|
THE BOOK OF NEPHI THE SON OF NEPHI, WHO WAS THE SON OF HELAMAN Jesus Christ did show himself unto the people of Nephi, as the multitude were gathered together in the land Bountiful, and did minister unto them; and on this wise did he show himself unto them. [Comprising chapters 11 to 26 inclusive.] |
||
|
|
|
|
CHAPTER 11The Father testifies of the Beloved Son—Christ appears and proclaims his atonement—The people feel the wound marks in his hands and feet and side—They cry Hosanna—He sets forth the mode and manner of baptism—The spirit of contention is of the devil—Christ's doctrine is that men should believe and he baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. [A.D. 34] |
||
|
1 AND now it came to pass that there were a
great multitude
agathered together, of the people of Nephi, round
about the templea which was in the
land bBountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one
with another, and were showing one to another the
cgreat and marvelous change which had taken place.
2 And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the asign had been given concerning his death.
|
1a round about the temple The warning that has been given is 'stand ye in holy places'. |
1a
Hel. 3:14 (9, 14) b Alma 22:29; 3 Ne. 3:23 c 3 Ne. 8:12 (11-14) 2a Hel. 14:20 (20-27); 3 Ne. 8:5 (5-25)
|
|
3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with
another, they heard a avoice as if it came out of heaven;
and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which
they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice;
nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a bsmall
voice it did cpierce them that did hear to the center,
insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to
quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts
to burna.
4 And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they aunderstood it not.
|
5a it being a small voice it did pierce
them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their
frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very
soul, and did cause their hearts to burn
|
3a
Deut. 4:33;
Ezek. 1:24;
Hel. 5:29 (28-36) b 1 Kings 19:12 (11-13); D&C 85:6 c 1 Sam. 3:11; Jer. 20:9 4a Ezek. 1:24-28; 1 Cor. 14:2
|
|
5 And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did
aopen their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound
thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from
whence the sound came.
6 And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them: 7 Behold my aBeloved Son, bin whom I am well pleaseda, in whom I have glorified my nameb—hear ye himc.
|
7a Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased This is the voice of God the Father, the Father of
the spirits of all mankind. It is God the Father who is speaking.
7b in whom I have glorified my name The Father anointed and ordained the Son in the preexistence. There the Father did place His name upon the Son that through the Son he might administer unto the needs of His spirit children in bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, which is God's work and his glory. That the Son did administer successfully, bring about the atonement and resurrection so that man might have immortality and eternal life, is to effectively being about the glory of God. Thus the Father has glorified His name in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ having taken upon Himself the name of the Father to so glorify it, thus giving the glory to the Father. 7c hear ye him In all matters of this Second Estate, it is the Son, Jehovah, even Jesus Christ who is the Ministering God of this estate. Only those who pertain to this world, or this temporal estate, may minister unto it (D&C 130:5). Only in the case of introduction and identification does the Father take part. All else is done by the hand of 'The Son', from the creation of this estate to the end thereof. There is no other way! |
5a
Job 36:15;
D&C 101:92 7a Matt. 3:17; Matt. 17:5; JS-H 1:17; TG Witness of the Father b 3 Ne. 9:15
|
 8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they asaw a Man bdescending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them. 9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying: 10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. 11 And behold, I am the alight and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter bcup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in ctaking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the dwill of the Father in all things from the beginninga.
|
11a from the beginning From the very beginning, at the time he was selected, Jehovah, the son did submit to the will of the Father, giving Him all the glory, then stating "Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever." (Moses 4:2). |
8a
1 Ne. 12:6;
2 Ne. 26:1, 9;
Alma 16:20; Ether. 3:17-18 b Acts 1:9-11 11a TG Jesus Christ, Light of the World b John 18:11 c John 1:29 d Mark 14:36 (32-42); Luke 22:42; John 6:38; Hel. 10:4; D&C 19:2
|
|
12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the
whole multitude afell to the earth; for they remembered
that it had been bprophesied among them that Christ should
cshow himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.
