Keep His commandments which He has given them

“And keep His commandments which He has given them”

We often think of the commandments as a long list. Seeming more like 100 ways to be nice to others from some self-improvement new age site. To be really nice all the time to all people and treat them as Jesus would treat them would require memorization and practice of all the ways to be nice and how to avoid ways of being mean. This seems like a Herculean task, impossible for the media weary generation of narcissists. Benjamin Franklin tried such a self-improvement plan and in his Autobiography said:

But, on the whole, tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so amblitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavor, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it ….It will be remarked that, tho’ my scheme was not wholly without religion, there was in it no mark of the distinguishing tenets of any particular sect. I had purposely avoided them[i]

So we read with great interest how Jesus Christ in his own words tells us how to become like Him in 3 Nephin 11-18. Obviously, as Ben Franklin found out, doing so without religion leaves the strongest motivation and help on the table, unused and we end up “far short of it.” Self help books are proliferating in a time of lost faith, disbelief, materialism, and religion bashing. Nothing has changed in nearly 300 years or millennia if we take Aristotle’s Virtues for our guide like Benjamin Franklin did.

The greatest motivation to do good and be good will always be the pure love of God, agape, that we first feel from Him as we try to draw near to Him and then want so badly to share with others once we have tasted of its sweetness, light and joy. We see this in the Tree of Life vision that Lehi and Nephi shared where the tree of life and its fruit, the Love of God, was so sweet that Lehi wanted to share it with everyone. In doing so, he secured his salvation. Others were selfish and after tasting the fruit, did not try to share it with anyone, but looked around for other reasons and saw the mockers shaming them. They wandered off and were lost in forbidden paths.

So what are the simple commandments of Jesus Christ that we promise to obey in order to come unto Him in this life and inherit eternal life with Him and God, the Father in the next life? They are in their simplest form in the Book of Mormon when Jesus Christ in person as a resurrected being gives them to the ancient inhabitants of the Americas:

Believe in Christ, repent and be baptized.

3 Nephi 11:32 I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.

3 Nephi 11:33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Repent, become as a little child and be baptized:

3 Nephi 11:37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.

3 Nephi 11:38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

Why is the order different in these verses? Could it be that since there is no time with God or when the Holy Ghost is present, all things happen at once. Only with our time corrupted minds do we see differences and ordering generated by the left brain’s madness in sequencing, prioritizing, judging, ordering and comparing. The intuitive right brain seeks wholeness and is more susceptible to spiritual promptings from the Holy Ghost. Also we just all may be so unique and different that for some the humility comes before baptism and for others it comes after. Either way, there is more going on here than just repetition.

Baptize and there shall be no disputations among you. Pondering why only moments after His appearance Jesus commands us not to argue over doctrine, one can hardly escape the conclusion that unity on ordinances is of the highest priority for newly baptized Saints:

3 Nephi 11:22 And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you.

Receive the Holy Ghost, the baptism of fire:

3 Nephi 11:35 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.

Love God and Man:

3 Nephi 11:36 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

37 This is the first and great commandment.

38 And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

39 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

So we see that in Jesus’ view, the 10 commandments and the 613 commandments of the Law of Moses and the Prophets are simple. Love God totally and love your fellowman as yourself. But just to be sure, he describes what it means to love our fellowman who is made in the image of the God whom we worship in the rest of the Sermon at the temple.[ii]

To sum up His instruction so far, which He calls His doctrine, He compares this foundation to a rock. The rest of the commandments are the building which we will build upon the rock brick by brick as we learn His ways throughout our lives:

3 Nephi 11:39 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

The rest of the commandments Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon at the Temple in Book of Mormon Bountiful follow from the two great commandments and exemplify what it looks like to others when we live them with full surrender to God and His Son’s ways.

Give heed to the twelve He called:

3 Nephi 12:1 Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost;

Come unto the Savior with sincere desire:

3 Nephi 12:3 Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Hunger and thirst after righteousness:

3 Nephi 12:6 And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Be merciful. As we are forgiven much, forgive others likewise:

3 Nephi 12:7 And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Be pure in heart:

3 Nephi 12:8 And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Be a peacemaker. Die without perceiving any enemies, only other children of God who need your help:

3 Nephi 12:9 And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

Be steadfast in Christ in the face of persecution:

3 Nephi 12:10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;

12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.

