Jesus Christ was and is Jehovah.
See: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/jesus-christ-and-the-everlasting-gospel-teacher-manual/lesson-5-jesus-christ-was-jehovah-of-the-old-testament?lang=eng
- “In testifying of the Savior Jesus Christ, modern prophets have declared: “He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament” (“The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” Ensign or Liahona, Apr. 2000, 2).
- Jesus Christ, as Jehovah, established Heavenly Father’s everlasting gospel on the earth in every dispensation of time in order to gather in every one of God’s children who were lost.
- Our faith in Jesus Christ can be strengthened as we come to recognize His unchanging nature and His everlasting gospel.
4. See Exodus 3:11–14; 6:2–3; John 8:52–53, 56–59; 18:5, 8; 3 Nephi 15:5; Abraham 1:16; 2:8
5. Jesus Christ was Jehovah of the Old Testament
6. Read John 8:52–53, 56–59 silently. Then ask yourself:
- What questions were the Jews asking the Savior?
- What do you think Jesus meant by His response, “Before Abraham was, I am”? (verse 58).
7. To define the phrase “I am,” read Exodus 3:11–14; 6:2–3, looking for how the God of the Old Testament identified Himself. Ask yourself the following questions:
- According to these verses, what names did the God of the Old Testament use to identify Himself? (The Joseph Smith Translation of Exodus 6:3 reads, “I am the Lord God Almighty; the Lord JEHOVAH. And was not my name known unto them?” See also Abraham 1:16.)
- How do these verses clarify the significance of Jesus Christ’s statement, “Before Abraham was, I am”? (Students should recognize that Jesus Christ was Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament and the great I AM.)
8. “This is as blunt and pointed an affirmation of divinity as any person has or could make. ‘Before Abraham was I Jehovah.’ That is, ‘I am God Almighty, the Great I AM. I am the self-existent, Eternal One. I am the God of your fathers. My name is: I AM THAT I AM’” (Apostle and Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 1:464).
9. Jehovah is “the covenant or proper name of the God of Israel. It denotes the ‘Unchangeable One’” (Bible Dictionary, “Jehovah”).
- Why is it important to know that Jesus Christ was Jehovah of the Old Testament? (Answer: God has always administered His gospel through His Son, Jesus Christ. See also 3 Nephi 15:5, which records the Savior’s teaching that He was the giver of the law.)
10. You may want to read aloud the following statement by Apostle and President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972):
“All revelation since the fall has come through Jesus Christ, who is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. … The Father [Elohim] has never dealt with man directly and personally since the fall, and he has never appeared except to introduce and bear record of the Son” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 1:27).
- How does knowing that Jehovah, or Jesus Christ, is unchangeable help you to have faith in Him? (Answer: the knowledge that Jesus Christ is unchangeable helps us have faith that just as He kept His promises to the people we read about in the scriptures, He will keep His promises to us.)
11. By early post-biblical times, the Hebrew name for Jehovah (usually represented as Yahweh in literature) was considered too sacred to be pronounced. For this reason, except for a few exceptions (see Exodus 6:3; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 12:2; 26:4), the translators of the King James Version of the Bible rendered the word Jehovah as LORD (in all capital letters). In modern Judaism, it is replaced with the word Adonai, which means “Lord.”
12. See Genesis 13:14–16; 17:1–9; Moses 6:51–52, 64–66; Abraham 1:18–19; 2:8–11
13. Jehovah established the everlasting gospel anciently
14. Read Moses 6:51–52, 64–66 and identify what Jehovah taught Adam. In verses 51–52, Jehovah was speaking on behalf of the Father. Now ask yourself:
- What did you notice about the gospel taught to Adam? (Answer: It is the same gospel taught today. [See 2 Nephi 31:10–16 for an example of the same gospel being taught in the Americas.] Emphasize this truth by writing the following statement on a piece of paper: The gospel of Jesus Christ is everlasting and unchanging in each gospel dispensation.)
15. In a later dispensation, Jehovah renewed His everlasting gospel through a covenant with Abraham known as the Abrahamic covenant. Now study Genesis 13:14–16; 17:2–8; Abraham 1:18–19; 2:8–11 and make a list of the promises the Lord made to Abraham. And study Genesis 17:1–5, 9; Abraham 1:19; 2:8–11 and make a list of what Abraham was required to do in order to receive the promised blessings.
Write the following chart on your paper, leaving space to list your responses:
| Abrahamic Covenant | |
|---|---|
| Promises Made to Abraham | Abraham’s Responsibilities |
16. Summarizing the Abrahamic covenant read aloud the following statement:
“Abraham received the gospel and was ordained to the higher priesthood (D&C 84:14; Abr. 2:11), and he entered into celestial marriage, which is the covenant of exaltation (D&C 131:1–4; 132:19, 29). Abraham received a promise that all of the blessings of these covenants would be offered to his mortal posterity (D&C 132:29–31; Abr. 2:6–11). Together, these covenants and promises are called the Abrahamic covenant. The restoration of this covenant was the restoration of the gospel in the last days, for through it all the nations of the earth are blessed (Gal. 3:8–9, 29; D&C 110:12; 124:58; Abr. 2:10–11)” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Abrahamic Covenant”; scriptures.lds.org).
17. We emphasize that from the beginning, the Father covenanted with His children to gather them together through the truths, ordinances, and blessings of the everlasting gospel.
18. The Restoration of the gospel includes the restoration of the Abrahamic covenant.
19. That is, the Abrahamic covenant is a significant part of the new and everlasting covenant, which is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ask yourself:
- How does knowing that we are descendants of Abraham and heirs to all that God promised to him influence the way you live?
- How does the availability of the blessings promised to Abraham and his posterity strengthen families and guide us in the decisions we make?
20. How can you secure the promised blessings of this covenant for yourself and your families, past, present, and future.
Joshua 24:3–13; 1 Nephi 17:23–32
21. Jehovah blessed and led ancient Israel.
22. As part of the Abrahamic covenant, Jehovah promised the blessings of the gospel to Abraham’s posterity and those who gathered with them.
23. Read Joshua 24:3–13, and then read Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:23–32.
24. Look for words and phrases that teach what Jehovah did for ancient Israel.
25. You may want to suggest mark what you find and share what you learned.
26. For insight into why Jehovah did some of the things He did, read Exodus 6:2–6 aloud. Ask yourself:
- What reason did Jehovah give for doing many of the things you read about in Joshua and 1 Nephi?
- What does this tell you about the promises the Lord has made to you? (As students respond, write the following principle on the board: If we live faithfully, the Lord will keep the promises He has made to us.)
27. Read aloud the following statement by Apostle and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
“Because God has been faithful and kept His promises in the past, we can hope with confidence that God will keep His promises to us in the present and in the future. In times of distress, we can hold tightly to the hope that things will ‘work together for [our] good’ [D&C 90:24]” (“The Infinite Power of Hope,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 23).
- How can knowing about Jehovah’s actions anciently help you during times of trial?
- What did He do for ancient Israel that He will also do for you?
28. We testify that in every dispensation of time, Jesus Christ has blessed God’s children with the everlasting gospel.
29. Just as the covenant people anciently received promised blessings from the Lord, so can we upon condition of our obedience.
Readings
- John 8:51–59; 18:5, 8; Exodus 3:11–14; 6:2–3; 3 Nephi 15:5; Moses 6:51–52, 64–66; Genesis 17:1–9; Abraham 1:18–19; 2:8–11.
- “Enrichment Section A: Who Is the God of the Old Testament?” Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis–2 Samuel, 3rd ed. (Church Educational System manual, 2003), 45–48.”
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