2 Nephi 33:10-15

10  And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ.  And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.
11  And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.
12  And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.

2 Nephi 33:10-12 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) is closing his record on the small plates.  If we estimate 588 B.C. as the year they arrived, he has been in the New World over 40 years (using 545 B.C. as the year he ends his writings - see heading).  If we assume Nephi(1) was in his early 20's when they arrived, his now in his late 60's to his early 70's.  He probably knows his life is ending.  (His death is recorded in Jacob 1:12.)  He most likely knows that these will be his last words.  He's doubtlessly preparing to give the records to Jacob.  We should keep these things in mind as we read his closing comments.  

Nephi(1) tells us one last time to believe his words and accept Christ.  Then he says if you can't believe in and accept Nephi(1) and his words, then still believe in Christ.  He knows that, if you truly believe in Christ, you will accept his words because his words are Christ's words.  

But, if you still choose to reject his words, he will face you as you stand before the judgement bar.  Then you will know for a surety that his writings and words are Christ's words.  

In these words, we can learn much about Nephi(1).  He is a humble man, giving Christ all the credit.  He even acknowledges his weakness in writing again, knowing that we would only get his teachings through his writings.  His faith is deep and unshakable.  He knows what he knows and he doesn't apologize for it.  He has suffered at the hands of his brothers and others because of his faith and teachings.  Nephi(1) never hesitates to place his faith in the Lord.  He loves us and cares deeply for us.  He is concerned about our eternal welfare.  He knew we would be reading his words today.  His teachings and testimony is as much for us as it is for his people.  He wants to make sure we understand the consequences of not accepting his words, and if we reject his words, we reject Christ. 

In the September 1976 Ensign, Allen E. Bergin wrote and article called Nephi, a Universal Man. Describing Nephi(1), he wrote:

"Nephi was that rare combination: a great prophet who is also a founder of a nation. As prophet, he succeeded his father Lehi as spiritual leader in ancient America and laid the groundwork for the heights of righteousness later achieved. As ruler of a new nation, he was so beloved of his people that when “he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people,” the people insisted on calling his successors “second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth.” (Jacob 1:9–11.) And his influence was so great that for a thousand years the people called themselves Nephites. Near the end of that millennium, Mormon took pride in declaring himself to be a descendant of Nephi. (Morm. 1:5.) ... we sometimes fail to recognize that Nephi was one of the “universal men” of this world’s history, a person of multiple talents and skills. He led the establishment of a major civilization in the “new” world (2 Ne. 5:6, 10–11, 13); he possessed the intellect, skills, insight, and leadership capacities that class him among the great colonizers of all time. We do not usually apply the term “pioneer” to him, but we should ... In my opinion, there is nothing more powerful in these first 107 pages of the Book of Mormon than Nephi’s continuing testimony of Jesus, that he 'is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations.' I recall very clearly how some years ago, as a young college student investigator, I read and reread these challenging testimonies. My initial approach had been skeptical, even cynical, and I wrote critical remarks along the margins as I read, commenting upon the weaknesses in logic, grammar, and philosophy. When I came to those last two pages (2 Ne. 33), however, I was stunned by the power of Nephi’s words. They seemed to penetrate my brain and scatter my previously systematic, critical thoughts. I could not avoid the impact of his words. It was almost as physical as if Nephi were using his shock technique on me, pointing his finger and shaking my mind. I read his words again and they seemed to grip me. Briefly and involuntarily, a sweet feeling came over me that later I recognized as having been the Spirit of Christ, the witness of his reality and his loving closeness." (Emphasis mine)

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13  And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, Farewell until that great day shall come.
14  And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.
15  For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey.  Amen.

2 Nephi 33:13-15 (Emphasis mine)

We have our last recorded words of Nephi(1).  He tells us that his voice will cry from the dust.  Isaiah referred to the words in the Book of Mormon.

4  And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.

Isaiah 29:4 (Emphasis mine)

To those who refuse to accept his words and Christ, Nephi(1) bids them an eternal farewell.  His words and teachings will stand as a witness against them.  They will not be able to say they didn't know; that they didn't understand.  Nephi(1) taught us and warned us.  If we fail to heed his words and accept Christ, we will only have ourselves to blame.  We will be responsible for the eternal consequences we will face.  

