I was delighted to find a thematic connection between the following references: that they constitute the terms of receiving eternal life. I've drawn appropriate attention to the corresponding phrase in each passage below.
Mosiah 18:8-11
And it came to pass that he said unto them:
Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now,
as ye are desirous
- to come into the fold of God, and
- to be called his people, and
- are willing to bear one another's burdens,
that they may be light; Yea, and- are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and
- comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and
- to stand as witnesses of God
- at all times and
- in all things, and
- in all places that ye may be in,
- even until death,
that ye may be
- redeemed of God, and be
- numbered with those of the first resurrection,
that ye may have eternal life--
Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord,
- as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him,
- that ye will serve him and keep his commandments,
- that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.
2 Nephi 31:19-20
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.
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.
Alma 7:14-16:
Now I say unto you that
- ye must repent, and
- be born again;
for the Spirit saith
- if ye are not born again
- ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven;
therefore come and be baptized unto repentance,
- that ye may be washed from your sins,
- that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God,
- who taketh away the sins of the world,
- who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.
Yea, I say unto you
- come and fear not, and
- lay aside every sin,
- which easily doth beset you,
- which doth bind you down to destruction, yea,
- come and go forth, and show unto your God that
- ye are willing to repent of your sins and
- enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and
- witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.
And whosoever
- doeth this, and
- keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth,
the same will remember that I say unto him,
yea, he will remember that I have said unto him,he shall have eternal life,
according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me.