Gospel Doctrine Commentary
Lesson No. Eleven

Nephi's Final Testimony

Introduction – At the end of his most remarkable life of obedience and service Nephi wrote his final testimony as recorded in 2 Nephi 31–33.  In these chapters he emphasized (1) the doctrine of Christ which gets us on the road to eternal life; (2) the gift of the Holy Ghost which allows us to travel through mortality successfully and endure to the end; and (3) his personal testimony of Christ who has redeemed us and made eternal life possible:    

2 Nephi 31 – The doctrine of Christ includes the following:

  • Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ – Nephi teaches the importance of following the example of Christ by being baptized (31:9-10).  In this way we exercise our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Repentance and baptism – Because we all sin “the Father said:  Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son” (31:11).  
  • The gift of the Holy Ghost – If we repent and follow the example of Christ and are baptized by water “then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost” (31:12-13).
  • Endure to the end – After receiving the Holy Ghost we must endure to the end (31:14-20).
  • Saved in the kingdom of God – “This is the way and there is no other way….This is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (31:21).

2 Nephi 32 – The gift of the Holy Ghost:  After teaching the doctrine of Christ in plainness Nephi perceives that some still do not understand what they must do to stay on the path to eternal life (32:1-4).  Nephi teaches again the importance of receiving the Holy Ghost:  “For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.  Behold this is the doctrine of Christ” (32:5-6).

After we have entered in by the gate of faith, repentance, and baptism by water, to receive the Holy Ghost and stay on the path to eternal life we must do the following:   

  • Feast on the words of Christ:  The words of Christ are found in the scriptures, but we cannot understand the scriptures and apply them in our lives unless we are guided by the Holy Ghost who will show us all things that we should do (32:3-5).
  • Pray to the Father in the name of Christ:  We are to pray and then live as we pray so that our lives may be consecrated, made holy, so that our “performance may be for the welfare of our souls” (32:9).

2 Nephi 33 – Nephi testifies that his words speak of Christ and his redemptive power:

  • If we teach and speak and write “by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men” (33:1).
  • Unfortunately, “there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them” (33:2).
  • If we apply the doctrine of Christ and “enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation (33:9)” we will “be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day” (33:12).

My testimony – We can receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost through temple worship:  Nephi’s testimony of the importance of the Holy Ghost reminds me that one of the great blessings of living in the latter days is the increased opportunity for temple worship.  Joseph Smith introduced the doctrine of temple worship in the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple.  The Kirtland Temple was the first temple in our dispensation, and the dedicatory prayer was given to Joseph by revelation.  Joseph prayed:  “And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall worship in this house…that they may grow up in thee, and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost” (D&C 109:14-15).

This is the only place in scripture that the phrase “a fulness of the Holy Ghost” is used.  These are not idle words, and may best be understood by applying the principles of physics.  Physics teach that a small increase in the diameter of a pipe or a conduit exponentially increases the volume that can flow through the conduit.  The Holy Ghost is the conduit that spiritual gifts and powers flow into our lives.  If we can increase the conduit of the Holy Ghost into our lives to a fullness the spiritual gifts and blessings that follow will spill over into every dimension of our lives. 

The Holy Ghost will show us all things that we should do.  If we receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost through temple worship we will be blessed in our marriage, in our family, in raising our children, in our relationships with others, in our work and profession, in our studies, and in our callings.  In short temple worship will bless us in every righteous endeavor and responsibility.