2 Nephi 31:1-2

Chapter 31

Nephi tells why Christ was baptized—Men must follow Christ, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end to be saved—Repentance and baptism are the gate to the strait and narrow path—Eternal life comes to those who keep the commandments after baptism. About 559–545 B.C.

Nephi concludes his prophesying and explains that, what he has written, constitute “but a few things” about his prophesying and the words of his brother, Jacob.

  Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few words which I ^amust speak concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying.

Nephi is satisfied with what he has written so far; however, Nephi writes he must “speak concerning the doctrine of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:2).

Behold, my soul delighteth in proving

      unto my people

      the truth of the coming of Christ;

for this end

     hath the law of Moses

          been given;

     and all things

          which have been given of God

from the beginning of the world,

     unto man,

are the typifying of him.

And also

     my soul delighteth

     in the covenants of the Lord

          which he hath made

               to our fathers;

yea, my soul delighteth

     in his grace,

     and in his justice,

     and power,

     and mercy

in the great

     and eternal plan

          of deliverance from death.

And my soul

     delighteth in proving

          unto my people

          that save Christ should come

all men must perish.

                                                                2 Nephi 11:4-6

Noel Reynolds explains the importance of this chapter in the Book of Mormon.

Nephi and his brother Jacob apparently spoke of the gospel of Jesus Christ by the name of the "doctrine of Christ" (see 2 Nephi 31:2, 21; 32:6; Jacob 7:2, 6). They used these two terms for the teaching of Christ interchangeably (see Jacob 7:6). The elements of this teaching were presented by Joseph Smith in a shortened form, in the Wentworth Letter, as the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. They are: First, faith in Jesus Christ. We are to believe in Him and to obey Him. Second, to repent of all our sins, coming down into the depths of humility. Third, to be baptized by water. Here, Nephi gives us distinctive understanding about the meaning of baptism, for he represents our being baptized as a witness that we make, a witness to the Father, as we do when we take the sacrament, that we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ and to always keep His commandments, and that we are to remember Him always.[1]

In the Book of Mormon, there are three major statements concerning the Gospel of Christ (refereed to the “doctrine of Christ” [see 2 Nephi 31:2]).  We can take the following sets of scriptures, 2 Nephi 31, 3 Nephi 11, and 3 Nephi 27 and develop the basic principles and ordinances of the Gospel. 

The chart below outlines these principles and ordinances.[2]

The Gospel in the Book of Mormon

1. Believe in Christ

2. Repent

3. Be baptized

4. Be cleansed by the Holy Ghost

5. Endure to the end.

6. Enter God’s Kingdom.

See 2 Nephi 31:2-32:6; 3 Nephi 11:23-39; 3 Nephi 27:13-21

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[1] Nephi's Teachings in the Book of Mormon, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute, accessed January 12, 2014.

[2]Charting the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch and J. Gregory Welch, FARMS, Provo, UT, 2007, Chart 56.