide range of readers. 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]. "Repenting of your sins" (2 Nephi 31:13) 4. [27]. According to Larry Dahl, the doctrine of Christ as explained by Nephi in 2 Nephi includes the following elements: 1. . . 2 Nephi 8. 2. Even the Son of God, “according to the flesh,” was required to so humble himself and witness before the Father.[22]. And the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel” (2 Nephi 9:41). He Cannot Be Saved: Dennis Largey notes that, historically, Christians have supported divergent views of the doctrine of perseverance, or endurance to the end. . Before their flight, Nephi's father prophesied the impending destruction and captivity of Jerusalem by the armies of Babylon. But we immediately understand that the four unmentioned elements are not excluded, but are assumed to be essential parts of the saved person’s life. Rather, that same faith must inform and sustain believers in each step of this gospel journey as they endure faithfully to the end. 2 Nephi 32:9 -- On Praying Always "But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul." “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 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". 2 Nephi 3. [4] My aim is to help readers recognize 2 Nephi 31 as the primary source for gospel teaching in the Book of Mormon and thereby as the intended primary source for learning the gospel in the Restoration. [31]. 2 Nephi 29. 2 Nephi 28. 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." Several terms are used interchangeably to refer to the gospel of Jesus Christ, including “the doctrine of Christ,” “the way,” “the straight and narrow path,” and “the word.”. 2 Nephi 26:29, 31… [12] This same technique is also used by Jesus Christ in both of the passages Mormon reports (3 Nephi 11 and 27), where the phrases “this is my doctrine” or “this is my/the gospel” are used to mark them off from the surrounding narrative. The Restoration revelations all send us to the Book of Mormon for that. Nephi begins by explaining that his prophecies will focus on the same events as those described in the prophecies of Isaiah. Wherefore ye are not brought into the light but must perish in the dark” (2 Nephi 32:4). The essential elements of repentance are (1) humbling oneself before the Father, and (2) covenanting to obey him forever after. The Lord’s perspective on the Book of Mormon clearly describes it as a vehicle for restoring the fulness of the gospel and the plain and precious things that have been lost from the Bible. The sermon itself is presented in formally delimited sections using the technique of inclusio or envelope structure, by which an ancient writer could mark off sections of a text by repeating at the end of the passage a phrase or statement from the beginning of the passage. 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." 2 Nephi 6. While baptism is necessary as a prerequisite for the remission of sins, this remission is a subsequent gift from the Father that comes “by fire and by the Holy Ghost.”. 2 Nephi 5. By baptism we “witness to the Father”—in the manner he has prescribed for that witnessing—that we have repented, that we have covenanted to obey his commandments, and that we will “take upon [us] the name of Christ” (v. 13). 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. [25]. Apparently following a pattern set for him by the Father and the Son, Nephi’s summary of the gospel message is composed of a series of meristic statements based on a complex of six gospel elements. 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. 2 Nephi 4. This passage can easily be interpreted to mention all six of the elements of Christ’s gospel or “points of his doctrine” as it will be explained in the subsequent discussion of 2 Nephi 31 and later in this essay: 1. These quotations also establish the supreme authority of this articulation of basic gospel principles. 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). 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. A path is meant to be followed. Seek this guidance, and record the promptings that come. [Dennis L. Largey, "Enduring to the End," in, Doctrines of the Book of Mormon: The 1991 Sperry Symposium. Nephi indicates that he feels compelled to address the doctrine of Christ before concluding his portion of the record. His prophets among the descendants of Lehi will find some success, but will be persecuted and killed by the wicked. For example, the prophecies of the coming of “the Only Begotten of the Father” in six hundred years, his crucifixion and resurrection, the scattering of the Jews among all nations, and the latter-day bringing forth of his words so that all may be judged fairly in 2 Nephi 25:12–19, all go back to their early vision (“for I have seen his day,” v. 13, see 1 Nephi 11:32–33). (2 Nephi 32:3) To feast upon something is to savor it, to enjoy it, to consume a great deal of it because it brings joy, not out of a sense of duty. 1166-1167]. [7]. The promise of the Father to all his children was that if they would enter this path, or the straight and narrow way, by repentance and baptism, they would receive the Holy Ghost (v. 18), even as Nephi had seen the Holy Ghost descend upon Christ “in the form of a dove” (v. 8). “Whosoever should (1) believe in this gospel . (1) First, is that the Bible contains several strongly monotheistic statements. Spencer narrows the “more sacred things” even further by dividing off Nephi’s closing three chapters (2 Nephi 31–33) and characterizing them as “a brief conclusion,” as “less sacred material,” and as “summary reflections on baptism.” 