13 And it came to pass that the aLord spake unto them saying: 14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may athrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may bfeel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the cGod of Israel, and the God of the whole deartha, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
|
14a the God of the whole earth Here Jesus Christ does state that he is the God of the whole earth. There is much meaning in this statement. First, it clarifies that he is not only the God of Israel, but of all the earth. Second, as being the creator of heaven and earth, certainly he is the God thereof. Third, by the commision of the Father, he stand in the stead of the Father in all things, acting as, for and in behalf of the Father. Fourth, also because of that commision, he is the Redeemer and Savior of the earth, the only one true God of this second estate and salvation come by and through none else. He is the only way by and through which man may be saved. |
12a
TG
Reverence b Alma 16:20 c 3 Ne. 10:19 13a TG Jesus Christ, Lord 14a John 20:27 b Luke 24:39 (36-39); D&C 129:2 c Isa. 45:3; 3 Ne. 15:5; D&C 36:1; D&C 127:3 d Ex. 9:29; 1 Ne. 11:6
|
 16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying: 17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did aworship him.
|
15a
3 Ne. 18:25; TG Jesus Christ, Appearances, Postmortal 17a TG Worship
|
|
|
18 And it came to pass that he spake unto aNephi
(for Nephi was among the multitude) and he commanded him that he should come
forth.
19 And Nephi arose and went forth, and abowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet. 20 And the Lord commanded him that he should aarise. And he arose and stood before him. 21 And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you apower that ye shall bbaptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.
|
18a
3 Ne. 1:2-3, 10;
3 Ne. 7:15, 20, 23 19a Ex. 34:8; Ether 6:12; b 3 Ne. 17:10 20a Josh. 7:10; Ezek. 2:1-2 21a TG Church Organization; TG Priesthood Authority b TG Baptism, Essential
|
|
|
22 And again the Lord called aothers, and said unto
them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them:
On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be bno
disputations among you.
23 Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your awords and bdesireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them--Behold, ye shall go down and cstand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them. 24 And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: 25 Having aauthority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the bFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 26 And then shall ye aimmerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water. 27 And after this manner shall ye abaptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are bone; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are onea.
|
27a the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one Now the 'Unity of the Godhead' needs be understood. For we are not subject unto a Godhead that is divided as to its purpose and performance. But the purpose and intent of God the Father of Spirits, God the Firstborn Son of the Father, and God the Holy Ghost which witnesses unto the hearts of men of the Father and the Son; is but one purpose. They are united in it. And it is that which underlies the entire purpose and intend of the heavens of the earth and all things that in them are. And that single purpose and intent is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. And in this they are united and in this they do act and perform as one in unity to the end that man might be saved and redeemed from this Second Estate. Without having this critical understanding of the 'oneness' and 'unity' of the Godhead, man might question and attempt to distinguish between the and so divide them as to intent and purpose. But in this they are united and inseparable unto any other intent and purpose. They do not act at cross purposes, but stand united in all things, the one like unto the other. NOT that they are the same being, three in one in that sense, but that they do stand together as a single united Godhead to the end of that one single purpose. They have the one common goal which is the very purpose of the Plan of Eternal Progress, that Plan of Salvation, the Plan of Redemption, that Plan of God. The Son united to and with the Father in it. Yielding himself unto the will and mind of the Father in it in all things, giving and returning all glory unto Him. Not being at divided intents and purposes as was and would have been in the case of that which was proposed by Lucifer, that son of the morning who did oppose that single purpose, proposing his own plan which was not in unity with the Father. And thus was Satan separated from the presence of the Father, being cast down to this earth, opposing that plan in which the 'Gods' stood united as One together. |
22a
1 Ne. 12:7;
3 Ne. 12:1 b 1 Cor. 11:16-19; 3 Ne. 18:34; TG Disputations 23a Mosiah 26:15-16; 3 Ne. 12:2 b TG Baptism, Qualifications for c 3 Ne. 19:11 (10-13) 25a Mosiah 18:13; Alma 5:3; D&C 20:73; TG Delegation of Responsibility; TG Priesthood Authority b TG Godhead 26a Moses 6:52; TG Baptism, Emmersion; TG Jesus Christ, Types of, in Memory 27a TG Baptism b Alma 11:44; 3 Ne. 28:10; Morm. 7:7; D&C 20:28
|
|
28 And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And
there shall be no adisputations among you, as there have
hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the
points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.
29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of acontention is not of me, but is of the bdevil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. 30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things ashould be done away.
|
28a
Acts 4:32;
1 Cor. 1:10-13; Eph. 4:13 (11-14); D&C 38:27; TG Disputations 29a 2 Tim. 2:24 (23-24); Morish 23:15; TG Contention b Eph. 4:27 (26-27); Morish 2:32-33; Alma 2:5; Alma 45:23; Hel. 4:1 30a Mark. 9:50; John 16:33
|
|
|
31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto
you my adoctrinea.
