3 Nephi 27

The disciples became missionaries who traveled and taught the things that they had seen and heard, and baptized people in the name of Jesus Christ. One day they were gathered together in prayer and fasting when Jesus Christ appeared to them because of their prayers to the Father in his name.

“What can I give to you?” he asked as he stood before them.

“What should we call our church?” the disciples asked. “People are already arguing about its name.”

“Why should anyone argue about such a thing?” asked Jesus Christ. “Haven’t they read the scriptures that say you must take my name of Jesus Christ? You should be known by this name until the last day. Whoever takes on my name and keeps it until the end will be saved on the last day. Whatever you do, you must do it in my name. Therefore you must name the church after me also.

“You must call upon my Father in my name so that he will bless the church for my sake. How can it be my church if it isn’t named after me? If a church is named after Moses, then it will be Moses’ church. If a church is named after some man, then it is the church of that man. But if it is named after me then it is my church, if you also teach my gospel. So build your church based on my gospel, do everything in my name, and call upon my Father in my name, because if you do so my Father will hear you.

“If a church is built on the works of men, or on the works of the devil, instead of on my gospel, they may have a season joy, but in the end its members will be cut down and cast into the fire of no return. Men cannot escape the acts of their lives. It is for these acts that many are cut down, so remember my words carefully.

“I have given you my gospel. This is why I came into the world. It was the will of my Father, and the reason that my Father sent me. I was sent so that I would be lifted up on the cross and draw all men to me. Just as I have been lifted up by men, so too should men be lifted up by my Father to stand before me and be judged by their lives to determine whether they are good or evil. Whoever repents and is baptized in my name will be filled. If he stays with me to the end I will hold him guiltless before my Father on judgment day.

“Anyone who doesn’t stay with me to the end will be cut down and cast into the fire of no return because of my Father’s justice. This is the word that he has always given to men, and he always fulfills his word. Nothing dirty can enter into his kingdom of heaven. Only those who have washed their clothing in my blood, through their faith and repentance of all sins, may enter. This is my commandment to you. Repent and be baptized in my name so that you may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and stand spotless before me on judgment day.

“This is my gospel. You know what you must do in my church. You must do as you have seen me do. If you do these things you will be blessed and lifted up on judgment day.”

“Write down everything that you’ve seen and heard except for those things that you’ve been forbidden to write down,” Jesus Christ continued saying. “Write the story of this people so that others will know of your history. From the books that have been written, and will be written, this people will be judged. Through these books, your lives will be known to men. Likewise, all things are written down by my Father. Through his books, the world will be judged. You will be the judges of your people according to the judgment that I will give to you. What kind of men should you be? Be like me.

“Now I must return again to my Father. I remind you that whatever you ask of my Father, ask for it in my name and it will be given to you. Ask, and you will receive. Knock, and the door will be opened. My joy is great because of you and this generation. Even my Father and the holy angels rejoice because of this generation. None of you who are now alive will be lost.

“But I am greatly saddened because the fourth generation after you will be led away captive into hell. They will sell me for silver and gold and other treasures that are subject to rot and theft. When this happens I will visit them and turn their earthly treasures onto their heads.

“Enter through the straight and narrow gate that leads to life. Few will find it because the gate that leads to death is broad and easily traveled, and many people will walk that way to their own destruction.”