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.
31:2 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.
31:3 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.
31:4 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.
31:5 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!
31:6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb
of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?
31:7 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.
31:8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost
descended upon him in the form of a dove.
31:9 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.
31:10 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?
31:11 And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the
name of my Beloved Son.
31:12 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.
31:13 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.
31:14 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.
31:15 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.
31:16 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.
31:17 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.
31:18 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.
31:19 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.
31:20 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.
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. 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.