I feel it is very appropriate that his last recorded words are that he was commanded of the Lord to write and preach what he did, and, so great was his faith, he knew he had no choice but to obey. To the last, Nephi(1) was the humble servant of the Lord.

21  ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:21 (Emphasis mine)

24  ¶ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Matthew 7:24-25 (Emphasis mine)

16  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17  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 7:16-17 (Emphasis mine)

Here we see Nephi(1)'s words anticipated Christ's future words.

Nephi(1) was truly a powerful and faithful servant of the Lord.  Throughout his life, no matter what the challenge, he stayed true to his faith.

He taught the gospel using plain and simple language.  In some ways, I'm grateful that Martin Harris lost the first 116 manuscript pages.  In their place, we have these great, wonderful, and powerful teachings.  If you want an example of how to live of life of faith, we should look no further than Nephi(1).  He is one of the best examples we could follow.

2 Nephi 33:4-9

4  And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people.  And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.
5  And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the plainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil.

2 Nephi 33:4-5 (Emphasis mine)

After Nephi(1)'s prayer for his people, he tells us that he knows the Lord will support and stand by him.  He knows this because his words are a message to his people from the Lord. This is what He wants them to know and understand.  Repent, get back on the right path, or you will lose everything in the eternities.  Whatever words bring us to Jesus and inspires us to endure to the end so that we may obtain eternal life is the true word of the Lord.  We will know this through the Holy Ghost.

Plainness is what matters.  We understand best through plain and simple words.  The only way we will not accept these words if we are guided by the spirit of the devil.  The Holy Ghost leads us to truth.  The devil leads us away from that truth.

16  ¶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good?  there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18  He saith unto him, Which?  Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 19:16-19 (Emphasis mine)

14  ¶ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16  ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:14-16 (Emphasis mine)

66  ¶ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go?  thou hast the words of eternal life.
69  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

John 6:66-69 (Emphasis mine)

 

27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29  My Father, which agave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

John 10:27-29 (Emphasis mine)

12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12 (Emphasis mine)

6  I glory in plainness;
          I glory in truth;
    I glory in my Jesus, 
          for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.
7  I have charity for my people, 
          and great faith in Christ 
          that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment–seat.
8  I have charity for the Jew

         (I say Jew, because I mean them from whence I came.)
9  I also have charity for the Gentiles.  

         But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.

2 Nephi 33:6-9 (Emphasis mine)

(Note:  Formatting used for vs. 6-9 comes from "The Book of Mormon - A Reader's Edition" by Grant Hardy, pgs. 137-138) 

Nephi(1) waxes poetic as he celebrates Christ.  He restates his faith and trust in Christ.  Throughout his writings, he is constant is his praise and expression of trust in Him.  

He shares his deep and abiding love for all men.  This is a major motivation for his words and writings. He doesn't want to lose his people.  He lost his family when they separated into the two groups (2 Nephi 5:5-7).  His pain at this loss is readily apparent throughout his personal record.  Now he is doing everything he can to not suffer this loss again.

He closes his preachings with a reminder of the basic and eternal truth - we can only be saved through accepting Christ and following His teaching, enduring to the end. 

18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (Emphasis mine)

20  And, having; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Colossians 1:20 (Emphasis mine) 

 

In the October 2000 General Conference, Elder Donald L. Hallstrom said:

"To achieve eternal goals, we must reconcile our earthly culture with the doctrine of the everlasting gospel. This process involves embracing all that is spiritually elevating in our family and societal traditions and discarding that which is a barrier to our eternal view and achievement. We must transform ourselves from being “natural” men and women as defined by King Benjamin, and “becometh a saint” by yielding “to the enticings of the Holy Spirit” (see Mosiah 3:19)." (Emphasis mine)

 

In the October 2007 General Conference, he said:

"Now is the time to exercise our faith. Now is the time to commit to righteousness. Now is the time to do whatever is required to resolve our undesired circumstances. Now is the time to reconcile with God through the merciful process of change afforded us by the Redeemer of mankind." (Emphasis mine)

 In the same General Conference, Elder Bruce D. Porter said:

"The poet Rudyard Kipling wrote the following words in 1897, an admonition to the British 

Empire against pride:

The tumult and the shouting dies;

The captains and the kings depart.