32 And this is my adoctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear brecord of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the cHoly Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. 33 And whoso believeth in me, and is abaptized, the same shall be bsaved; and they are they who shall cinherit the kingdom of God. 34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not abaptized, shall be damned. 35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso abelieveth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the cHoly Ghost.
Thus, '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.' This foundational Doctrine of Christ provides the way back to the presence of God in the Kingdom of God. This is the simpleness and easiness of the way. It is a four step process by which heaven may be obtained. And if one is found to be in this path, living according to the Word of Christ, endureing therein until the end, then their Salvation is guaranteed |
31a I will declare unto you my
doctrine The fundamental doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
is quite simple and easy to understand. It is based in the first four
principles of the Gospel. The Savior in a few short verses outlines just
what His Doctrine is.
|
31a
John 18:37;
2 Ne. 31:21 (2-21) 32a TG Jesus Christ, Teaching Mode of b 1 John 5:7 (6-9); TG Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father c 3 Ne. 28:11; Ether 5:4; Moses 1:24 33a Mark 16:16; TG Baptism, Essential b TG Salvation, Plan of c TG Exaltation 34a TG Baptism 35a Ether. 4:12 b 3 Ne. 9:20; 3 Ne. 12:2 c TG Holy Ghost, Baptism of
|
|
36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the
aHoly Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the
Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are bone.
37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and abecome as a blittle childa, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things. 38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little achild, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. 39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my adoctrine, and whoso bbuildeth upon this buildeth upon my rocka, and the cgates of hell shall not prevail against them.
|
37a ye must repent, and become as a
little child A little child is all trusting and full of faith. He
is teachable and willing to believe in and submit unto all things which his
parent does led him in. He operates in the simpleness of mind that he will
do all things which his just parent would command him to do. Thus is the faith
and the ways of a little child. 39a whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock While Christ's Doctrine is pure and simple, it is but the foundation upon which one must first build before that 'process' may be put into functionary use. The process of faith, repentance, rebirth, and spiritual guidance is the way, but then one must consider, 'repent of what'? And that is where man may build his own way to enable himself to become Even As God Is. To speak of all that God Is would amount to volumes upon volumes and yet there would not be room enough to contain all that God is that mortal man may comprehend all things. Thus God has given to man the 'process' whereby line by line, precept by precept, man may step by step become Even As God Is. This foundational process is the Doctrine of Christ. Man must start with that process or faith, repentance, rebirth, and spiritual guidance receiving line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and by the continual process of progressive repentance accompanied with faith, progressive revelation of our own ignorance and shortcomings compared to what God is, we may continue to repent, calling upon the name of God in a progressive process of these first four principles until we have obtained all and become Even As God Is. |
36a
TG
Holy Ghost, Source of Testimony b TG Godhead; TG Unity 37a Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17 b 3 Ne. 9:22 38a TG Baptism, Qualifications for 39a Mark 4:2 b Matt. 7:24-29; 1 Pet. 2:6 (4-8); 1 Ne. 13:36; TG Rock c Matt. 16:18; 3 Ne. 18:13 (12-13); D&C 17:8
|
|
40 And whoso shall adeclare more or less than
this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not
built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a bsandy
foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods
come and the winds beat upon thema.
41 Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth. |
40a whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. So why then are such things as temple ordinances and the higher ordiances of the priesthood not contained there in? And why does it teach that 'whoso shall declare more of less than this ... ' etc.? As already mentioned, all that God Is connot be contained in the books of mortal man. Thus God has given us the 'Process' the 'Plan of Eternal Progression'. And here in lies the Fulness of the Gospel in the completeness of that Eternal Plan of Progression whereby man may become As God Is. God is all knowing, all powerful and ever present. Such traits of God are beyond this mortal existance attainment, thus it will take a continued process beyond this life to attain it. But if man is found faithful by enduring upon this path to the end of this life, he is guaranteed that he will successfully continue on that path and become as his Father in Heaven Is. Some of those additional 'line items' such as God's Commandments, Laws, Rules and Ordinances are revealed to man now, others such as that ordinance of the Resurrection will be given and learned later. But the basic process is the same and it is the process of the Doctrine of Christ by which all may be obtained is one will continue to be faithful and practice continual repentance and rebirth until he has taken upon himself the full image and countenance of Christ in all things, thus becoming 'ONE' in harmony and unity with God the Father and the Son, being made one with them as they are one. (See D&C 10:64-70 for a like reference). |
40a
Rom. 16:17-19;
1 Tim. 1:3 b 3 Ne. 14:26 (24-27) ;
|
| This BM Book | Previous BM Chapter | Next BM Chapter | Commentary Page | Home Page |