“Our Heavenly Father is more liberal in his views, and boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive…”
Joseph Smith Papers August 27, 1842
2 Nephi 26-30
- Everything the Lord does is motivated by His love for us.
- The Book of Mormon is essential to God’s latter-day work.
- Satan seeks to deceive.
| False doctrine | True doctrine |
|---|---|
| “This day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work” (2 Nephi 28:6). | Moroni 7:35–37 |
| “God … will justify in committing a little sin” (2 Nephi 28:8). | Doctrine and Covenants 1:31 |
| “All is well in Zion” (2 Nephi 28:21). | Doctrine and Covenants 68:31; 82:14 |
| “I am no devil, for there is none” (2 Nephi 28:22). | 2 Nephi 2:17; Doctrine and Covenants 76:25–27 |
| “We need no more of the word of God, for we have enough” (2 Nephi 28:29). | 2 Nephi 28:30; Articles |
2 Nephi 31-33
- Jesus Christ and His doctrine are the only way to eternal life.
- “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.”
- 2 Nephi 31:15–20
- Preach My Gospel: Individuals and families begin to follow Christ as they exercise faith in Him and repent of their sins. That faith is developed as they follow the Savior’s example by humbling themselves, seeking God’s will, and obeying God’s commandments (see 2 Nephi 31:6–7; 3 Nephi 27:13–14). They receive a remission of sins through baptism and by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost from one who has authority from God to perform these ordinances. They then endure to the end, or, in other words, they continue throughout their lives in exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, and renewing the covenants they have made. These are not just steps that they experience once in their lives; rather, when repeated throughout life these principles become an increasingly rewarding pattern of living. In fact, it is the only way of living that will bring peace of conscience and enable Heavenly Father’s children to return to live in His presence.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained: “When I was a young boy, ‘endure to the end’ meant to me mainly that I had to try harder to stay awake until the end of our Church meetings. Later as a teenager … I linked it with youthful empathy to the efforts of our dear elderly members to hang in there until the end of their lives…“… Enduring to the end is not just a matter of passively tolerating life’s difficult circumstances or ‘hanging in there.’ Ours is an active religion, helping God’s children along the strait and narrow path to develop their full potential during this life and return to Him one day. Viewed from this perspective, enduring to the end is exalting and glorious, not grim and gloomy. This is a joyful religion, one of hope, strength, and deliverance…
“Enduring to the end implies ‘patient continuance in well doing’ (Romans 2:7), striving to keep the commandments (see 2 Nephi 31:10), and doing the works of righteousness.
- The Holy Ghost will show us what we should do.
- The Book of Mormon persuades us to believe in Christ.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught: “The ‘doctrine of Christ’ as taught by Nephi in his grand, summational discourse focuses on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It does not, in this declaration, attempt to cover the entire plan of salvation, all the virtues of a Christian life, or the rewards that await us in differing degrees of heavenly glory. It does not, in this declaration, deal with the offices of the priesthood, the ordinances of the temple, or many other true doctrines. All these are important, but as used in the Book of Mormon, ‘the doctrine of Christ’ is simple and direct. It focuses on the first principles of the gospel exclusively, including an expression of encouragement to endure, to persist, to press on. Indeed, it is in the clarity and simplicity of ‘the doctrine of Christ’ that its impact is found” (Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 49–50).
Elder D. Todd Christofferson said: “I appeal to all … to seek through prayer and study of the scriptures [a] witness of the divine character, the Atonement, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Accept His doctrine by repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then throughout your life following the laws and covenants of the gospel of Jesus Christ”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420918314857
