None Other Way

There is a popular saying that says “all roads lead to Rome.” There may be some truth to that in secular things; many roads might lead to a certain destination, many career paths might lead to a good job, or many trails might lead to the top of a mountain.  But in spiritual matters, we humbly reject this statement.  As Jesus declared to His apostles, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).  There are not many ways to salvation but only one, through Him who is the Way.  The writers of the Book of Mormon emphatically confirmed this statement as they declared over and over that only through Him could salvation come; He is the only way.  For example, the prophet Nephi wrote to us, "Brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved."  He invited us to "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ... feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end" and affirmed that "this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God" (2 Nephi 31:16,20-21).  Christ is the only way home to our Father in Heaven.  His brother Jacob similarly confirmed that Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation: "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name" (2 Nephi 9:41).  The only right way is the narrow one that leads to the Holy One of Israel.  

           Several other Book of Mormon prophets similarly testified.  King Benjamin declared in no uncertain terms: "And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent" (Mosiah 3:17). Later on in his same address he likewise affirmed, "And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ" (Mosiah 5:8).  There is no other name or head or way or means to salvation except it be through Jesus Christ.  Helaman reminded his sons of these words when he taught them to build on the rock of the Redeemer: "O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world" (Helaman 5:9).  Abinadi also emphasized to the priests of King Noah that without the Savior's atonement we would all be lost: "And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses" (Mosiah 13:28).  No work of the law can save us, only the sacrifice of the Son for our sins can.  When Aaron taught the Lamanites and the Amalekites, he "began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood" (Alma 21:9).  And when Alma taught his son Shiblon he similarly confirmed that Christ is the only way to salvation: "I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ" (Alma 38:9).  Again and again the prophets of the Book of Mormon declared that Christ is the only way to salvation.  Many roads might physically lead to Rome, but there is only one road through Jesus Christ that leads to our heavenly home.