I Must Obey | 2 Nephi 31-33 | Come Follow Me

Nephi's final declaration in the Book of Mormon are three important words: "I Must Obey." Throughout this final chapter of the book of 2 Nephi, we are given a remarkable testimony about the Savior and the reason why obedience to the commandments was so important to Nephi.

In the book Making Precious Things Plain, Randall S. Chase explains:

Nephi’s witness and testimony is extraordinarily plain and to the point:

1. “Hearken unto these words and believe in Christ.”

2. “And if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ.”

3. “If ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.”

4. “Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness” (vv. 10–11).

There is no way to misunderstand or dispute this witness.

In 2 Nephi 33:12–15 we are given Nephi’s final farewell and warning to the world.

Nephi did not wish damnation upon any person. He prayed “that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day” (v. 12). He bid us all farewell “as the voice of one crying from the dust” until that final judgment day (v. 13). To those who will not receive the witness of Christ born by the Bible and the Book of Mormon, nor the words of Christ given by any other means, he said, “I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day. For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen.”