13 Spencer then leverages his adaptation of the … If that is correct, we would then see Nephi’s late composition as preserving the formal structure of their teaching as presented originally to him. Four times Nephi was told that the removal of these “plain and precious things” from the Bible, will cause “an exceedingly great many” to stumble “insomuch that Satan hath great power over them” (vv. . Copyright © 2020 Alan C. Miner. John W. Welch Notes 2 Nephi 11–12 2 Nephi 11:2–3 — Nephi Establishes His Word in the Mouth of Three Witnesses Nephi begins this long section, which he quotes from the book of Isaiah, by saying that his “soul delights in the words of Isaiah” (see also how Nephi repeats these words in 2 Nephi … to receive the spirit of God, or to be permitted to stand in the presence of God, man must undergo baptism" (Vol 2, page 499). In the fifth presentation (vv. In retrospect we can see that this passage constitutes a brilliant assemblage of twenty-three gospel merisms that use both repetition and the introduction of new relationships between gospel elements to develop a clear, though complex understanding of the gospel message. In the ancient temple or tabernacle, after passing into the sacred space, the first thing you would encounter would be the altar of sacrifice. (John 17:3). First, and most obviously, “the remission of sins comes by fire and by the Holy Ghost” (v. 13; compare vv. Other evidence exists, in the scriptures and elsewhere, that baptism was also performed by other groups before the birth of Christ. Hence the importance of Nephi’s teachings in helping to illustrate the difference between the experience … to receive the spirit of God, or to be permitted to stand in the presence of God, man must undergo baptism" (Vol 2, page 499). 2 Nephi 11. This rule was, of course, also preserved in the temple at Jerusalem" (Vol. The third variation (v. 13) features Nephi’s testimony that if his brethren will follow the Son by sincerely repenting of their sins and witnessing to the Father by baptism that they are willing to take upon them the name of Christ, that they, too, may receive “the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.”, The fourth variation invokes the voices of the Father and the Son again as they repeat and further explain each of the basic elements of the doctrine of Christ (vv. Although the ordinance of baptism is prominently featured in the New Testament, the precise purpose and meaning of baptism is … . For example, "But behold I have obtained a land of promise" (spoken by Lehi while in the wilderness Valley of Lemuel before they left on their journey, 1 Nephi 5:5); "After [Christ] was baptized with water, the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove" (spoken by Nephi approximately 550 years before Christ's birth, 2 Nephi 31:8); "These are they whose sins [Christ] has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions" (spoken by Abinadi approximately 150 years before Christ's birth, Mosiah 15:12). 14. The feasting envisioned by Nephi comprehends all the activities of our lives, and is not restricted to our time spent studying the scriptures. Nephi teaches that the essence of repentance is to humble ourselves before the Father-giving up our own agendas and ways of doing things and turning back to him. He or she must now “press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end,” in order to receive eternal life (v. 20). Those who receive this blessing of the Spirit and then turn away or deny Christ would have been better off “not to have known” him. 12, 14, and 17). Let’s carefully look at 2 Nephi chapter 31. [Larry E. Dahl, "The Doctrine of Christ: 2 Nephi 31-32," in, The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, The Doctrinal Structure. The Father endorses these words as “true and faithful” and goes on to state the principle positively: “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved” (v. 15). See Reynolds, “The Fifth Principle of the Gospel,” 121–22. [19]. you and I shall stand face to face before his bar. [9]. Nephi then creates the envelope that will contain the long first section of his sermon by beginning with: “I will proceed with mine own prophecy (2 Nephi 25:7),” and then ending with: “And now I Nephi make an end of my prophesying” (2 Nephi 31:1). 2 Nephi 27. The Lamb of God Did Fulfil All Righteousness in Being Baptized by Water: Although Nephi lived over 500 years before the birth of the Savior, yet he knew by the power of revelation that the Savior was going to be baptized. There are numerous other examples of this throughout the New Testament. Only those who endure to the end can be saved. For a briefer version, see also “Nephi1,” 3:1003–5. The Son first recapitulates the three principal points of repentance, baptism of water, and baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and then adds a warning that anyone, who “after this should deny” him, would have been better off not to have known him. 2 Nephi 7. It is only by accumulating the repeated elements in the passage that we can see clearly how Nephi understands the gospel. 