Question - can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? (2 Nephi 31:10)
As Nephi prepared to conclude his record he wrote that “the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:2). He intended to speak plainly so we understand. He reminds us that he had taught earlier “concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto [him], that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world” (v 4). To help us understand the importance of Jesus’ baptism, Nephi observed, “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!” (v 5).
Nephi’s observation sets up his asking two intriguing questions: how “the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?" And, "Know ye not that he was holy?” (v 6-7). In other words, if Christ was a holy being, without sin, why did he need to get baptized? If baptism is for cleansing us from sin, why did Christ, who was sinless and pure, need to get baptized? Careful pondering of such inspired questions can open us to inspiration from heaven. We are blessed by Nephi sharing what he had learned in answer to these questions.
Nephi explains that “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.” As a result, “after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove” (v 8). Christ shows us the way to the Father, and that includes baptism. Baptism is about making a covenant that we renew each week and spend a lifetime trying to keep. The cleansing effect of baptism for each of us comes as we keep those covenants and thereby receiving the Spirit who actually does the cleansing. When we don’t keep the covenant of baptism we must repent to align ourselves once again with the covenant. This is a lifetime pursuit and process and will stretch far into the future after mortality.
Nephi then notes that this act of being baptized by the Holy Lamb of God shows us, the children of men, “the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which [we] should enter, he [Christ] having set the example before [us]” (v 9). Nephi then notes why all this is relevant to you and me in pointing out that Christ said, “follow thou me.”
Having reviewed the baptism of Christ and how that serves as an example, Nephi asks an almost rhetorical question, “can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?” (v 10). What a question! This is a question for everyone—particularly a serious disciple. The answer is an obvious and emphatic, “No!” There is no way we can follow Christ without being willing to “keep the commandments of the Father,” just as Jesus did.
Jesus’ existence from the beginning, the core of his character, is a consistent manifestation of His determination to obey The Father and to invite and make it possible for you and me to do the same. It was Christ who taught his disciples, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34); and, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do” (John 5:19); and, “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30); and, “I do always those things that please [The Father]” (John 8:29); and, the exclamation point on Christ’s obedience to the Father was manifest as the weight of his atoning work began to descend in full force upon him, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39, see also Mark 14:36). So, the question stands, “can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?” Again, the answer is an obvious and emphatic, NO!
As though we needed more support for Nephi’s answer to his own question, he provides one of the few quotes we have of The Father, “Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son” (v 11). To which the son adds, “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” (v 12). There are no favorites in the Father’s plan. He offers to us the same he offers His Beloved Son. The issue is whether we will follow The Son and thereby receive what he offers The Son.
Lest we think this is just theatre, Nephi admonishes that it is not enough that we simply go through the motions of being baptized. Instead, we must “follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy, and no deception before God, but with real intent.” To be true to his intention of being plain-spoken Nephi gets very specific about what he means by this. To “follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy, and no deception before God, but with real intent” means:
repenting of our sins
witnessing unto the Father that we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following our Lord and our Savior down into the water, according to his word
In the original Greek of the New Testament the word repent is derived from the Greek word metanoia. As President Russell M. Nelson taught,
The word for repentance in the Greek New Testament is metanoeo. The prefix meta- means “change.” The suffix -noeo is related to Greek words that mean “mind,” “knowledge,” “spirit,” and “breath.”
Thus, when Jesus asks you and me to “repent,” He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies.
Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ (Russell M. Nelson, We Can Do Better and Be Better, April, 2019 General Conference)
Repenting of our Sins
The question is whether we will repent. Whether we will accept the invitation of the Savior to “change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our [spouses], teach our children, even care for our bodies.” This is to be a complete conversion of our whole soul to align with God’s will at all times, in all places, in all things—just like the Savior does (see Mosiah 18:9). This is how we follow him.
There appears to be no exceptions provided by Christ or The Father. One might be tempted to ask, but Christ never repented since he was sinless, so why must we repent? How is our repenting following Christ since he did not repent? Asking such questions suggests we might want to study the topic of hard-heartedness (http://www.themostcorrectbook.org/2021/02/question-why-is-it-that-ye-can-be-so.html). Regardless, why the need for repentance for all of us? Because the Father will not compromise our agency. We must choose to be changed through repentance and the grace provided through the atonement of His Son that can heal, liberate, strengthen, and protect. This means we must choose to have our desires, thoughts, actions, and words changed to align with the Father and The Son. On Sundays, we call it repentance. In this light, repentance is the key to truly becoming free through the atonement of Christ.