Still stands thine ancient sacrifice,

An humble and a contrite heart.

When Kipling spoke of a contrite heart as an “ancient sacrifice,” perhaps he had in mind the words of King David in the 51st Psalm: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:,a broken and a contrite heart” (v. 17). David’s words show that even in Old Testament times, the Lord’s people understood that their hearts must be given to God, that burnt offerings alone were not enough.  The sacrifices mandated during the Mosaic dispensation pointed symbolically to the atoning sacrifice of the Messiah, who alone could reconcile sinful man with God. As Amulek taught, “Behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; … the Son of God” (Alma 34:14) ... As in all things, the Savior’s life offers us the perfect example: though Jesus of Nazareth was utterly without sin, He walked through life with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, as manifested by His submission to the will of the Father. “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). To His disciples He said, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). And when the time came to pay the ultimate sacrifice entailed in the Atonement, Christ shrank not to partake of the bitter cup but submitted completely to His Father’s will. The Savior’s perfect submission to the Eternal Father is the very essence of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Christ’s example teaches us that a broken heart is an eternal attribute of godliness. When our hearts are broken, we are completely open to the Spirit of God and recognize our dependence on Him for all that we have and all that we are. The sacrifice so entailed is a sacrifice of pride in all its forms. Like malleable clay in the hands of a skilled potter, the brokenhearted can be molded and shaped in the hands of the Master." (Emphasis mine)

In the October 2001 General Conference, Elder Charles Didier shared an experience and likened it to reconciliation.

"When I was a young man living in a city called Namur in Belgium, there was a large river separating it from an adjacent city on the other side of the river. At that time, only one bridge connected the two cities. It had been built and rebuilt over the remnants of a bridge built centuries before by the Roman conquerors. It had become too narrow for the traffic, and there were too many small arches to allow the passage of large boats and barges. A new bridge was necessary, wider and with only one arch. The work to establish the foundations soon started on both sides of the river. Rapidly, two huge metallic arms began to stretch from each side with the aim to meet together in the middle of the river. I was fascinated by the engineering and rode my bicycle almost every day to watch the progress of the work. Finally the day came when the centerpiece, a cornerstone made of steel, was going to link the two arms together. Crowds were now watching with me the delicate operation, the final step that would join the two arms together and permit crossing the bridge for the first time. When it took place, people applauded, workers embraced; the obstacle of the river had been conquered and overcome.  I mention this experience because of the symbolism that it represents. The bridge is more than a bridge of metal. It symbolizes the bridge of faith enabling us, children of our Heavenly Father, to meet Him again. The centerpiece of the bridge, the cornerstone, represents the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, the link between mortality and immortality, the connection between the natural man and the spiritual man, the change from temporal life to eternal life. It is because of Him that mankind can be reconciled with their Heavenly Father and that we can overcome the walls of sin and mortality, these obstacles that represent spiritual and physical death. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of the plan of salvation, the promised reunion with our Heavenly Father, as we read in the book of Moses: “This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time” (Moses 6:62).  The love of God, the other side of the bridge, is the reward of our faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). The greatest of all the gifts of God is the supreme sacrifice of His Son, His Atonement, that brings not only immortality but also eternal life if we keep His commandments and endure to the end (see D&C 14:7)."(Emphasis mine)

Reconciliation with Christ is essential for our salvation.  May we all do what is necessary to obtain the eternal life promised us by our Savior.

 

2 Nephi 33:1-3

Chapter 33 Heading

Nephi's words are true—They testify of Christ—Those who believe in Christ will believe Nephi's words—They shall stand as a witness before the judgment bar. About 559–545 B.C.
 

1  AND now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

2 Nephi 33:1 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) is finishing his writings.  His death is recorded in the Book of Jacob (see Jacob 1:12).  The heading to Jacob, Chapter 1, dates that chapter beginning 544 BC, one year after the time covered by this chapter.  His life is ending and he wants to leave one last testimony for his people.  As we read his words in this chapter, we should keep this in mind.  It can help us fully understand and appreciate the spirit of his words.

He begins by expressing his concerns that, while he is mighty in speaking, he is a weaker writer.  (I have found Nephi(1)'s words to be very powerful.  If he was a better speaker, I truly wish I could have had the opportunity to hear him preach the gospel.  It must have been quite an experience!)  According to Nephi(1), when someone speaks through the power of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost touches the hearts of the listeners.

