The Doctrine of Christ

During my mission, my second mission president and his wife focused a lot of what we did on the Doctrine of Christ.  What is the Doctrine of Christ?  Let me refer to the 4th Article of Faith:

"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."

I would like to add "Endure to the End" as the fifth part of the Doctrine of Christ.  

In 2 Nephi 31, we are able to learn all about the Doctrine of Christ.  In verse 2, Nephi tells us that he's going to speak about the Doctrine of Christ, but he will do so plainly.  The plainness of his language will help us understand more easily the things that we need to do.

Our first step - faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ - plays such an important role in the Doctrine of Christ.  As we have faith in God, it makes all the other steps fall into place.  If we don't have that faith in Him, why would we go on to be baptized and confirmed?  We wouldn't.  We have the faith that this is the way that leads back to Him.  This is the path that he showed us.  Faith is a word that entails action.  If we aren't acting on that faith we have, we will lose it.

The second step is repentance.  Why is repentance so important?  According to lds.org, "It is much more than just acknowledging wrongdoings. It is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments."  Repentance is important because we are turning away from our sins to become better.  We draw closer to Christ as we repent and it prepares us for the blessings to come.

Third is the Doctrine of Christ is baptism.  In verse 5, it says, “And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!”  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was baptized.  The Lamb of God who was sinless and perfect was baptized.  He showed us what we need to be baptized to show our willingness to obey God and stand as His witness for our lives.  Being baptized requires that it is done so by one with the proper authority and priesthood given from God.

The fourth step is to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Verse 13 expands on this more.  “Yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, an shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.”  The Holy Ghost witnesses to us of truth and things that are right.  We receive confirmations of things that are good and will bring us closer to Christ.  The Spirit guides, comforts, warns, and testifies.

Finally, enduring to the end is the last, but not easy step.  Verses 15 and 16 of this chapter tell us why we need to endure to the end.  “And I heard a voice from the Father saying:  Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful.  He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.  And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.”  If we are true and faithful to the covenants that we have made with the Father, he will grant us eternal life and we shall be saved.  What a wonderful gift for us to obtain.

The Doctrine of Christ is deliverance!

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father:  Ye shall have eternal life.  And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.  And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end.  Amen.” 

2 Nephi 31:20-21