Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 13
13:11 Matthew said "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way" (7:23). This seems to present
Hebrew parallelism, since "strait" means close-fitting or narrow. Nephi gives the concept of a
direct path, "straight" (I N. 13:25) toward the goal of eternal life. Both terms apply well.
Some church leaders have changed the gateway and made it broader and easier to get in. These
deny that baptism or other sacraments which Christ put in the church are necessary to salvation.
2 Ne 13:15 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.
13:15 Nephi's testimony on this point confirms that of Peter (Acts 2:38), and that of Paul (Acts
19:5, 6). Receiving the Holy Spirit does not automatically follow water baptism. There are
conditions to be met. One must repent and be baptized (II N. 13:14) and accept the leadership of
Jesus by following in his path, doing the things he did in obedience to God's commands.
2 Ne 13:16 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;
13:16 Nephi was now speaking out of many years of experience. While no two men are exactly
alike, and one cannot say that his own experience will be precisely duplicated by that of another
person, Nephi was giving assurance that his experience could and would be the same as others
under the conditions given.
Like Peter, he knew that "God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him,
and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34, 35)
FAITHFULNESS IN CHRIST, VER. 18-32
2 Ne 13:20 He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
13:20 The Reformation doctrine which proclaimed "Once in grace always in grace" is mentioned
in only a few pulpits and on special occasions now. With this change has also disappeared the
once popular dogma of conversion as instantaneous salvation. Paul wrote the Philippian saints,
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling'. (Phil. 2: 12). James made it clear that
salvation involved both the cross and endurance. Matthew recorded him as saying, "He that
endureth to the end shall be saved" and again, "He who taketh not his cross and followeth after
me, is not worthy of me" (Matt. 10:19,33; Mn. 4:95).
The necessity for faithfulness as long as life shall last is definitely taught in the Hebrew epistle.
"For he [God] hath made it impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of
the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted of the good word of
God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to be renewed again unto
repentance; seeing they crucify unto themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open
shame" (Heb. 6:4-6).