This is important because the Holy Ghost testifies to the truthfulness of the gospel, the divinity,words,  and mission of Christ.  He is a powerful witness to us to help us know the truthfulness of what we hear.

In the April 2001 General Conference, then Young Women's General President Margaret D. Nadauld said:

"The Lord promises us that “because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer” (Moro. 8:26).  Your Heavenly Father will help you find the right path as you seek His guidance. Remember though, after you pray you must get off your knees and start doing something positive; head in the right direction! He will send people along the way who will assist you, but you must be doing your part as well. By the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, you can be guided in your trip through life. Point number three—the Holy Ghost is also a testifier. This Holy Spirit can help you really understand deep down inside the most important truth ever known—that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that because of Him every one of us who ever lived will one day live again ... The Holy Spirit is a comforter, a guide, a testifier. What a remarkable and holy member of the Godhead. And you have the right to His influence and inspiration! How blessed and loved you are! " (Emphasis mine)

In the October 2009 General Conference, Elder Richard G. Scott said:

"Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness ...Now I share an experience that taught me a way to gain spiritual guidance. One Sunday I attended the priesthood meeting of a Spanish branch in Mexico City. I vividly recall how a humble Mexican priesthood leader struggled to communicate the truths of the gospel in his lesson material. I noted the intense desire he had to share those principles he strongly valued with his quorum members. He recognized that they were of great worth to the brethren present. In his manner, there was an evidence of a pure love of the Savior and love of those he taught.  His sincerity, purity of intent, and love permitted a spiritual strength to envelop the room. I was deeply touched. Then I began to receive personal impressions as an extension of the principles taught by that humble instructor. They were personal and related to my assignments in the area. They came in answer to my prolonged, prayerful efforts to learn ... As each impression came, I carefully wrote it down. In the process, I was given precious truths that I greatly needed in order to be a more effective servant of the Lord. The details of the communication are sacred and, like a patriarchal blessing, were for my individual benefit. I was given specific directions, instructions, and conditioned promises that have beneficially altered the course of my life ... What I have described is not an isolated experience. It embodies several true principles regarding communication from the Lord to His children here on earth. "  (Emphasis mine)

16  Rejoice evermore.
17  Pray without ceasing.
18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19  Quench not the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (Emphasis mine)

19  ¶ Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side.  Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21  Then said Jesus to them again,
22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

John 20:19- 22 (Emphasis mine)

2  But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.

It appears that there were many who did not accept Nephi(1)'s words.  This, he tells us, is because they harden their hearts against the message.  The words mean nothing to them.  They reject the words and go on as if there's nothing wrong.

1  THE word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,
2  Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 12:1-2 (Emphasis mine)

12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13  But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Matthew 15:12-14 (Emphasis mine)

37  ¶ But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38  That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report?  and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39  Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

John 12:37-40 (Emphasis mine)

3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the flight of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (Emphasis mine) 

17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Ephesians 4:17-18 (Emphasis mine)

3  But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people.  

For I pray continually for them by day, 

     and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; 

and I cry unto my God in faith, 

     and I know that he will hear my cry.

2 Nephi 33:3 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) will not apologize for what he has written (preached) to his people.  He taught what he taught and preached what he preached because he know it was important that his people know and understand these principles.

In the April 2010 General Conference, Elder D. Todd Christofferson said:

"Through the scriptures, God does indeed 'show forth his power' to save and exalt His children. By His word, as Alma said, He enlarges our memory, sheds light on falsehood and error, and brings us to repentance and to rejoice in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.  The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life. And they expand our memory in another sense by teaching us about epochs, people, and events that we did not experience personally. None of us was present to see the Red Sea part and cross with Moses between walls of water to the other side. We were not there to hear the Sermon on the Mount, to see Lazarus raised from the dead, to see the suffering Savior in Gethsemane and on the cross, and we did not, with Mary, hear the two angels testify at the empty tomb that Jesus was risen from the dead. You and I did not go forward one by one with the multitude in the land Bountiful at the resurrected Savior’s invitation to feel the prints of the nails and bathe His feet with our tears. We did not kneel beside Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and gaze there upon the Father and the Son. Yet we know all these things and much, much more because we have the scriptural record to enlarge our memory, to teach us what we did not know. And as these things penetrate our minds and hearts, our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root.  The scriptures also enlarge our memory by helping us not forget what we and earlier generations have learned. Those who either don’t have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence. You will remember how important it was for Lehi’s people to take the brass plates with them when they left Jerusalem. These scriptures were key to their knowledge of God and the coming Redemption of Christ. The other group that 'came out from Jerusalem' shortly after Lehi had no scriptures, and when Lehi’s descendants encountered them some 300 or 400 years later, it is recorded that 'their language had become corrupted; … and they denied the being of their Creator' (Omni 1:15, 17). " (Emphasis mine)

