Helaman 3

Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name. Helaman 3:27–28

Mormon draws the lesson from tens of thousands of baptisms: the Lord's holy name that people call upon is the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Believing on His name is what opens heaven to anyone who will.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Mosiah 3:17 — No other name given whereby salvation can come, only in and through the name of Christ.
• alludes to Romans 10:13 — Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
• the same title in Acts 4:12 — None other name under heaven whereby we must be saved.

Keeper of the Gate

Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. Helaman 3:28

The image of an open gate to heaven echoes Jacob's teaching that Christ Himself keeps the gate and Nephi's teaching that repentance and baptism are the gate onto His path. Faith in His name is what lets a person through.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 2 Nephi 9:41 — The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; he employeth no servant there.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 31:17 — The gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism.
• alludes to John 10:9 — I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.

The man of Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked— Helaman 3:29–30

A disciple is called 'the man of Christ' — someone who belongs to Him. Holding to the word of God (Lehi's rod of iron) guides that disciple along the strait and narrow path over the gulf of misery to sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 1 Nephi 11:25 — The rod of iron is the word of God, leading to the tree of life.
• alludes to 1 Nephi 15:28 — An awful gulf separates the wicked from the tree of life.
• alludes to Hebrews 4:12 — The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, dividing asunder.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 31:18-19 — The strait and narrow path entered by relying on the merits of Christ.

Faith of Christ

Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God. Helaman 3:35

Persecuted humble Saints fasted and prayed and grew firmer in faith in Christ. That faith, and yielding their hearts to God, brought joy and actually purified and sanctified their hearts.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to Mosiah 3:19 — Yielding to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and becoming a saint through the atonement of Christ.
• alludes to Moroni 10:33 — Sanctified in Christ by the grace of God through the shedding of His blood.