- 11Now a large number of Nephites gathered around the temple in Bountiful. They were astonished, talking to each other in amazement, pointing out to each other the remarkable changes that had taken place. 2They were also talking with each other about Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given about His death.
- 3While they were conversing about this, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven. And they looked around, since they didn’t understand the voice they heard. It wasn’t a harsh voice or a loud voice. But despite being a quiet voice, it pierced those who heard it to the core, so much that they trembled. It cut them to the core and melted their hearts. 4They heard the voice again but didn’t understand it. 5And they heard the voice a third time and understood and listened attentively to it. They looked toward the sound, looking steadily toward heaven, where it originated. 6At the third time, they understood the voice, and it said to them: 7Here is My Beloved Son, in whom I’m well pleased, in whom I’ve glorified My name. Listen to Him!
- 8When they understood, they looked up again to heaven. They saw a man descending from heaven, and He was dressed in a white robe. He came down and stood among them, and the whole crowd was looking at Him. They didn’t dare speak, not even to each other, and they didn’t know what it meant, since they thought it was an angel appearing to them.
- 9He stretched out His hand and spoke to them, saying: 10I Am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified would come into the world. 11I Am the light and the life of the world. And I’ve drunk out of the bitter cup the Father has given Me and have glorified the Father by taking upon Myself the sins of the world, in which I’ve submitted to the Father’s will in all things from the beginning. 12When Jesus said this, the whole crowd fell to the ground, since they remembered it had been prophesied to them that Christ would show Himself to them after His ascension into heaven.
- 13And the Lord spoke to them, saying: 14Stand up and come up to Me, so you can put your hands in My side and you can feel the nail marks in My hands and feet, so you will know I Am the God of Israel and the God of the whole earth who was killed for the sins of the world.
- 15And the people went up and put their hands in His side and felt the nail marks in His hands and feet. They did this — going up one by one until they had all gone up — and saw with their eyes and felt with their hands and knew for certain and testified it was He the prophets wrote about, who was to come. 16When they had all gone up and witnessed for themselves, they cried out as one: 17Hallelujah! Blessed is the name of the Most High God! And they fell down at Jesus’ feet to worship Him.
- 18Then He spoke to Nephi who was in the crowd, and commanded him to approach. 19So Nephi stood up and went to Him and bowed before the Lord, and he kissed His feet. 20Then the Lord commanded him to stand up, and he got up and stood in front of Him. 21And the Lord said to him: I give you power to baptize this people when I’ve ascended into heaven again.
- 22Then the Lord called up others and said the same thing, giving them power to baptize. He instructed them: You must baptize in the following manner, and there must not be any controversies about this. 23I instruct you that anyone who repents of their sins because of your words and wishes to be baptized in My name, you must baptize them in the following way: You must go down and stand in the water and baptize them in My name. 24Now these are the words that you must say, calling them by name, saying: 25Having authority given to me by Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 26And then you must immerse them under the water and bring them back out of the water. 27This is the way you must baptize in My name. Truly I tell you that the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are united as one; I am in the Father and the Father in Me, and the Father and I are united as one. 28And exactly as I’ve commanded you, so you must baptize. You must not argue about this as you’ve done before, and you must not argue about the points of My doctrine either, as you’ve done before. 29In truth I tell you: Anyone who welcomes the spirit of conflict doesn’t follow Me, but is following the accuser, who’s the father of conflict. He incites people to angrily fight with each other. 30This isn’t My doctrine, to incite angry fighting by people. But this is My doctrine, everything like that should end.