3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:3-4 (Emphasis mine)

39 ¶ Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

John 5:39-40 (Emphasis mine)

15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 3:15-16 (Emphasis mine)

And, despite the people's unwillingness to listen, Nephi(1) prays and weeps for them, because of their unbelief.  And, because of his faith, he knows his prayers will be heard.

4  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Acts 6:4 (Emphasis mine)

17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:17-18 (Emphasis mine)

6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (Emphasis mine)

5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James 1:5-6 (Emphasis mine)

12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do devil.

1 Peter 3:12 (Emphasis mine)

2 Nephi 32:1-9

Chapter 32 Heading

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost—Men must pray and gain knowledge for themselves from the Holy Ghost. About 559–545 B.C.

1  AND now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way.  But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?
2  Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels?  And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?
3  Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.  Wherefore, I said unto you, bfeast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

2 Nephi 32:1-3 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) asks why we carefully consider his words before we made a decision?  He has taught the principles to them, for example, they can speak with the tongue of angels after they have received the Holy Ghost.  He has taught them that angles speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, that they speak the words of Christ.  He tells them to feast on the words of Christ and you will learn all things you must do.

15  ¶ O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
16  Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Jeremiah 15:15-16 (Emphasis mine)

35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:35 (Emphasis mine)

4  Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.
5  For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.6  Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh.  And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do
7  And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.

2 Nephi 32:4-7 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) next informs us if we don't understand these words, it's our fault.  Why?  We don't ask!  It's that simple.  If we ask, we will know the truth.  We will now the way.  The Holy Ghost will show us all things we should do.  This, Nephi(1) writes, is the doctrine of Christ.

And he cannot continue.  He has been commanded the Spirit to stop teaching at this point.  This is because of the wickedness of men.  Even when we receive teachings in plain and simple language, we still cannot understand.  So, he stops. 

5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James 1:5-6 (Emphasis mine)

14  ¶ Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Mark 16:14 (Emphasis mine)

24  Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt?  If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

John 10:24-26 (Emphasis mine)

14  Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Proverbs 28:14 (Emphasis mine)

52  For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Mark 6:52 (Emphasis mine)

8  Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.

2 Chronicles 30:8 (Emphasis mine)

8  And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing.  For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the devil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.
9  But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

2 Nephi 32:8 - 9 (Emphasis mine)

How do we overcome this stiffneckedness?  Pray.  The Spirit teaches us to pray.  It is the devil who teaches us not to pray.  Why shouldn't he?  He knows that if we pray, with a sincere heart, we will receive our answers.  That's the last thing he wants from us.

Nephi(1) closes this chapter telling us to pray always.  Pray that he will consecrate what we do do, so that what we do we do for our welfare.

20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 3:20-21 (Emphasis mine)

17  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 (Emphasis mine)

14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (Emphasis mine)

7  ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 (Emphasis mine)

12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 12:12  (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) emphasized the importance of prayer.  In the October 2008, Elder David A. Bednar spoke on prayer.

"Simply stated, prayer is communication to Heavenly Father from His sons and daughters on earth. “As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part” (Bible Dictionary, “Prayer,” 752) ... prayer is a key part of the spiritual preparation for our day.  " (Emphasis mine)

Praying for guidance in what we do is the way we will receive "consecration in our performance. " In the October 2009 General Conference, Elder Richard G. Scott discussed the importance of spiritual guidance.

"In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness ... Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily. "  (Emphasis mine)

It is up to each one of us to learn the truth of Nephi(1)'s words.  We can do this through prayer.  As our faith grows we will become closer to the Holy Ghost.  As we become more and more in tune with the Holy Ghost, he becomes our guide in life. 