Salt that is mixed with dirt loses its savor. Likewise, the light of Christ that is dimmed by human philosophical baskets is next to useless. Be pure salt, flavorful saints, do good works and hold up the light of Christ for all to see:

3 Nephi 12:13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

15 Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;

16 Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

We come unto Christ by keeping His commandments and ordinances:

3 Nephi 12:19 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.

Do not kill, but more importantly change the inward anger that leads to murder by replacing it with pure Christ-like sacrificial love undefiled:

3 Nephi 12:21 Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, and it is also written before you, that thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God;

22 But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

When coming unto Christ, first settle all disagreements with reconciliation with all who are offended by us, just as Christ reconciled us with the Father through the atonement.

3 Nephi 12:23 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.

Turn your enemies to you by working things out quickly with them as soon as there is a disagreement:

3 Nephi 12:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time he shall get thee, and thou shalt be cast into prison.

26 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence until thou hast paid the uttermost senine. And while ye are in prison can ye pay even one senine? Verily, verily, I say unto you, Nay.

Do not covet, lust or want any relationship outside the sacred marriage covenant. Cleanse the inner vessel, the inner life of thoughts, desires and motivations. Purify our every desire by placing it on Christ and His ways:

3 Nephi 12:27 Behold, it is written by them of old time, that thou shalt not commit adultery;

28 But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery already in his heart.

29 Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart;

30 For it is better that ye should deny yourselves of these things, wherein ye will take up your cross, than that ye should be cast into hell.

Do not swear or use the Lord’s name in vain:

3 Nephi 12:33 And again it is written, thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths;

34 But verily, verily, I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;

36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair black or white;

37 But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever cometh of more than these is evil.

Turn the other cheek rather that escalate the fight:

3 Nephi 12:38 And behold, it is written, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;

39 But I say unto you, that ye shall not resist evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also;

Pay more than owed to ensure peace:

3 Nephi 12:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also;

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Lend to borrowers as God lends you life and prosperity:

3 Nephi 12:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away.

Do good to all who seek to harm you in any way:

3 Nephi 12:43 And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy;

44 But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.

The overriding goal is to become like Jesus Christ and God, the Father. There is no unity in disparity. If we are to be one with them as the Savior prayed we would be, we must become like them:

3 Nephi 12:48 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Give to the poor in secret for the right reasons—to give as Christ gave, not to be seen openly of men and be controlled by their manipulating praise:

3 Nephi 13:1 Verily, verily, I say that I would that ye should do alms unto the poor…

3 Nephi 13:3 But when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth;

3 Nephi 13:4 That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.

Pray in secret, not to be seen of men, and not to use vain repetitions, but to pray like Jesus, humble like a child, ever grateful, ever obedient:

 3 Nephi 13: 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

12 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

13 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Divine forgiveness can be ours, not just being forgiven of our own sins, but having the Father’s tender, merciful forgiving heart in our heart of hearts, kindness to all His children everywhere:

3 Nephi 13: 14 For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you;

.Jesus gave a new law of the fast to replace the hypocritical law of the fast misinterpreted by the Pharisees:

3 Nephi 13: 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father, who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

 

Do not accumulate worldly wealth, but rather multiply good deeds, the only treasure that accumulates and is valued in Heaven:

 

3 Nephi 13: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

If we make Christ the center of our life, our eyes are only on Him, we are flooded with the light of eternal glory. Next to the light that comes from total commitment to Christ, all shades of grey from mixing scripture with worldly philosophies looks like darkness:

3 Nephi 13: 22 The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon

Judgement separates us from those we judge. We lose the unity with God who is still attached to the one we judge because He loves without reservation all His children as we should:

3 Nephi  14:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Give as Jesus gives, line upon line, parables for those not ready, to each according to his needs and preparation to hear the word of God which is the ultimate kindness, knowing they will be judged for rejecting that which they are not ready to receive:

