2 Nephi 3

Holy One of Israel

Holy One of Israel — the holy God who covenanted with Israel, Jehovah

And may the Lord consecrate also unto thee this land, which is a most precious land, for thine inheritance and the inheritance of thy seed with thy brethren, for thy security forever, if it so be that ye shall keep the commandments of the Holy One of Israel. 2 Nephi 3:2

Lehi ties the promised land to keeping the commandments of the Holy One of Israel, a Book of Mormon title for Jesus Christ. Nephi later says the Holy One of Israel is the keeper of the gate.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in 2 Nephi 9:41 — The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel.

Messiah

Messiah — the Anointed One

Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light—yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom. 2 Nephi 3:5

Joseph of Egypt was promised that Lehi's descendants, though broken off, would have the Messiah made known to them in the last days, bringing them out of darkness into light. The verse carefully separates the 'branch' (Lehi's family) from the Messiah.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same event in 1 Nephi 15:14 — In the latter days Lehi's seed will come to know the true Messiah.
• the same event in 1 Nephi 10:14 — Israel gathered will come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and Redeemer.

Jehovah

Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers. 2 Nephi 3:7–13

The Lord who speaks to Joseph of Egypt, promising a seer and a book that will grow together with the Bible, is Jehovah, the premortal Christ. It is His word and His covenants that the seer brings forth.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• a parallel account in JST Genesis 50:27-33 — Joseph Smith Translation restores Joseph of Egypt's prophecy of the choice seer.

Jehovah

And the Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesman for him. 2 Nephi 3:17

The Lord who promised to raise up Moses and write the law with His own finger is Jehovah, the premortal Christ, the God of Sinai.

• the same event in Exodus 31:18 — Tables of stone written with the finger of God.