The gospel of Jesus Christ is the pathway that ascends toward the heavenly destination where we can enter into the rest of the Lord, which rest is “the fulness of the his glory” (D&C 84:24). The Savior’s witness about His atoning mission provides the pattern of action that is required of all who will gain eternal life and exaltation. These two verses (13 and 14) initiate a statement of momentous importance concerning the doctrine of Christ. His visit to the New World following His Resurrection provides the forum for imparting to His “other sheep” (John 10:16) the essence of the message of redemption. The Savior’s instruction concerning the central core of the gospel is given in profound clarity and radiance: He came to the earth to do the will of the Father, to be lifted up on the cross and die for all mankind that He might draw all men unto Him through His atoning sacrifice. This is the gospel. Helping people come unto Christ should be one of our greatest desires, just as it was to be with all of the Lord’s chosen disciples, and in special measure with the Three Nephites. Happiness comes through the love of God—by receiving His Beloved Son and living the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie has declared:
The Lord’s rock is his gospel. He commands all those who are established thereon to proclaim his message, saying: “Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.” [D&C 33:10–11.]
Such is his message of salvation to all men. Of it he says, “Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and remember that they shall have faith in me or they can in nowise be saved; and upon this rock I will build my church; yea, upon this rock ye are built, and if ye continue, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.” (D&C 33:10–13.) The true Church is built upon the rock of his gospel, upon the rock of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, upon the rock of personal revelation, which, coming by the power of the Holy Ghost, reveals that he is the Son of the living God, who was crucified for the sins of the world. (The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982], 126–127)