3 Nephi 14:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

The Universe is full of the Glory of God and any who has seen anything of the heavens above sees God moving in His Majesty and Splendor. The Glory of God is Intelligence, and the Holy Ghost is broadcasting all truth from all time to all parts of the vast Universe of God’s creations, but more specifically to each and every human heart. We only have to open our eyes and ears and hearts to listen and feel the glorious symphony of infinite truth and knowing without limit:

3 Nephi 14:7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

We can turn our selfish desires to receive that which we have not earned into unselfish gifts to those who likewise do not deserve them. In this way we become ever more like the kind and infinitely merciful God who gave us life and gave us Jesus so that we could have it abundantly:

12 Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

We cannot find a small narrow gate or way in this confusing world, so full of so many going the popular and easy way. Only being led by the Holy Spirit can we see with spiritual eyes what others miss, the tiny break in the darkness that is the bright gate that is so narrow one has to give up all worldly thoughts and desires like cumbersome baggage to fit through it and be steady on its narrow and straight path:

3 Nephi 14:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat;

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

If we are pure in heart, we shall see with spiritual eyes the darkness in the deceiver’s hearts, and not be fooled by flattering words designed to make us feel good in sinning. Their winning words will not cloud our humble eyes to the truth that their actions do not agree with their words but show what is really in their hearts, a desire to subject us to them and bring us down and prevent our joyful rejoicing in Christ:

3 Nephi 14:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.

Words are cheap, empty, deceitful ways we manipulate a fallen world for our own selfish desires. The keeper of the gate cannot be deceived because He is the Holy One of Israel. But silent unnoticed acts of charity and kindness thunder through the heavens and open the gleaming gates of the golden city where God the Father and Jesus Christ sit on thrones made from their very sacrificial deeds that we seek to emulate:

3 Nephi 14:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

The rock of revelation through the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ is not only the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, but the only sure thing on which we can build our eternal lives brick by brick with our Christ like deeds. Surely when the destructions come, as they always do, our eternal souls will not be moved, but safe in His arms, in His House, on His rock of revelation to lead the way forward in the storms of life:

3 Nephi 14:24 Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

Looking unto Christ as Peter did in the storms of life, we too can walk on the murky waters and not be drowned in fear and sin. If we slip, as Peter did, Christ is there to pull us out of the dark cold waters of our fears, distractions, sins, and forgetfulness. As we give ourselves to Him in every thought, word and action, keeping His law, we can not only walk toward the light, but endure in it all the way over the stormy seas to eternal life in Him:

3 Nephi 15:9 Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.

To ponder is to faithfully plant the seeds of Christ’s teachings in the prepared soils of our hearts and minds, nurturing and nourishing them by meditating on the word of Christ day and night till the seed sprouts and begins to grow and swell our hearts. When one plant begins to bear delicious fruit, we are not only filled to overflowing with light and gratitude, but even more prepared to receive more seeds that require even more careful nourishing (meditation and pondering) to grow up unto salvation:

3 Nephi 17:3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.

Where are the ten commandments in Jesus’ teachings to the Nephites? We can find traces of them everywhere except the commandment to honor thy father and mother. This seems to be a glaring omission until one reads about the miraculous blessing of the children which follows. When He had blessed each one, one by one, He presented them in a new angelic glorious state to their parents with visible angels ministering unto the children and the children speaking unutterable sayings. Then He commanded the parents to “Behold your little ones.” What they saw, changed them forever. They saw angelic children glorified by celestial powers. Their whole view of their children changed instantly from punishing them as brats supposedly, to worshipping them as the angelic beings they had become. This change in parenting style was so profound that it was passed down and induced righteousness in the succeeding 4 generations for 200 years:

3 Nephi 17:19 And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise.

20 And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

22 And when he had done this he wept again;

23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

The summating ordinance Jesus gave them after baptism was the blessing of the bread and water in remembrance of His suffering the Atonement and rising from the dead for them.  A gift from Heavenly realms of light, provided without our effort, the sacrament would repeat in our lives like the sun’s gentle rays, each morning a  Sabbath to remember Him who gave us life and light.

