I came across something interesting last night that I never thought of before.
In 2 Ne 31:17-18, we read:
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. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life.
Now that may not seem like much, but let’s look at 2 Ne 9:41, which I read last night:
The way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate.
Consider then, the phrase “come unto the Lord”, a phrase found throughout the scriptures. A common understanding of this phrase is for us to follow Jesus, to live as he did. The scripture above seems to imply that the phrase is actually a baptismal invitation.
Actually, one could go a bit further and say it’s a invitation to partake in eternal life, which is only possible by our walking through the gate of repentance and baptism.
but we have always known this Kim
Is this question hinting at the tendancy of people to grossly overestimate what is required ofthem to lead a Christlike life? I find that a lot of the stress and depression of life is caused by people setting too high expectations of their personal journey towards eternal life. Love him or hate him, I remember a line from McConkies biography in which he felt most people are doing okay and shouldn’t worry so much. (of course that is a terrible paraphrasing as it has been several years since I have read it). Maybe just performing the ordinances and striving to do our best afterwards is all that is required to be perfect.
I’ve only just noticed that through the whole passage the word ‘he’ is not capitalised.
Is it standard operating practice that pronouns pertaining to God and Jesus are not capitalised in the Book of Mormon?
Yes, Rick. Same goes for the KJV.
Kim,
I’m thinking that, as with most scriptures, they are layered and have greater meaning to those who have studied them longer and have paid attention.
your consideration here:
“the phrase “come unto the Lord”, a phrase found throughout the scriptures. A common understanding of this phrase is for us to follow Jesus, to live as he did. The scripture above seems to imply that the phrase is actually a baptismal invitation.”
I agree. when I was having the missionary discussions. I would have to say that I read the scriptures and looked for the meaning of what I was being taught, which was very much faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the holy ghost.
“Actually, one could go a bit further and say it’s a invitation to partake in eternal life, which is only possible by our walking through the gate of repentance and baptism.”
And now, 11 years on, mission, marriage, kids, I would have to say that I look for the eternal perspective in the scriptures. At the least, I relate my life situation to an eternal perspective. So now, it’s about keeping temple covenants, teaching our children and so on.
Thanks for that, Jason. I agree it is important that we keep in mind an eternal perspective on this. Perhaps that’s what Jacob was getting at.