THE BOOK OF NEPHI
THE SON OF NEPHI, WHO WAS THE SON OF HELAMAN, WHO WAS THE SON OF HELAMAN
CHAPTER 27
Jesus shows himself to the disciples--He tells them to make a wish--They wish he'd name the church for them--Jesus
names the church after himself. (34-35 CE)
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Jesus names the church after himself
1 It came to pass that as the disciples of
Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were
baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were
united in mighty prayer and fasting.
One day, as Jesus's Nephite disciples were united in mighty prayer and fasting,
2 And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in
his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I
shall give unto you?
Jesus showed himself, and said to them,
You have one free wish. What'll it be?
3 And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we
shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter.
They said to him,
Tell us what we should call the church. [1]
People are arguing about that.
4 And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the
people should murmur and dispute because of this thing?
Jesus said,
Why are they arguing about that?
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;
Haven't they read the scriptures that say you must name it after Christ, which is my name? [2]
6 And whoso taketh upon him my name, and
endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.
Whoever takes my name, will be saved on 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.
Whatever you do, do it in my name.
So name the church after me, and the Father will bless you for it.
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.
How can it be my church, if it isn't named after me?
If it's named after Moses, it is Moses's church.
If it's named after a man, then it's that man's church.
If it's named after me, it's my church.
11 But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built
upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their
works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire,
from whence there is no return.
12 For their works do follow them, for it is because of their works that they are hewn
down; therefore remember the things that I have told you.
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.
If it's built on the works of man or of the devil, then they'll be happy for a while, but they'll be burned in the fire.
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 --
My Father sent me to be crucified.
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.
People will be judged by their works.
16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be
filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that
day when I shall stand to judge the world.
Those who repent and are baptized in my name will be filled, and if they endure to the end, I'll judge them guiltless
when I judge the world.
17 And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and
cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.
18 And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this
cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his
words.
19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his
rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the
repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.
20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and
be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may
stand spotless before me at the last day.
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;
22 Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the
last day.
23 Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are
forbidden.
24 Write the works of this people, which shall be, even as hath been written, of that
which hath been.
25 For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written,
shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men.
26 And behold, all things are written by the Father; therefore out of the books which
shall be written shall the world be judged.
27 And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which
I shall give unto you, which shall be just.
Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.
28 And now I go unto the Father. And verily I say unto you, whatsoever things ye
shall ask the Father in my name shall be given unto you.
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.
30 And now, behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you, and also this
generation; yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels, because of you and
this generation; for none of them are lost.
31 Behold, I would that ye should understand; for I mean them who are now alive of this
generation; and none of them are lost; and in them I have fulness of joy.
32 But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation,
for they are led away captive by him even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for
silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break through and
steal. And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads.
But those who don't endure to the end will be burned.
33 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.
And most people will be burned.
Notes
- Tell us the name whereby we shall call this church. (v.3)
When the Nephites asked Jesus what they should call the church, why didn't he say,
The church
will be called "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka "Mormons")"?
The Mormons, by the way, are still arguing about what they should be called. But whatever you call them,
don't call them Mormons anymore.
- Christ, which is my name (v.5)
"Christ" wasn't Jesus's name.
What was Jesus H. Christ's real name?
Favorite Phrases:
And it came to pass: 27:1(2), 16, 33
Behold: 27:13, 16, 25, 26, 30,
31, 32
Yea: 27:30
(27:6) He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
-- Matthew 24:13
Behold (27:13, 16, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32)
(27:14) And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. -- Jn.12:32
(27:17) every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. -- Mathew 3:10
(27:29) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall
be opened. -- Matthew 7:7-8
(27:33a) Enter ye in at the strait
gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the
way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. -- Matthew 7:13-14
(27:33b) the night cometh, when no man can work. -- John 9:4