3 Nephi 18:6 And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you.

7 And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.

8 And it came to pass that when he said these words, he commanded his Disciples that they should take of the wine of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude that they might drink of it.

9 And it came to pass that they did so, and did drink of it and were filled; and they gave unto the multitude, and they did drink, and they were filled.

10 And when the Disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them: Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you.

11 And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.

12 And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock.

The Lord’s supper was so important that only certain Christ chosen people could bless the sacrament and only worthy people could partake of it. But to prevent prejudice and bigotry, no one was supposed to be kicked out of the meetings where the sacrament was to be administered to, even though they were not worthy to partake of it, even though their names had been removed from the church because of unrepentant sins. They were instead to be ministered unto and included as much as possible in other church activities to help save them as Christ seeking for and saving the lost sheep:

3 Nephi 18:27 Behold verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you another commandment, and then I must go unto my Father that I may fulfil other commandments which he hath given me.

28 And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall minister it;

29 For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall forbid him.

30 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

31 But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered.

32 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.

Tithing was given to Malachi who came among the Jews after Lehi left Jerusalem for the New World. It was so important, that Jesus gives the Nephites the two chapters in Malachi concerning it. Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedec. But all old things were done away in Christ, so this commandment had to be renewed for this generation of Nephites who never had the law given to them in the first place:

3 Nephi 24:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

The Nephites argued over what to call the New Church of Jesus Christ. They had lived in an anticipatory Church of Jesus Christ, looking forward to when He came. Now that He came and went, contention entered the flock over a seemingly innocuous thing, what to call the New Church. Each important angel in the Old and New Testaments had a name related to their mission on earth. We were made a little lower than the gods, so we were given a special name, a name so powerful that it could move Heaven and Earth and change the hardest of hearts for good, the name of the Only Begotten Son of the Father, Jesus Christ. For this reason all that we do and say, and all that the Church of Jesus Christ is and accomplishes is done in this sacred name whose power pierces all Eternity and shakes it with glory:

3 Nephi  27:5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;

6 And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.

7 Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake.

8 And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.

9 Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will hear you;

10 And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it.

In conclusion, Christ Himself invites us to enter in at the gate where He stands with open arms, the gate of ordinances teaching His doctrine, faithful believing in Him, turning from sin to whole hearted service to Him, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end of the path beyond the gate with His divine help. Along the path we develop God-like attributes where we become more and more like Him in His service in His way of service and love for all. Finally, we become one with Him as we see in us the image of Christ engraven in our countenances and on our hearts. John summarizes this process in his writings:

Be one with God the Father and Jesus Christ:

John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

God loves us first, we love Him, and then we have love for one another and His love is perfected in us and His spirit dwelleth in us:

1  John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time, except them who believe. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

 

So what became of the 613 commandments of the Torah?

The Talmud notes that the Hebrew numerical value (gematria) of the word “Torah” is 611, and combining Moses’s 611 commandments with the first two of the Ten Commandments which were the only ones heard directly from God, adds up to 613.[iii] There were 248 positive commandments and 365 negative commandments.

To the Nephites not destroyed before His coming, Jesus said the law of sacrifice was fulfilled and no more burnt offerings were to be done. Later, during His visit, He said the Law of Moses was all fulfilled. The law of outward physical visible ordinances was replaced by laws of the inner soul and light :

3 Nephi 9:19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.

20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost,

3 Nephi 12:46 Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.

47 Old things are done away, and all things have become new.

3 Nephi 15:1 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and said unto them: Behold, ye have heard the things which I taught before I ascended to my Father; therefore, whoso remembereth these sayings of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day.

2 And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the law of Moses; for they understood not the saying that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.

3 And he said unto them: Marvel not that I said unto you that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.

4 Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.

5 Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end.

6 Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.

7 And because I said unto you that old things have passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come.

8 For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me.

9 Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.

10 Behold, I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me.

 

[i] http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/autobiography/page41.htm accessed October 2, 2016

[ii] James 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

[iii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/613_commandments accessed October 2, 2016