- 31Listen carefully to what I tell you: I will declare to you My doctrine. 32This is My doctrine, and it is the doctrine that the Father has given to Me: I testify of the Father, and the Father testifies of Me, and the Holy Ghost testifies of the Father and Me. I also testify the Father commands all people everywhere to repent and believe in Me. 33And anyone who believes in Me and is baptized will be saved, and they are who will inherit God’s kingdom. 34But anyone who doesn’t believe in Me and isn’t baptized will be damned. 35In truth I tell you this is My doctrine, and I testify of it from the Father. Anyone who believes in Me also believes in the Father, and the Father will testify to them of Me, since He will visit them with fire and with the Holy Ghost. 36In this way the Father will testify of Me, and the Holy Ghost will testify to them of the Father and Me, because the Father and I and the Holy Ghost are united as one. 37In addition, I say to you: You must repent and become as a little child and be baptized in My name, or under no circumstance can you receive these things. 38And again, I say to you: You must repent and be baptized in My name and become as a little child, or under no circumstances can you inherit God’s kingdom. 39In truth I tell you this is My doctrine. Whoever builds on this builds on My rock, and the gates of hell will not prevail against them. 40And those who declare more or less than this and establish it as My doctrine advocate evil and are not built upon My rock, but are built on a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive them when the floods come and the wind pounds them. 41Therefore go to this people and declare to the farthest reaches of the earth the words that I’ve spoken.
- 12When Jesus had spoken these words to Nephi and to the twelve who had been called and received power and authority to baptize, He reached out His hand to the crowd and cried out to them: Blessed are you if you pay close attention to the words of these twelve whom I’ve chosen from this people, to minister to you and to be your servants. I’ve given them power so they can baptize you with water. And after you’re baptized with water, I’ll baptize you with fire and the Holy Ghost. Therefore blessed are you if you believe in Me and are baptized, after seeing Me and knowing that I Am.
- 2In addition, more blessed are those who believe in your words because you testify that you’ve seen Me and you know that I Am. Indeed, blessed are those who believe in your words and come down into the depths of humility and are baptized, since they will be visited with fire and the Holy Ghost and will receive a remission of their sins.
- 3Yes, God is with the poor in spirit who come to Me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
- 4And also, God is with all those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
- 5And God remembers the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- 6And God accompanies all those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled with the Holy Ghost.
- 7And God loves the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.
- 8And God blesses the pure in heart, for they will see God.
- 9And God is with all the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
- 10And God is beside all those who are persecuted for being called by My name, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11And God stands with all of you when people revile, persecute, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, because of following Me, 12for you should all have great joy and be very glad, because a great reward awaits you in heaven; the prophets who lived before you were persecuted in the same way.
- 13In truth I tell you: I guide you to be the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its useful flavor, what will the earth be salted with? The salt will from then on be good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled by people’s feet.
- 14In truth I tell you: I guide you to be the light of this people. A city that’s built on a hill can’t be hidden. 15Ask yourself: do people light a lamp and hide it under a basket? No, they put it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16Therefore let your light shine in the same way before this people, so they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- 17Don’t think I’ve come to destroy the Law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18Truly I tell you: Not even the smallest part or requirement of the Law has gone unfulfilled, but in Me it has all been accomplished.
- 19And know this, I’ve given you the law and the commandments of My Father, that everyone is to believe in Me, and all must repent of their sins, and come to Me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Everyone has the commandments before them and the law is accomplished. 20Therefore come to Me and everyone can be saved. For in truth I tell you that unless you obey My commandments which I’ve commanded you at this time, you’ll never enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- 21All have heard what was said since ancient time, and have also seen it written before you, that you shall not murder, and whoever murders will incur condemnation by God. 22But I say to you whoever is angry with his brother will be in danger of His judgment. And whoever calls his brother, Worthless, will risk offending the Heavenly Council, and whoever will say, You fool! — risks the fires of hell.
- 23Therefore if any of you will come to Me, or will start to come to Me, and remembers that your brother or sister holds anything against you, 24go your way first to your brother or sister to be reconciled with them, and then come to Me with full commitment in your heart and I’ll welcome you.
- 25Accept accountability for your misconduct the instant it’s brought to your attention, to avoid leaving this life unrepentant and risking condemnation. 26I warn you: You’ll discover no way to escape before paying fully for every sin; and while in prison under condemnation, are you able to redeem yourself? I warn you that you cannot.
