2 Nephi 31:19–20

Nephi taught us what to do after we’ve been baptized and received the Holy Ghost.

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

20 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.

Strait and Narrow Path

We get into the strait and narrow path by repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (see 2 Nephi 31:17–18). When we’re baptized and confirmed, we make a covenant to continue following in God’s path. To learn more about this covenant, read Mosiah 18:8–10, 13; Moroni 4:3; and D&C 20:37.

Steadfastness in Christ

Steadfast means to stand firm and not waver. “How do you remain ‘steadfast and immovable’? [Alma 1:25],” asks Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others” (“Trial of Your Faith,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 40).

Faith … Hope … Love

In the scriptures, these three characteristics are often found together. You can find the pattern of faith, hope, and love (charity) in many places. Here are some scriptures where they appear together. See if you can find more.

Press Forward, Feasting upon the Word of Christ

In Lehi’s vision of the tree of life, the only people who didn’t fall away were those who “did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:30). When you consider that the iron rod is the word of God, how does that relate to this phrase? Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught, “The key phrase in this verse is continually holding fast to the rod of iron. … Perhaps this third group of people consistently read and studied and searched the scriptures. … Perhaps it was the spiritual nourishment and strength provided by continually ‘feasting upon the word of Christ’ (2 Nephi 31:20) that enabled this group to heed not the scorning and mocking of the people in the great and spacious building (see 1 Nephi 8:33). This is the group you and I should strive to join” (“Lehi’s Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod,” Ensign, Oct. 2011, 35–36).

Endure to the End

“Endurance … is important because the quality of our eternal future is proportional to our ability to endure in righteousness. … In order to receive the greatest of all the blessings of our Heavenly Father, which is eternal life, we must complete the appropriate ordinance work and then continue to keep the associated covenants. In other words, we must successfully endure.”

Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy, “The Strength to Endure,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 79.