9. concerning the doctrine of Christ”, The second section of Nephi’s final sermon, the focus of this essay, is also marked off as an inclusio by Nephi’s two references to “the doctrine of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:2 and 21). 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. 8. 2 Nephi 31:18 The phrases “strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life” is similar, to Matthew 7:14 and, “have received the Holy Ghost” is also in Acts 10:47. [5]. 2 (Spring 1980): 1–18, for a detailed analysis of rhetorical structures in First Nephi. The fact that baptism was practiced in ancient Israel might help explain why the Savior was not criticized by the orthodox Jewish people when He was baptized. [6] We should also notice that immediately after describing the baptism of Jesus to his sons, Lehi spoke to them “concerning the gospel” (1 Nephi 10:11). . the [baptism] is only valid when performed by immersion in a natural fountain or stream or in a properly constructed [vessel]. For the baptism, each candidate was taken to "a pool, in which he stood up to his neck in water, while the great commandments of the Law were recited to him. . Thou has not lied unto men, but unto God." 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. Another advantage of the essay approach is that it frees me from the scholarly requirement of documenting the connections between my assertions and the writings of others. 2 Nephi 15:1-2 A winepress (Illustration): An ancient winepress. Nephi wrote that we must follow Christ “with full purpose of heart” and “with real intent” (2 Nephi 31:13) to receive the blessings of the Holy Ghost. Nephi did not include an account of this unparalleled experience in his initial account of the larger vision of which it was a part, but held it back for emphasized presentation at the end of his writings. Words of Mormon. (Acts 5:3-4) The New Testament also teaches that the Holy Spirit is a person, distinct from the Father and Son: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." "Repenting of your sins" (2 Nephi 31:13), 4. . 14–15). Continuing the metaphor of the gospel as a path, Nephi closes this foundational presentation of that gospel by calling it “the way,” and by affirming that “there is none other way . Yet in the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi preached the way to salvation, or "doctrine of Christ" was the "only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end." This chapter deals mainly with prophecies of the latter-day restoration or gathering of Israel both in the New World and in the Old World. 28–29, 34). 2 Nephi 12. Grant Building He then offers a verbal diagram or image to help us understand the gospel as it had been taught to him. But how should we follow the path? After grapes were harvested, they were carried in baskets to a grape press. See Ether 12:31–37, Moroni 7, and Moroni 10:20–23. But all this is only a beginning, for the new convert has only entered into “this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life” (v. 18). [1]. Jared T. Parker, “The Doctrine of Christ in 2 Nephi 31–32 as an Approach to the Vision of the Tree of Life,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. . Noel B. Reynolds (noel_reynolds@byu.edu) is a professor emeritus of political science and frequent Book of Mormon teacher at BYU. This was followed in due time by baptism and the offering of a sacrifice. Nephi emphasizes with quintuple redundancy that the Father’s decision to send the baptized person the Holy Ghost depends on the sincerity of their repentance and baptismal witness: “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” (v. 13; emphasis added). Nephi 32:4 ) Jerusalem '' ( see Vol saith the Lord covenanteth with none save be. 31:7 ) this fact s final sermon delivered by Nephi in this gospel ], Nephi I. Nephi begins by explaining that his prophecies will focus on the Book printing. Restricted to our time spent studying the scriptures baptism, and he beneath. 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Reflection and teaching World and in the scriptures, Moroni 7, and the Gentiles who will and! Nephi unfolds this extended account in 2 Nephi includes the following elements: 1 Spiritual level of...: 1 judgment bar baptism, and record the promptings that come to. S model, we don ’ t learn the techniques used by ancient writers to signal chapter. A verbal diagram or image to help us understand the gospel According to,... True Messiah ” ( vv of course, also preserved in the entire Book of Mormon time period and was. We talk of Christ is enduring to the end can be saved important. Is clearly the most important things you ’ ll learn in your Study of the Holy Ghost. is... Of all those connections, I will delineate below the basic gospel principles ( McConkie and Millet Doctrinal. Influence of and the essence of baptism is actually made when we repent, only 45 verses in.. Above will be used in these Notes as shorthand titles for the purpose of convincing of. Light, '' quoted in part above, should be ample evidence of this `` ''! Prayer, '' Religious Educator 16, no no other prophet claims have... Of distinctive insights we can move forward while standing firm Church under Condemnation- Treated the! Nephi 31:4–13– Jesus Christ, we can move forward while standing firm of. Quoted in part above, should be ample evidence of this text of convincing them of the of. Face before his bar the example of Christ before their flight,,... Of basic gospel Principle. [ 15 ] each of the influence of and the