- 27Remember also, it was written since ancient time that you shall not commit adultery; 28but I say to you that anyone who engages in deliberate planning to seduce a woman to sin sexually has already committed adultery in his heart. 29Hear now: I command you to not let any of these things enter your heart, 30for it’s better to stop doing any of these things, and carry your own cross, rather than to be cast into hell.
- 31It has been written that whoever leaves his wife, let him give her a written divorce. 32But I say, unless it’s because of unfaithfulness, whoever leaves his wife causes her to be unfaithful. Whoever marries her after such a divorce also betrays the marriage covenant.
- 33And the Law also decrees: You are never to renounce, but always strictly do anything you swear unto God. 34But now I warn you: Don’t swear at all, either by heaven, for it’s God’s throne, 35or by the earth, for it’s His footstool, 36neither swear by your head, because you can’t even make one hair black or white, 37but only say: Yes, yes, no, no; for whatever results from more than that will prove to be evil.
- 38And the scriptures state: An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; 39but I say instead: Accept life’s injustices gracefully, and when someone hits your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone sues you under the law to get your coat, let them have your overcoat too. 41And whoever orders you to go a mile, go two. 42Give to any that ask of you, and if someone wants to borrow from you, never turn them down.
- 43The Law also says for you to love your neighbor, and lets you even hate your enemy. 44But now I say to you: Love your enemies also, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you, 45so you may become the children of your Father who is in heaven, for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good. 46Therefore everything ordained anciently under the Law of Moses has all been fulfilled through Me. 47Those prior things are over and I implement these new things. 48Therefore I want you to be perfect, just as I or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
- 13I categorically say that I want you, whenever you contribute to the poor, to be careful not to make that a public show for others to see; otherwise, you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2Therefore when you contribute help, don’t blow a trumpet to announce it, as hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to impress others. I’m warning you: They have their only reward. 3But when you give charitably, don’t even let your left hand know what your right hand does, 4so your donations are kept in secret; and your Father who sees that secret will Himself openly reward you.
- 5And when you pray, don’t imitate the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners, hoping to be noticed by others. I’m warning you: They have their only reward. 6But when you pray, go into your closet, and after shutting the door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees that secrecy will openly reward you. 7When you pray, don’t use arrogant chanting like the heathen, for they think they’re noticed because of their conspicuous noise. 8Absolutely do not be like them, for your Father knows everything you need before you even ask Him.
- 9So follow this example when you offer prayer: Our Father in heaven, let Your name remain Holy. 10May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 12And don’t let us fall into temptation, but rescue us from evil. 13For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 14For if you forgive others’ offenses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive yours, 15but if you don’t forgive others’ offenses, your Father won’t forgive yours either.
- 16Furthermore, when you fast, don’t imitate the hypocrites, acting distressed, for they act as if they’re suffering to be admired by others. I’m warning you: They have their only reward. 17But when you are fasting, clean up, wash up, dress up, 18avoid any appearance of fasting, let only your Father know in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will openly reward you.
- 19Don’t accumulate treasures on earth, where moths damage, rust corrodes, and thieves break in and steal, 20but instead accumulate treasures in Heaven, where there are no damaging moths, corrosive rust, and thieves don’t break in and steal; 21because what you treasure reveals what’s in your heart.
- 22The light enters the body through your eyes; if, therefore, your eyes look to God, your whole body is full of His light. 23But if your eye looks for evil, your whole body is then full of darkness. Therefore if the light within you looks for the darkness, how overwhelming that darkness becomes.
- 24No one can serve two masters, for they’ll either hate the one and love the other, or at least they’ll follow the one and ignore the other. You can’t serve God and covet.
Jesus Christ showed Himself to the Nephites when a large number of people had gathered in Bountiful; and He ministered to them. He appeared to them as described in the following account.
Chapter 5