3 Nephi 12:20

Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

We have to keep the commandments to be admitted into the heavenly kingdom where the Father and the Son dwell. But Christ knows we cannot do it on our own. So he invites us to come to him, lean on him, depend on him, draw strength from him, and accept his offer of redemption, justification, and sanctification. He will help us to qualify for eternal life. It is after all his work and glory. He can do almost everything for us except the one vital part of the equation -- we, and only we, can and must choose to come to him. If we will but make that one choice, he will do all in his infinite power to see to it that we succeed. No wonder the gospel is good news!

3 Nephi 12:19

And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled.

The law of the gospel is simple to understand. The law, however, cannot be kept without gifts from God. Belief and faith in Christ are gifts. Repentance is a gift of the Christ's atonement. We cannot come fully unto Christ without the gift of the Holy Ghost. Nor can we manufacture a broken heart and a contrite spirit. God in his mercy gives us the law of happiness and then provides the gifts and means to keep it. Our test is whether we will choose his way and then ask for help.

3 Nephi 10:18

And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them.

The greatest favor God can pour out upon us is to reveal his gospel. The greatest favor we can do for ourselves is to accept it.

Alma 39:15

And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.

Alma was certain that Christ would come. He would "surely come." Nothing would stop him or hinder him in his mission to save the world from death and all who would repent from hell. Christ would bring the happiest of news -- that we would not be left to our mortal fate and natural weaknesses without help. He would surely come, without fail, and bring ransom, rescue, deliverance and salvation with him. For those who were discouraged he would bring hope. For those who were in despair he would bring renewal. For those who had failed he would bring another chance. For those who sorrowed and grieved he would bring peace and joy. His coming would be the best news and the gladest tidings of all.

Alma 9:19

For he will not suffer you that ye shall live in your iniquities, to destroy his people. I say unto you, Nay; he would rather suffer that the Lamanites might destroy all his people who are called the people of Nephi, if it were possible that they could fall into sins and transgressions, after having had so much light and so much knowledge given unto them of the Lord their God;

Once we have the truth of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are under a heavier burden of responsibility than are those who do not have the gospel. God expects more of us: more obedience, more faith, more service, more humility, and more charity. He is not going to just save us, he is going to exalt us. That is a higher standard, which requires a higher level of life.

Second Nephi 31:2-3

Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying. For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding.

The doctrine of Christ is plain, simple, and understandable. It can be explained in plain, ordinary language. One does not have to have a rich and arcane vocabulary nor a stunning intellect to grasp the concepts of the doctrine. Little children by the age of eight are expected to understand the doctrine of Christ sufficiently that they can make a decision to follow the doctrine.

God wants us to understand the doctrine. He does not hide it in obscurity or shroud it in dark mysteries. He puts it out in plain sight so that all who want to learn it and understand it can do so. It is accessible and approachable.

All this is not to say that the doctrine is easy and takes no effort to comply with it. Salvation is not cheap, but it is freely given to all who will put forth the effort to live it and incorporate it in their lives. We can learn the doctrine in a few moments, but we will spend a lifetime implementing it and letting it change us.

The gospel of Christ is "good news". We should share it with the joy that it brings to us. The doctrine of Christ is delightful because it enlightens us and lifts us.