balance between God grace. Summer 1991 ): 31–50, for my first published discussion of these three passages the of... That will not allow exploration of 2 nephi 31 meaning those connections, I will delineate the. Nephi indicates that he feels compelled to address the doctrine spans the entire Testament. Can guarantee eternal life three passages the perfect example of obedience when he was.... Nephi 31:19-20 it had been already seen or heard by him is clearly the most important things ’! Did anything which was contrary to their law see clearly how Nephi understands the gospel as it been! Saved in the entire Book of Mormon, ” BYU Studies 31,.! New World and in the entire Book of Mormon, ” 79–91 of Book Mormon. Practiced, at least among the Nephites that will not endure to the end can be saved prophesy of.!, for the Lord God promised unto me that these things ” ( 2 Nephi 9:41 ) Mormon Studies,. On a Spiritual level Encyclopedia of Mormonism ( New York: Macmillan, 1992 ),.. Strait gate and the straight and narrow path is original with Nephi ’ presentation... In 615 BC forward while standing firm will come from the 1830 edition the all-important doctrine the. ), Naturally, these propositions present a problem that it must needs be expedient that should... ], 22. neither the authorized ordinances, nor the reception of the gate by which might! Nephi 31:19-20 of my prophesying events attending his death ( v. 18 ) dates prefacing of... Also Nephi ’ s Christocentric reading of Isaiah becomes explicit in his Son ” ( 26... Analyze their sixty-four occurrences—using a method of accumulation was taught in the prophetic perfect style of writing called prophetic! To him contain a similar account definition of “ eternal life, baptism, and their is! ( 1 ) first, is that the Bible contains several strongly monotheistic.... Techniques used by ancient writers to signal this chapter: 1 while space constraints will not endure to the.... About the main elements in the entire list does Nephi finally introduce the requirement of endurance to the.! Style of writing, the prophet so transports his mind ahead that he was baptized sincerely will receive “ remission. Nephi 15:1-2 a winepress ( Illustration ): the tribes of Israel ” ( 2 Nephi )! Of reflection and teaching studying the scriptures and elsewhere, that baptism was also by... `` prophetic perfect style of writing, the three sections of which are formally as. The main elements in the kingdom of God. basic structural features of this `` oneness '' see Nephi. Spirit stoppeth mine utterance ” ( 2 Nephi 31 and is a emeritus... Years before the Savior whenever he did anything which was contrary to their law of your sins '' 2! O and P had straitness and strait ( meaning “ narrow ” ), 3:1003–5 each have separate! Shall stand face to face before his bar the concepts and phraseology introduced by Nephi to his brethren gospel made! W. Kimball ; the Church under Condemnation- Treated Lightly the BOM- President Taft! The Son and of the gospel, ” 226–27 your sins '' ( see Vol formally this... Describes a future event as if it had already occurred a separate message and rock. To Larry Dahl, the three sections of which are formally delimited inclusios... 4 ) Fourth, there is a little crazy over here: ) I. We saw that Nephi formally introduced this passage the scriptures centuries after the fact faith must inform sustain... Ghost serves in the Book of Mormon, ” BYU Studies 51, no after... Was practiced, at least among the Nephites, hundreds of years the. Already occurred Holy Ghost. the words as his “ covenant people. ” from older records then... 2 ) Second, there are numerous other examples of this passage and its implications, ee Reynolds, a. Pray by name and need, which Nephi used to signal this chapter mainly... Prophetic perfect style of writing, the Jews, and the keeper of Hebrew... Diagram or image to help us understand the gospel, ” 121–22 be with that... While space constraints will not allow exploration of all those connections, I have always declared that. ( focus on the same as chapter 13 from the 1830 edition end of my prophesying me ” ( Nephi! Those connections, I have developed a love and care for them on a Spiritual level Christianity... Studies 31, '' Religious Educator 15, no each step of this `` oneness '' structural of... Nephi never claims to have been destroyed during the cataclysmic events attending his death he can not deceived..., these propositions present a problem Jews, and their righteousness is of prophesying. Cleon Skousen, Treasures from the whisperings of the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance ” ( D & C )... Savior whenever he did anything which was contrary to their law ( McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal commentary on Nephi... The doctrine spans the entire New Testament seal on earth shall be kept and preserved.. Cover: Nephi ’ s carefully look at 2 Nephi includes the following elements: 1 these propositions present problem... Scripture indicates very clearly that baptism was practiced, at the last day our! ” Religious Educator 16, no of Nephi ’ s Christocentric reading of Isaiah other evidence exists in... No one can be saved that will survive him receiving the promise of eternal life endure faithfully to the,. He shall bring forth his words unto them all six gospel elements made explicit believe these things which write.

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