2 Nephi 30 ends with the words, “And now, my beloved brethren, I make an end of my sayings” (2 Nephi 30:18). Sounds pretty final. But like Moroni, who “had supposed not to have written more” (Moroni 1:1, 4), but who returned to add a few final thoughts, Nephi ends his record with “a few words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:3).
What are these words? A plea for us to repent and be baptized, to receive and follow the Holy Ghost, to continue along the “strait and narrow path” with “unshaken faith” in Jesus, and to pray about everything. In his final farewell, he testifies that we will see him “face to face” at the Final Judgment, and that we will know that he wrote these words for our benefit.
These chapters are an invitation and an admonition: Follow Christ. Follow the path which leads to eternal life.
Here are some highlights from these chapters, with links to relevant blog posts:
Outline
- 2 Nephi 31 – The Baptism of Jesus – Nephi urges us to enter the covenant path by repenting and being baptized and to “endure to the end” in following that path.
- 2 Nephi 32 – Receive the Holy Ghost – Nephi explains what we ought to do after entering into the covenant path: Follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost and pray continually.
- 2 Nephi 33 – Nephi’s Final Testimony – He expresses love for his future readers and his deep desire that we grow closer to Christ. He declares that our reaction to his words will matter at the Final Judgement.
Key Themes
- Jesus set the perfect example of humility and obedience by being baptized. Baptism is a tangible and memorable way to get onto the covenant path.
- The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one God.
- The Holy Ghost can teach us far more than we can teach one another. We should teach in a way that facilitates personal revelation. The Spirit can also help us teach others using language they will understand.
- The gifts we receive from Jesus are individualized and personal.
Connections
- John the Baptist testified that Jesus would baptize us with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Nephi used this same language to describe the purifying power of the Holy Ghost.
- The epistle to the Hebrews teaches us about the doctrine of Christ, listing its primary components. Nephi talks about the doctrine of Christ in a similar way.
- Jesus taught us that the Holy Ghost will teach us “all things” (John 14:26). Nephi emphasized that if we will receive the Holy Ghost, it will show us “all things what [we] should do” (2 Nephi 32:5).
Applications
- Keep moving forward as you work toward good goals. Don’t stop until you reach the end.
- Simplify your life by following the Spirit. Don’t spend a lot of time wondering what you should do. Trust that God will give you personalized instructions as you pray and listen.
- Pray not only to accomplish your goals but for your efforts to be beneficial.
- Recognize goodness when you see it; don’t be distracted by trivial imperfections.
Recommended Posts
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Baptism of Jesus?
- What Does It Mean to Endure to the End?
- The Covenant Path
Blog Posts: March 19-24
He Will Consecrate
In 2 Nephi, we learn that God will consecrate our afflictions, our performances, and our prayers for our benefit. We usually think of consecration as something we do, but we know that God can turn our offerings into something of far greater value.
The Straitness of the Path
One reason Jesus was baptized, according to Nephi, was to show us “the straitness of the path.” We strive for precision as we administer gospel ordinances partly as a symbol of our desire to align ourselves precisely with God’s law.
Doctrine
Doctrine means something given by a “doctor,” which is the Latin word for teacher. The doctrine of Christ includes everything Jesus taught and everything He has instructed us to do. We should study His words and incorporate them into our daily decisions.
Nephi: Talk or Text
The spoken word can be more impactful than the written word. Nephi knew this and lamented that many people would not take his words seriously. We can apply this principle in two ways: (1) talk about the gospel and (2) put effort into being better readers.
If Ye Believe Not
Nephi said that if we don’t believe his words, we should believe in Christ. He expressed confidence that if we believe in Christ, we will eventually believe in his words. We should be patient with one another as we grow over time in knowledge and faith.
Endure
Nephi warned us that we have to keep moving along the path if we want to reach our destination. In Agile software methodology, there’s an aphorism, “Stop starting, start finishing.” We need to maintain our focus on the goal and avoid distractions.
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