Abraham 2

Jehovah

Now the Lord had said unto me: Abraham, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee. Abraham 2:3

The Lord who calls Abraham out of his homeland is Jehovah, the premortal Christ, who names Himself a few verses later.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Genesis 12:1 — The same call in the Genesis account.

Jehovah

But I, Abraham, and Lot, my brother's son, prayed unto the Lord, and the Lord appeared unto me, and said unto me: Arise, and take Lot with thee; for I have purposed to take thee away out of Haran, and to make of thee a minister to bear my name in a strange land which I will give unto thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession, when they hearken to my voice. Abraham 2:6

Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ, appears to Abraham and calls him to be a minister who bears His name. Abraham's mission was to carry the Lord's name to others.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Abraham 1:18 — Jehovah promised to put His name upon Abraham through the priesthood.

Creator

For I am the Lord thy God; I dwell in heaven; the earth is my footstool; I stretch my hand over the sea, and it obeys my voice; I cause the wind and the fire to be my chariot; I say to the mountains—Depart hence—and behold, they are taken away by a whirlwind, in an instant, suddenly. Abraham 2:7

Jehovah describes His power over heaven, earth, sea, wind, and mountains. The Savior who commands the elements here is the same who later calmed the sea with His word.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Isaiah 66:1 — "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool."
• alludes to Mark 4:39 — Jesus rebukes the wind and the sea obeys, showing the same power in mortality.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name of God, often understood as "I Am" or "the Eternal One"; the name of the premortal Jesus Christ

My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore my hand shall be over thee. Abraham 2:8

The Lord again declares His name, Jehovah, and His foreknowledge of all things. Because He knows the end from the beginning, Abraham can trust His protecting hand.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Abraham 1:16 — "My name is Jehovah" first declared at Abraham's deliverance.
• alludes to Isaiah 46:10 — God "declaring the end from the beginning".
• the same title in D&C 110:3-4 — The voice of Jehovah who was slain, identifying Jehovah as Christ.

Seed of Abraham

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure, and make thy name great among all nations, and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations; Abraham 2:9–11

Jehovah promises that through Abraham's priesthood and seed all families of the earth will receive the gospel and eternal life. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ, Abraham's greatest descendant, whom the resurrected Savior identified as the fulfillment of this covenant.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Genesis 12:2-3 — The covenant promise in Genesis.
• interpreted by Galatians 3:16 — Paul teaches the promised seed is Christ.
• interpreted by 3 Nephi 20:25-26 — Jesus quotes the covenant to Abraham and says the Father raised Him up to bless them first.

Jehovah

Now, after the Lord had withdrawn from speaking to me, and withdrawn his face from me, I said in my heart: Thy servant has sought thee earnestly; now I have found thee; Abraham 2:12–13

After the Lord withdraws His face, Abraham speaks to Jehovah as "thee", rejoicing that seeking Him earnestly led to finding Him. The God who delivered him is the premortal Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in Abraham 1:15-16 — The deliverance from the altar of Elkenah by Jehovah.

Rock

Rock — the sure, unmoving foundation; a title of the Lord as the source of safety and salvation

Therefore, eternity was our covering and our rock and our salvation, as we journeyed from Haran by the way of Jershon, to come to the land of Canaan. Abraham 2:16

Living in tents, Abraham's family found shelter in eternity, calling it their covering, rock, and salvation. These are titles of the Lord, who is Endless and Eternal, and whose Son is the Rock of our salvation.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him

• the same title in Helaman 5:12 — Build upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ.
• the same title in Psalm 18:2 — "The LORD is my rock ... and the horn of my salvation."
• the same title in Moses 1:3 — "Endless is my name", God's name tied to eternity.

Sacrifice, a Similitude

Now I, Abraham, built an altar in the land of Jershon, and made an offering unto the Lord, and prayed that the famine might be turned away from my father's house, that they might not perish. Abraham 2:17–18

Abraham builds altars and offers sacrifice to the Lord. Animal sacrifice was given as a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten, so each altar pointed forward to Jesus Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Moses 5:7 — Sacrifice is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.

Jehovah

And the Lord appeared unto me in answer to my prayers, and said unto me: Unto thy seed will I give this land. Abraham 2:19

Jehovah appears to Abraham in answer to prayer and promises the land to his posterity. The premortal Christ personally visited and covenanted with the patriarch.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Genesis 12:7 — The LORD appears to Abram and promises the land to his seed.