Baptism

The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel

During my scripture study earlier this week, I was reading Luke 13:24

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

One of the footnotes sent me over to 2 Ne. 9:41

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.

2 Ne. 31:17 teaches us that the gate is repentance and baptism by water:

For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water;

The narrow way and strait course mentioned in 2 Ne 9:14 is, of course, the “strait and narrow path” mentioned in 2 Ne 31:18

And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate

I share all this because I found it interesting that in 2 Ne. 9:41, Jesus said that he is the keeper of the gate, that he employs no servants there.

Jesus alone lets us through the gate to the strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life. There is no bishop keeping the gate. There is no prophet keeping the gate. There is no elder keeping the gate. There is no priesthood holder there. Just Jesus.

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Kim Siever

Queer Mormon poet with radical political views. I have been married 27 years, and we have 6 children. Sunday school president. Served in the Utah Provo Mission.

2 thoughts on “The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel”

  1. This is not entirely surprising.

    Alma 38:9
    9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.

    Mosiah 3:17
    17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

    Helaman 5:9
    9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

    2 Nephi 31:19
    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.

    “There is no bishop keeping the gate. There is no prophet keeping the gate. There is no elder keeping the gate. There is no priesthood holder there. Just Jesus.”

    Let’s hope that prophets and others are helping us along the path, pointing us to Christ. However, one of the themes of the Book of Mormon seems to me to be that salvation is only in and through Christ and His merits alone.

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