We are all to repent and walk the covenant path with full purpose of heart. Again, this is not theatre for Sundays. This is the ultimate and most important 7X24X365 labor in which we can engage in this life. This is not about making or following our own path. Rather, it is about following Christ—walking His path, the covenant path. It does not matter whether we are a new convert or a lifelong member and descendant of early pioneers, male or female, old or young, conservative or liberal, rich or poor, bond or free, black or white, educated or unschooled. Nor does the Father and the Son limit the need for repenting to before baptism, or shortly thereafter. This is an eternal covenant path, which we will walk forever to follow the example of the Son. The only exception noted in the Book of Mormon is for “little children” who “need no repentance, neither baptism” because they are not “accountable” (see Mormon 8:10-15).
Taking Upon Us the Name of Christ
We get a key insight into what “the name of Christ means” from Alma’s instruction to Zeezrom. He explained that God called “on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid)...(Alma 12:33).” The “name of Christ” is shorthand for “the plan of redemption.” Therefore, when we take upon ourselves the name of Christ through baptism and reaffirm that covenant by partaking of the sacrament, we are agreeing to participate in the plan of salvation, and help others do the same. The label is not enough. We must not only be known as Christians by name, but we must be engaged in Christ’s work—the work of salvation.
The promised blessing when we follow the Son is the same as the Father gave the Son—that we will “receive the Holy Ghost,” which includes “the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.” With this gift we can, “speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel” (v 13). We can faithfully walk the covenant path.
However, Nephi reminds us that “After [we] have repented of [our] sins, and witnessed unto the Father that [we] are willing to keep [His] 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 [us] that [we] had not known [Him]” (v 14). This is one of the more stern declarations of the Savior in holy writ. These are not words with which we should trifle. To provide the ultimate emphasis to the Son’s declaration, Nephi again quotes the Father, “Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved” (v 15). Those who choose otherwise do not receive the same reward as The Son.
What does Nephi conclude from all this? “...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). It is not enough to know of Christ and his example. We must follow the example of the Son. Our recognition of Christ must evolve to adoration, but then mature to consistent and everlasting emulation. Therefore, Nephi calls us to action—“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” (v 17).
Learning the gospel is not an exercise in simply acquiring gospel stories, facts, and figures or memorizing a handful of scriptures to be quoted on demand as though we are preparing for a quiz or game show. No, when it comes to gospel knowledge, it is to be acted upon, it is to be applied in our own lives, it is to shape all that we desire, think, say, and do, and we are to help others do the same. As the Savior taught, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). Of primary import is the application of gospel knowledge to repent and walk the covenant path, starting with baptism. The promise is forgiveness and healing for ourselves and others when we do so.
When we have done as Nephi has instructed and received God’s word and sincerely decided to follow the example of the Son by repenting and making covenants we are then “in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life.” Actually, we “have entered in by the gate; [we] have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and [we] 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 [we] entered in by the way [we] should receive” (v 18).
Lest we think that simply repenting and being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost means we are done and can relax, Nephi asks another crucial question. “...after [we] have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?” Nephi’s answer is an emphatic “Nay.” Why? We “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” (v 19). Therefore, we “must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ” along the covenant path.
As we press forward we are to have “a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.” We are to be beacons of hope and love as we reflect the light received from heaven through us to others who may have less hope and love for God and others. Why such hope and love? Because as we receive God’s word we become more and more determined to repent and make and keep sacred covenants. Doing so demonstrates our love of God and prepares us to better love others. Therefore, if we “press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (v 20).
In conclusion, Nephi declares, “this is the way.” Feasting on God’s word, deciding to repent and aligning ourselves with his word, making sacred covenants and remaining faithful to these covenants, with hope and love for God and His children—“this is the way.” Lest we miss the point, Nephi declares, “and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.” Again, it is good to remember that the name of Christ is another way of saying, the work of Christ—redemption, salvation, exaltation (see Alma 12:33). Nephi then concludes his message that what he has shared "is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (v 21).
What are we to derive from all this in terms of correct principles to guide us in our daily choices? I would offer the following, while inviting you to make your own list from this chapter:
We are to seek for and receive God’s word
As we learn God’s word we will see the need to make changes—we will need to repent
As we repent we will want to make and keep sacred covenants, starting with baptism, and the weekly renewing of those covenants through worthily partaking of the sacrament, so we remember and remain on the covenant path
We must walk the covenant path with sincerity, not hypocrisy, with hope, with love for God (see John 14:15) and others. As we do so, God will bless us with the Holy Ghost, which will invite us to learn more, repent more, covenant more, receive more, learn more, repent more, covenant more...filling us with hope and love.
As I have chosen to live true to these principles I am much happier and hopeful, and my love for God and others grows. I want to show my love for God by becoming more repentant and keeping His commandments. And I want to show my love to others by helping them do the same. When I choose otherwise I am less authentic, have less love of God and others, less hope. As we learn from both Lehi’s and Nephi’s visions of the tree, we can all wander from the path. Nephi is trying to help us find and stay on the path. Hence, he declares, “this is the way.” I join my witness with Nephi that “this is the way.”
