Part 4 in a series entitled, “The Covenant Path Unveiled”.  The purpose is to clarify what the covenant path is, to unveil the simplicity and beauty of the true covenant path so that it does not lose its meaning and that you know the true way to personal redemption.  My witness is that anything else is the work of darkness to frustrate your personal journey “in and through” Jesus Christ.

Continuing with the discussion of the doctrine of Christ (covenant path) in the words of the Savior, Jesus Christ, found in 3 Nephi chapters 11-30:

What did the Lord say were His purposes in teaching His doctrine (covenant path)?

“So that there are no disputations of the His doctrine” 11:22 And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you. 28 And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been. 29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. 30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away. 31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine. 32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me… 35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost… 39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. 40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock [personal revelation by the gift of the Holy Ghost], but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them. 21:6 For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel; 18:34 And I give you these commandments because of the disputations which have been among you. And blessed are ye if ye have no disputations among you.

“So they can teach the correct doctrine to others” 11:41 Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth.

What are the Lord’s invitations associated with His doctrine (covenant path)? 

11:41  Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth.

12:3  Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… 19 And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled. 20 Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven… 23 Therefore, if ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee—24 Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you.

18:25 And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.

27:21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do; 29 Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened… 33 And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work.

Who is the Central Figure in His doctrine?–The only means of Salvation in the covenant path (In what/whom can you or do you put your hope and faith?)

11:11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning… 14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world… 25 Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen… 29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. 32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. 33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. 34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned. 35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. 36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

12:1 … I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am. 2 And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am… 19 And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled. 20 Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven… 46 Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.

27:13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me. 14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

At first, this last question might seem obvious.  However, I invite you to do a little more pondering about who or what you put your trust, dependence, loyalty, and faith for salvation?  Is there a person other than the Savior that you believe can offer you personal redemption?  A group of people?  An institution?  Be very honest with yourself.

Remember, idols are not lifeless statues. An idol is anyone or anything or any loyalty that we choose to place between us and a personal and celestial relationship (revelation) with the Savior, Jesus Christ. It is also anyone or anything we depend on for truth, salvation, and exaltation.

I invite all of us to ask the Lord to teach us what our own idolatry is. We must be honest, be very, very honest with ourselves.

The reality is not a pretty picture but it is essential to identify it and remove it. It is a living and cultivating darkness within any soul. Once you have identified it, work with the Lord to develop your plan to remove it and overcome it.

This may be the hardest thing you have ever done (to change your loyalties) but it will remove existing barriers to your personal ascension. The Lord wants your whole/entire heart, might and mind. Heart = your focus; Might = your will (faith); Mind = Open to his voice/personal revelation. Any idol (person, thing, loyalty) that exists is a barrier to receiving ALL of Him. ALL of YOU enables ALL of HIM.

The Nature of the Path

Just a few unique characteristics to ponder that the Lord taught about His doctrine (covenant path).

1.  It is a singular and absolute path

Also known in scripture as the Lord’s law, because it was the only path offered by the Lord God and made available to mankind.

• John 10:1  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
• Helaman 5:9  “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 31:21  “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.”
• Mosiah 3:17  “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.”
• Alma 38:9  “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.”
• 2 Nephi 9:41  “O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, 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; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.”

2.  It is straight, narrow with no deviation

• 2 Nephi 31:18-19  “And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. 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.”
• 1 Nephi 8:20  “And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.”
• 2 Nephi 33:9  “I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto 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.”
• Jacob 6:11  “O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life.”
• 3 Nephi 14:14  “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
• 3 Nephi 27:33  “And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work.”
• Matthew 7:14  “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

3.  His doctrine comes with a warning

The doctrine of Christ comes with a warning from the Lord…nothing is to be added to or taken away from it:

• 3 Nephi 11:41 “And whoso shall declare more or less than this [His law and covenant path for personal salvation], and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock [personal revelation from the Lord God]; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.”

This may be hard to do for some, but do not try to retrofit modern day church culture or even try to retrofit the temple into the doctrine of Christ as taught by the Lord.  (Note: a future blog post on the relationship between the temple and the doctrine of Christ is coming soon.)

The covenant path is “in and through” Jesus Christ only—no other person, group, or institution can offer it.  An additional point to ponder:  The doctrine of Christ (covenant path) is not a group effort to group salvation.  Other souls can be encouraging to our own personal journey but salvation has been, is and always will be personal or individual.

I invite you to ponder that for a moment. Then ask questions to the Lord. Discern the answers.

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For more understanding of this covenant path and its milestones taught throughout the scriptures, you are welcome to begin your personal study and your own journey in and through the doctrine of Christ through The Doctrine of Christ Study Guide.  Also, to help you increase your confidence in personal revelation and develop your own gift of discernment, I invite you to study The 3 Voices of Personal Revelation Study Guide.

In the next and final segment in this series (The “Covenant Path” Unveiled), we will try to help you figure out which path you are on.

Part 3     |     –     |     Part 5

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