3 Nephi 17 - 25

In his visit to the Americas, the Savior shares the words spoken by Isaiah and Malachi. The uniqueness of the Book of Mormon in these chapters is that the Savior speaks his own words that he revealed to Malachi and Isaiah, where in the Bible, the prophets write the words revealed to them.

As I read the Savior's words, my thoughts turned to -

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 31:20)

Enduring to the end is an essential condition of eternal life, for -

"...unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 31:16)

In my mind, enduring to the end means doing the will of the Lord to the end much like many of the prophets in the Book of Mormon. The Savior revealed to Malachi -

"Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:13)

This may surprise many of the saints that have served diligently for many years in the Church. Surprised enought to respond -

"...What have we spoken against thee?" (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:13)

To those that have served so faithfully but fail to serve missions and accept calls in their later years, the Savior says -

"Ye have said: It is vain to serve God, and what doth it profit that we have kept his ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:14 - 15)

For those who endure to the end and continued to serve are -

"...they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:16 - 17)

For he has so stated that he shall -

"...return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:18)

To those who endure and serve to the end he promises -

"...my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 22:10 - 12)

And the promise continues for those with posterity -

"...all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
14 In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near thee." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 22:13 - 14)

And to those who serve to the end he explains -

"Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 22:16 - 17)

"...Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 23:5)