Bookends and The Doctrine of Christ

In a previous post, I found the scriptural definition of "the doctrine of Christ." A quick summary is of the doctrine of Christ is: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Enduring to the End is the only way to be saved and return to live with god (see 2nd Nephi 31:17-21)

One thing that I didn't mention is that often the doctrine of Christ is contained in what are referred to as "bookends". In 2 Nephi 31 for instance, Nephi starts by saying in verse 2 "I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ." Then, when concluding in verse 21, he says "And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ". The purpose being to make more obvious that what is contained between those two verses is the doctrine of Christ.

Another example would be in 3rd Nephi 11:31-39. Christ is teaching his doctrine to the Nephites and begins by saying, in verse 31, "I will declare unto you my doctrine" and ends in verse 39 by saying "verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my doctrine." It's an interesting thing to note that the doctrine of Christ is the first thing that Christ teaches the Nephites in his long-awaited visit to them in the Americas.

Last example: 3rd Nephi 27:13-21. In verse 13 Christ says "I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you--" he then teaches the doctrine Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, Enduring to the End, and concludes in verse 21 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel." Here again we see the bookends.

I chose those two examples because they are larger bookends themselves: If you look closer you'll see that the first thing that Christ teaches when he comes in 3rd Nephi 11 is the doctrine of Christ (as mentioned earlier), and the last thing that he teaches before ascending is the doctrine of Christ (3rd Nephi 27). The only thing I can think to say is that the doctrine of Christ must be pretty important.

Places I've found the doctrine of Christ (by name or principles all together):
2nd Nephi 9:23-24
2nd Nephi 31
Mosiah 18:7&10
3rd Nephi 9:20-21
3rd Nephi 11:32-39
3rd Nephi 26:17
3rd Nephi 27:13-21
Mormon 7:8-10
Ether 4:18-19
Moroni 7:32-34
Moroni 8:24-26
Moses 6:52

And I'm certain that those aren't the only places to find it! They're just the only ones that I've seen so far. I'm sure I'm missing many other places. Feel free to share any you find with me! :)

Why did I bring all of this up? you may be asking yourself. As I was studying bookends this morning, I noticed that not only is the doctrine of Christ bookended, and other important chapters and teachings as well, but the ENTIRE Book of Mormon is bookended! In 1st Nephi 6:4 Nephi states that "the fulness of ine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto . . . God." Then if we flip to the very end, in Moroni 10:32, Moroni implores "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him . . . " How sweet is that? (Myabe I'm just a scripture/gospel nerd but I think that's awesome!)

Which got me to thinking, if the Book of Mormon is bookended, could it be an example of the doctrine of Christ? Then my mind turned to some of the major prophets and what I associate them with:

Nephi--Faith
Alma the Younger--Repentance
3rd Nephi--Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost
Moroni--Enduring to the End

Ok, now I'm really excited! The ENTIRE Book of Mormon is bookended, and is a GIANT example of the doctrine of Christ! Wow!! The Book of Mormon really IS another testament of Jesus Christ!