Jesus defined and elaborated on exactly what his doctrine is. For clarity and emphasis, he repeated three times “this is my doctrine.” His doctrine is simple: Believe in him (faith); return to him (repentance); immerse ourselves in him (baptism); and be guided by him (through the Holy Ghost). Anything more or less than this “cometh of evil”; in other words, it can be dangerous to go beyond the pure and powerful doctrine he has given and on which the missionaries always focus in helping others to become genuinely converted. Keep it pure and simple!
Doing that, we are building on his “rock,” that is, on him (see commentary at 3 Nephi 14:24–27), and the “gates of hell” will not prevail against us. Have you ever thought about the gates of hell? It is curious how many times the Lord refers to them. In 3 Nephi 18:13 he warns that “the gates of hell are ready open to receive [you].” These days the gates of hell are pornography, aberrant sexual relationships, selfishness, greed, pride, and other forms of severe worldliness. These gates of hell are gaping wide open to swallow up anyone who gets close enough and is spiritless enough to be snatched. Knowing and living the Lord’s doctrine is absolutely urgent in order to escape the current bombardment of worldliness surrounding us. The doctrine of Christ, including his principles, ordinances, and covenants, becomes our shield and protection against the powers of darkness.
This doctrine, Christ says, must be declared unto “the ends of the earth” (also D&C 112:4).
To The Ends of the Earth
The phrase “the ends of the earth” appears fifty-nine times in scripture. The Lord emphasizes that his words shall “hiss forth unto the ends of the earth” (2 Nephi 29:2). The gospel shall “roll forth unto the ends of the earth” (D&C 65:2); “the revelations” including “great and glorious tidings” are extended to “the ends of the earth” (D&C 72:21; 109:23). “The voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth” (D&C 1:11; see also 45:49); “this promise [the covenant] is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth” (Mormon 9:21). “Salvation [is] unto the ends of the earth” (1 Nephi 21:6; Acts 13:47); “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God” (3 Nephi 16:20; see also Isaiah 52:10; Mosiah 15:31; 3 Nephi 20:35; D&C 133:3). Describing the scope of the great latter-day gathering, Doctrine and Covenants 58:45 says “they shall push the people together from the ends of the earth.” And speaking to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord declared, “The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name” (D&C 122:1).
Through his prophets the Lord has commanded, “Repent, all ye ends of the earth,” calling on the people far and wide, over the whole length and breadth of the earth, to repent and return to him (3 Nephi 27:20; Ether 4:18; Moroni 7:34). Mormon said, “I write unto all the ends of the earth” (Mormon 3:18), meaning to all the people who live throughout the earth; “I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth” (Mormon 3:22), desiring to convince and convert souls to the far-flung reaches of the globe.
“To the ends of the earth” also means to every “corner” of the earth. Joseph Smith admonished, “Don’t let a single corner of the earth go without a mission.”21
Anyone who watches the hand of the Lord move throughout the earth will testify that his words, his glad tidings, the revelations of salvation, the new and everlasting covenant, meaning the fulness of the gospel (D&C 66:2), are indeed penetrating to the farthest reaches of this planet. In the Western Hemisphere, for example, the names of Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith are known and loved to the northernmost stake of the Church (Fairbanks, Alaska, with its northernmost branch in North Shore) and to the southernmost stake of the Church (Punta Arenas, Chile, with its southernmost branch in Puerto Williams).