2 Nephi 31 – The Baptism of Jesus

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The last verse of 2 Nephi 30 sounds pretty final. But like Moroni, he adds an epilogue: three chapters with guidance for his future readers. In this first chapter, he urges us to get onto the covenant path by following the Savior’s example and choosing to be baptized.

Chapter Outline

  1. Nephi delights in plainness (v. 1-3)
  2. Why Jesus was baptized (v. 4-9)
  3. The Father and the Son invite us to be baptized and endure to the end (v. 10-16)
  4. The strait and narrow path (v. 17-21)

My Takeaways

  1. The Spirit can help us teach others using language they will understand.
  2. Jesus set the perfect example of humility and obedience by being baptized.
  3. Baptism is a tangible and memorable way to get onto the covenant path.
  4. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one God.

Featured Blog Posts

❖ Plainness – 2 Nephi 31:1-3

According to Their Language – 2 Nephi 31:3

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. (2 Nephi 31:3) Even when two people appear to speak the same language,…

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.

❖ Why Jesus Was Baptized – 2 nephi 31:4-9

What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Baptism of Jesus?

In the Bible, the first mention of baptism is in reference to the baptism of Jesus Christ. All four of the Gospel writers tell the story (Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22, John 1:19-34). In all four cases, they use the word “baptism” or “baptize” without explanation. They take it for granted that their readers…

He Humbleth Himself Before the Father – 2 Nephi 31:5-7

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…

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.

❖ Be Baptized and Endure to the End – 2 Nephi 31:10-16

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.

How Can I Follow the Savior with “Full Purpose of Heart?”

Nephi tells us near the end of his writings that we can receive the Holy Ghost by following the Son “with full purpose of heart.” He goes on to clarify his meaning: “acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent” (2 Nephi 31:13). In subsequent passages, Jacob and Limhi use the…

What Does It Mean to Endure to the End?

Throughout the Book of Mormon, we are encouraged to endure to the end. The prophet Nephi heard the voice of the Father declaring, “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved” (2 Nephi 31:15). Jesus Christ made the same promise during His visit to the American continent (3 Nephi 15:9). Near the…

❖ The Strait and Narrow Path – 2 Nephi 31:17-21

Ye Have Entered in by the Gate – 2 Nephi 31:17

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…

Press Forward – 2 Nephi 31:19-20

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…

How Can We Be Open to Change While Being “Steadfast and Immovable?”

Yesterday, I wrote about the importance of being steadfast as disciples of Jesus Christ. When we are converted to the gospel, we make covenants with God. Those covenants anchor us in our faith and cement our new relationship with Him. By making sacred promises, we intentionally constrain our future decisions. We speak on behalf of…

One God

In his final testimony, Mormon emphasizes that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are “one God” (Mormon 7:7). This echoes the testimony of Nephi: 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…

Old Testament Foundations

Mighty to Save

Isaiah describes the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in the form of a dialogue between the people and the Savior. The people are caught off guard by His arrival and by His appearance. They ask, “Who is this that cometh from Edom [a country south of Israel with whom Israel had had significant conflict], with dyed garments from Bozrah [a…

New Testament Parallels

The Way

At the time of the apostle Paul, believers in Christ called themselves “followers of the Way.” Jesus said, “I am the way,” so to be a follower of the Way is to be a follower of Jesus. Nephi taught that when we enter the way, the Holy Ghost guides us.

Baptized with Fire

John the Baptist described the effect of the Holy Ghost with a striking metaphor: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Matthew 3:11; see also Luke 3:16 As far as I know, that is the only place…

Patient Continuance

Enduring to the end is an active process: continuing to do good with an ongoing commitment to eternal goals. It involves learning and growing. It is an uplifting process that can also be called “enjoying to the end.”

The Two Great Commandments

After delivering the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, the Lord gave them many commandments through the prophet Moses. Here are two of them: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18). A couple of observations about these two commandments:…

The Doctrine of Christ

The doctrine of Christ consists of faith, repentance, baptism, and following the Holy Ghost along the path that leads to eternal life. President Nelson taught that the doctrine of Christ will change our lives if we understand and implement it.

“With the Spirit…and With the Understanding Also”

Paul told the Corinthians that it was important to worship with the spirit and with the understanding. Passion is inspiring, but it’s insufficient. We also need to clearly explain true principles which people can apply to real decisions.

Church History Connections

The Covenant Path

In April 2007, Sister Elaine S. Dalton used an expression which had never appeared in a general conference talk before. Quoting a recent article by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, she said: Beginning with our baptism, we make covenants as we follow this path to eternal life, and we stay on the path by keeping them….…

Why Is It Important for People to Hear the Gospel in Their Own Language?

After quoting thirteen chapters from the book of Isaiah, the prophet Nephi began to write some of his own teachings. He acknowledged that many of his people found the words of Isaiah to be cryptic. He disagreed, saying that they were “plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy.” But he…

No Guile

It’s nice when you can take someone at face value, without wondering about hidden agendas or ulterior motives. Scripture praises those without guile, whose hearts are pure before God, including Nathanael and Edward Partridge. Life’s injuries can harden us, but we can evaluate and improve our guilelessness by asking soul-searching questions and answering with honesty.

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