Then we will no longer have to ponder to the word God.  We will know the truthfulness of what we hear and our lives and performance will become consecrated by Christ.  It doesn't get any better than that.

2 Nephi 31:14-21

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.
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.
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.

2 Nephi 31:14-16 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) continues writing about the Savior.  He teaches two additional principles we need to understand.

The first is that, after having gone through the process of accepting Christ and following His example, accepting Him as our Savior, if we deny Him, it would have been better had we never gone through this process. 

32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33  But whosoever shall adeny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33 (Emphasis mine)

11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 (Emphasis mine)

4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Hebrews 6:4-6 (Emphasis mine)

26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 10:26-27 (Emphasis mine)

The next principle is endurance.  After accepting Christ we must remain faithful until the end.  If we do, we are saved.

In the October 2007 General Conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:

"Through the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, every member of the Church can receive “the words of Christ” directly (2 Nephi 32:3), at any time or place. This personal divine guidance helps us to remain valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ and endure to the end of our days. Isn’t this wonderful ...Enduring to the end, or remaining faithful to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout our life, is a fundamental requirement for salvation in the kingdom of God ... Therefore, 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 ... Enduring to the end is a process filling every minute of our life, every hour, every day, from sunrise to sunrise. It is accomplished through personal discipline following the commandments of God.  The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is a way of life. It is not for Sunday only. It is not something we can do only as a habit or a tradition if we expect to harvest all of its promised blessings ...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 (see D&C 59:23). It requires sacrifice and hard work. To endure to the end, we need to trust our Father in Heaven and make wise choices ... By doing our best to endure to the end, a beautiful refinement will come into our lives. We will learn to “do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us]” (Matthew 5:44). The blessings that come to us from enduring to the end in this life are real and very significant, and for the life to come they are beyond our comprehension .  "  (Emphasis mine) 

22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 10:22 (Emphasis mine)

7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (Emphasis mine) 

 

12  Blessed is the man that bendureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

James 1:12 (Emphasis mine) 

 

 

 

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.

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.

2 Nephi 31:17-18 (Emphasis mine) 

 

Nephi(1) tells us to do the things he has told us.  Why?  He has seen Christ to them. 

 

He then tells us we can only enter the gate through a number of actions.  Joseph Smith incorporated these four requirements in the 4th Article of Faith. 

 

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Emphasis mine) 

 

As we enter through the gate, we are on the path that will lead us to eternal life.  We will eventually obtain the great promise to us because we "entered in by the way [we] should receive."

 

13  ¶ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 (Emphasis mine) 

 

We need to always be aware of the path we are following.  The way to destruction is wide and broad.  It is a very easy to get lost on this path.  We need to stay true to His gospel.  This will keep us on the proper path. 

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.
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.
21  And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the away; 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

2 Nephi 31:19-21 (Emphasis mine) 

 

Just getting on the strait and narrow path isn't enough.  Nephi(1) reminds us that we must constantly move forward having a faith in Christ.   

 

Then we are reminded that we are to feast upon the word of Christ.  Here's the etymology of the word feast.  

c.1200, "religious anniversary characterized by rejoicing" (rather than fasting), from Old French feste (12c., Mod.Fr. fête) "religious festival; noise, racket," from Latin *festa (fem. sing.; cf. It. festa, Sp. fiesta), from Latin festa "holidays, feasts," from neuter plural of festus "festive, joyful, merry," related to feriae "holiday" and fanum "temple," from Proto-Indo-European *dhes- "root of words in religious concepts" [Watkins]. The spelling -ea- was used in Middle English to represent the sound we mis-call "long e." Meaning "abundant meal" (whether public or private) is from late 14c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed May 23, 2011, emphasis mine.

A feast is a very special meal.  It is a time of rejoicing.  It is far and beyond a normal meal.  It is given for a special purpose.  When Nephi(1) tells us to feast  on the word of Christ, he is telling us to something more than our everyday effort.  He expects that we will make a special effort in understanding and rejoicing in the words of Christ.  Remember, we are reading the small plates of Nephi which contain the sacred accounts and teachings. Nephi(1) was very selective about what he included.  These teachings, then, are very special and sacred.

