We become what we think about, so if we are carnally minded (consumed with worldly or immoral thoughts), we are heading for death, but if we are spiritually minded, we are heading for eternal life. This is exactly what the apostle Paul taught: “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). The carnally minded man is the natural man, a person who is of the flesh, who lives to gratify the flesh, to satisfy base impulses and debasing desires. “The natural man,” the carnally minded man, “is an enemy to God” (Mosiah 3:19).
Jacob pleaded with his listeners and readers not to fight against the truths he taught: “I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness.” The righteous are not worried about chastisement because they stand firm in their love of the truth.
He extended the invitation to walk the path that leads to life. To get on that path requires repentance and baptism; actually, repentance and baptism are the gate to the path. Then comes remission of sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost (2 Nephi 31:17–18).
The continuing path is straight and narrow. Verse 41 uses the term straight, whereas other passages use strait. What is the difference? Straight means not crooked, not devious; strait means narrow, constricted. The terms strait and narrow mean about the same thing: constricted or tight. The juxtaposition of synonyms is an ancient Hebrew literary device. 23 We are accustomed to such dual forms, using words with related meanings; for example, joy and happiness, trials and tribulation, and sick and afflicted. As suggested in verse 41, man’s path is strait (narrow), but the Lord’s path is straight (see also Alma 7:9; 37:12). “For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, … therefore his paths are straight” (D&C 3:2).
“The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there.” The Lord employs many servants in his kingdom: the ecclesiastical leaders who are sometimes needed to help facilitate the repentance process, the priesthood holders who perform the baptisms of water and of the Holy Ghost, and the temple workers who assist us with sacred ordinances. But in the end, all the ordinances, the instructions, and the covenants are the Lord’s. Only he gives the final approvals for entrance into his heavenly kingdom and seals up each one to eternal life.