Second Nephi Ch. 31 is not authentic.

It is not a forgery. It is not a fabrication. But the spirit of the age embraces the cult of authenticity, and Second Nephi Ch. 31 could not be more against the spirit of the age if it emitted unlicensed pollutants from burning iPhones.

The spirit of the age promotes “being true to the authentic, inner self.” Second Nephi 31, on the other hand, preaches imitation, duty, and formalities.

The chapter is Nephi’s sermon on Christ’s baptism. The cornerstone of the sermon is that Christ did not need to be baptized. He was already holy.

And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

2 Ne. 31:6-7.

Christ was not baptized because of his strong desire to be clean. He was already clean. He did it because the Father commanded it. As a formality in other words. And he did it because we needed baptism and he wanted to set an example.

The whole point of setting an example, as Nephi makes clear, is for others to follow it. Those others are us. We are not supposed to “be ourself.” We are supposed to be himself. We are supposed to do what’s in his heart. We are supposed to be imitations.

Following Christ’s example means walking the one narrow path. Instead of being unique individuals, writing our own covenants and coming up with the commitment ceremony to God that best expresses our uniqueness, we are to conform.

After that, we must endure. When the fresh, vital feeling of genuine spiritual experience is gone, we are supposed to stick to it anyway. Is there anything less “authentic” than tedium?

Baptism is the key ordinance of the Christ-centered life. It cannot be made to fit the ideal modern life that is supposed to be, literally, self-centered. Modern life seeks its inner child. Baptism seeks the Christ child.

Eventually the baptized will find him. Genuine spiritual experience returns when you endure. We will not always be imitations. Even now, many of us have been awed by intimations of our impending reality. The problem with the cult of authenticity is that it immanentizes the eschaton. It wants the prize before the race is run. It wants us to be true to ourself before we have found out who we are.