The fact is, most of us don't do this.  We read our scriptures and that's it.  We need to spend time looking at the words of God.  These are essential for our salvation.  Most of us spend more time studying worldly things. 

When we study the scriptures, we need to study the scriptures.  Merely reading isn't good enough.  We need to dig into them.  We need to make sure we know what we are being taught.

In my previous post, I discussed the phrase "to fulfil all righteousness" in depth.  Why?  Frankly, I couldn't accurately explain what it means.  I can't count the number of times I've read or hear this phrase.  I've also used the phrase before, not knowing what I was saying.  I started this blog, in part to share my  thoughts about the Book of Mormon, but also to help  me to finally begin studying the word of God, understanding what it is I'm reading.  It takes time, it takes effort, but it's worth it.  In the short time I've been writing this blog, I have grown to better understand and love the Book of Mormon and its teachings about Christ more.  This is because I'm spending more time looking at it in bits and pieces.  

2 Nephi 31:9-13

9  And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the agate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
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?
11  And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.

2 Nephi 31:9-11 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) continues his comments on the baptism of the Savior by emphasizing the example He set.  Through His example He shows us the path we should follow as his disciples.

Then Nephi(1) makes an important point.  How can you follow Jesus if you don't keep His commandments? He tells us to follow Him.  Can a person truly follow Him if he doesn't follow His example?  No!  Christ's life is an example for us.  He shows us the way.  To follow Him, we must obey the commandments.  And one of the commandments is to repent and be baptized in Christ's name.

14  Ye are the alight of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16  Let your alight so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 (Emphasis mine)

12  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

John 13:12-15 (Emphasis mine)

21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 Peter 2:21 (Emphasis mine)

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin discussed following Christ in the April 2002 General Conference.

Have you ever wondered what it must have been like to have lived in the days of the Savior? If you had been there, would you have heeded His call “Follow me”?  Perhaps a more realistic question might be, “If the Savior were to call you today, would you be just as willing to leave your nets and follow Him?” I am confident that many would.But for some, it may not be such an easy decision. Some have discovered that nets, by their very nature, are sometimes not so easy to leave.  Nets come in many sizes and shapes ... Nets in this context can be our work, our hobbies, our pleasures, and, above all else, our temptations and sins. In short, a net can be anything that pulls us away from our relationship with our Heavenly Father or from His restored Church ...Jesus the Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life: no [one] cometh unto the Father, but by [Him].”  As a special witness of Him, I testify to you this day that the time will come when every man, woman, and child will look into the Savior’s loving eyes. On that day, we will know with a surety the worth of our decision to straightway follow Him.That each of us may hear the call of the Master and straightway leave our entangling nets and joyfully follow Him is my earnest prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.  (Emphasis mine)

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.
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 fbaptism—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.

2 Nephi 31:12-13 (Emphasis mine)

After baptism, there is more.  Once we are baptized in His name, we will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This will allow us to "speak with tongue of angels and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel. " This special gift will allow us to not only become closer to Him, but it will allow us to be even better followers of Him.

Merely following Him is not enough.  Nephi(1) teaches us we must follow him with full purpose and real intent.  We must avoid hypocrisy and deception.  We must repent of our sins.  We must show our purpose and intent by following him through baptism and taking upon his His name.  He expects much of His followers.  He gives us much more in return.

what shall we do?
38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:37-38 (Emphasis mine)

29  ¶ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Acts 5:29-32 (Emphasis mine)

 10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 4:10-12 (Emphasis mine)

In the October 2010 session of General Conference, Elder David A. Bednar said:

The Holy Ghost is manifested to men and women on the earth both as the power and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon a person before baptism; it is the convincing witness that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, sincere investigators can acquire a conviction of the truthfulness of the Savior’s gospel, of the Book of Mormon ...We first should desire, yearn for, and seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost. You and I can learn a great lesson about righteous desires from the faithful disciples of the Master described in the Book of Mormon:

“And the twelve did teach the multitude; and behold, they did cause that the multitude should kneel down upon the face of the earth, and should pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus. … And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them” (3 Nephi 19:6, 9).  

