The Doctrine of Christ
Book of MormonThis flow traces the doctrinal path from repentance and baptism through the Holy Ghost, endurance, scripture, prayer, and eternal life.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
Baptismal Gate

Entering the Path
Christ’s Example
Nephi presents Jesus Christ’s baptism as the pattern of humility and obedience.
Human Response
Repentance and baptism become the gate into the strait and narrow path.
Doctrinal Development
Salvation begins with enacted covenant rather than passive admiration.
Fire of the Spirit

Cleansed by Fire
Divine Confirmation
The Holy Ghost descends after baptism and gives remission, power, and spiritual speech.
New Capacity
The baptized can speak with the tongue of angels and understand the words of Christ.
Doctrinal Development
Conversion requires inward transformation as well as outward ordinance.
Feasting on Words

Guidance After Conversion
Continuing Nourishment
Nephi commands believers to feast upon the words of Christ.
Personal Direction
The Holy Ghost shows them what they should do.
Doctrinal Development
The path is sustained by continuing revelation, not by a single past decision.
Enduring Faith

Pressing Forward
Steadfast Hope
Believers must continue with faith, hope, love, and a perfect brightness of hope.
Reliance on Christ
They depend wholly on the merits of Jesus Christ while still practicing obedience.
Doctrinal Development
Endurance joins grace, discipline, and communal love into one movement toward eternal life.
Prayerful Living

The Spirit of Prayer
Constant Communion
Nephi commands prayer always and warns that the evil spirit teaches people not to pray.
Consecrated Action
Believers should pray before acting so their work benefits the soul.
Doctrinal Development
Prayer turns doctrine into daily dependence and moral attention.
during Nephi’s final teaching
immediately after baptism in Nephi’s teaching
after entering the strait and narrow path
near the close of Nephi’s ministry
after Nephi explains the path