Press Forward

          Today I wanted to blog about one of the central parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that is enduring to the end. In the Book of Mormon the Prophet Nephi put it like this.
 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.

 20 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.

 21 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 31:19-21).

             So the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are so we can become cleansed of our sins through the Atonement of Jesus Christ to achieve Eternal life. They are Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by Immersion for the remission of sins, and receiving the Gift of The Holy Ghost. The first two are principles and the latter two are Ordinances that must be performed by one who holds the Priesthood Authority of God that was restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. Entering into the Covenant of Baptism is the strait and narrow path that Nephi describes in verse 19. After we have done this however we must continue to do the right things and try to live as Christ lived by obedience to his commandments.

              Paul puts it this way "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;" So after we are baptized and receive the Gift of The Holy Ghost this doesn't mean we can throw in our retirement towel. We are only recipients of Heavenly Father's promise of Eternal life if we hold up to our end of the bargain, that is obeying his commandments and always remembering Jesus Christ our Savior who made it all possible. Christ himself said, as recorded by Matthew "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."(Matthew 10:22). We must recognize that we are saved entirely by our Savior Jesus Christ. However we only accept Jesus Christ as we show our Faith through our accepting his invitation "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15).