Do we likewise remember to pray earnestly and consistently for that which we should most desire, even the Holy Ghost? Or do we become distracted by the cares of the world and the routine of daily living and take for granted or even neglect this most valuable of all gifts? Receiving the Holy Ghost starts with our sincere and constant desire for His companionship in our lives. (Emphasis mine)

I would like to close this post with a few of Elder Bednar's closing words.

I pray we will sincerely desire and appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our daily lives. I also pray each of us will faithfully obey God’s commandments and in reality receive the Holy Ghost. (Emphasis mine)

2 Nephi 31:4-8

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.
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!

2 Nephi 31:4-5 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) makes a particularly important observation that we should remember.  Christ had to be baptized to "fulfill all righteousness."  I find this an interesting phrase.  What exactly does it mean?  Elder Cecil. O. Samuelson gave a talk about this phrase at BYU in 1995.

"Assuming that we would also like 'to fulfil all righteousness.' we need to clearly and more fully understand what this entails. 

"Righteousness has, I suppose, come to have several meanings, but that to which I refer and believe the prophet was describing is that which is 'acting in accord with divine . . . law' (Merriam-Webster's Dictionary). 

"Clearly, because the Savior was sinless and without blemish, fulfilling all righteousness requires much more than just the avoidance of sin. The righteous life then cannot be a merely passive existence but obviously requires active performance and behavior, which has never been promised to be easy ...

"Most of us will not, nor are we expected to, fully appreciate the implications of all of our decisions or actions. Likewise, not all of our choices or deeds will have the same level of impact or influence on ourselves or others. The challenge, however, is that we cannot know, usually, in a prospective way what it is that will make a real difference in our personal lives or in our efforts to serve and bless others. As a result, if we are prudent, we must really act and understand that all we do has the potential to make the real difference for us and for others. Likewise, we must accept the potential reality that what we do not do will also have possible geometric repercussions for many more, and in many more ways, than we might estimate. 

"As important as our good intentions are, in the last analysis it is what we do or do not do that determines real outcomes in our quest to become more like Jesus. 

"These sobering reflections alone might provide a basis for doing all that we can to 'fulfil all righteousness,' because even though the Lord knows the end from the beginning, we are most often not privileged to know now. Admittedly, we do need to do whatever is necessary to avoid the "big" mistakes, but we cannot afford such preoccupation with only escaping sin and bad decisions that we are deflected from doing the good we must do and making the hard but necessary choices we must make ...

"Many of our responsibilities, opportunities, challenges, and crises are uniquely and individually crafted for our own growth, development, and testing. For those that are without direct parallels which might be observed in the lives of others around us, special and individual responses are necessary if we are to be successful in meeting them. Happily, whatever the specific challenges, we have been promised sufficient help to overcome or meet them if we do our parts faithfully ..

"The commandments or 'rules' of God, if you will, have not been given to capriciously or arbitrarily or thoughtlessly vex or punish us. Rather, they have been provided to us as protectors, guides, leaders, teachers, and loyal friends to ensure we have what we need to 'fulfil all righteousness' ...

May we live so that we can do all the things--and especially those that seem only 'little' things--that are so necessary for us  'to fulfil all righteousness.' " (Emphasis mine)

Keeping the commandments, avoiding sin,  and being ready for anything we could face in life are ways to "fulfil all righteousness."  I liked his comment about not knowing which of the things we do will have a profound affect.  We have to treat all challenges as well as opportunities in life the same.  We must treat them as though they will make a difference.

Christ was baptized because it is required of all men.  And Nephi(1) points out that, if Christ, being holy, had need of baptism, how much more need do we have.  Christ's life was an example of how we should live ours.  This is the point Nephi(1) is making.

13 ¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.  Then he suffered him.

Matthew 3:13-15 (Emphasis mine)

5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 (Emphasis mine)

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 Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
8  Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.

2 Nephi 31:6-8 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi

30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 5:30 (Emphasis mine)

21  ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:21 (Emphasis mine)

17  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 (Emphasis mine)

29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

John 8:29 - 30 (Emphasis mine) 

Nephi(1) gives us a powerful truth.  Christ was baptized to fulfil all righteousness.  He was an obedient Son, keeping his Father's commandments.  Christ did that constantly throughout His life.  He is our example; His path will lead to eternal life.   All this is done because it was His responsibility to give us the example of how to live.