Doctrine and Covenants 109

Lord God of Israel

Thanks be to thy name, O Lord God of Israel, who keepest covenant and showest mercy unto thy servants who walk uprightly before thee, with all their hearts— Doctrine and Covenants 109:1

The "Lord God of Israel" is the covenant God of the Old Testament, whom Latter-day Saints know as Jehovah, the premortal Christ. In this prayer the title may point to the Father, who is also being addressed.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 1 Kings 8:23 — Solomon's temple dedication: "LORD God of Israel... who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants."

Jesus Christ

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

And now we ask thee, Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of thy bosom, in whose name alone salvation can be administered to the children of men, we ask thee, O Lord, to accept of this house, the workmanship of the hands of us, thy servants, which thou didst command us to build. Doctrine and Covenants 109:4

The prayer is offered to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, who is called the Son of the Father's bosom. It declares that salvation comes only through His name.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Acts 4:12 — None other name under heaven whereby we must be saved.
• alludes to John 1:18 — The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father.
• alludes to Mosiah 3:17 — No other name whereby salvation can come, only in and through Christ.

Son of Man

Son of Man — Son of the Man of Holiness, the Father (Moses 6:57)

For thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people. Doctrine and Covenants 109:5

The temple was built so that Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, would have a holy place to show Himself to His people. One week later He did appear in it.

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

• fulfilled by D&C 110:2-8 — The Lord appears in the Kirtland Temple and accepts the house.
• alludes to Malachi 3:1 — The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple.
• the same title in Moses 6:57 — Explains Son of Man as Son of the Man of Holiness.

In the Name of the Lord

That all the incomings of thy people, into this house, may be in the name of the Lord; Doctrine and Covenants 109:17–19

The Saints ask that everything they do in the temple be done in the name of the Lord. This echoes the command to act in His name (D&C 88:119-120), which verses 8-9 of this prayer also repeat.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes D&C 88:120 — The original command about incomings, outgoings and salutations in the name of the Lord.
• alludes to Colossians 3:17 — Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

His Name upon Them

And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them; Doctrine and Covenants 109:22

Missionaries leave the temple with the Lord's name upon them. The Saints take the name of Christ upon themselves by covenant, and the temple deepens that covenant.

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

• alludes to Numbers 6:27 — The priests put the Lord's name upon the children of Israel.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name, "I AM," the premortal Jesus Christ

O Jehovah, have mercy upon this people, and as all men sin, forgive the transgressions of thy people, and let them be blotted out forever. Doctrine and Covenants 109:34

The prayer calls Jehovah by name and asks Him to forgive and blot out sins, the mercy that comes through Christ's Atonement. A week later Jehovah told Joseph and Oliver, "your sins are forgiven you."

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• fulfilled by D&C 110:3-5 — Jehovah appears and declares, "your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me."
• alludes to Isaiah 43:25 — The LORD blots out transgressions for His own sake.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the premortal Jesus Christ

But deliver thou, O Jehovah, we beseech thee, thy servants from their hands, and cleanse them from their blood. Doctrine and Covenants 109:42

Jehovah is asked to deliver His servants and cleanse them from the blood of those who reject their warning. In Latter-day Saint teaching, Jehovah is the premortal Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to D&C 88:85 — Servants warn others so that their garments are clean from the blood of this generation.

Thy Will Be Done

But thy word must be fulfilled. Help thy servants to say, with thy grace assisting them: Thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours. Doctrine and Covenants 109:44

The Saints borrow the words of Jesus in Gethsemane and in the Lord's Prayer. They ask for grace to submit to God's will as He did.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Luke 22:42 — Jesus in Gethsemane: "not my will, but thine, be done."
• alludes to Matthew 6:10 — The Lord's Prayer: "Thy will be done."

The Arm of the Lord

But if they will not, make bare thine arm, O Lord, and redeem that which thou didst appoint a Zion unto thy people. Doctrine and Covenants 109:51

"Make bare thine arm" borrows Isaiah's picture of the Lord rolling up His sleeve to save His people. Isaiah links the arm of the Lord to the suffering Redeemer.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 52:10 — The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations.
• alludes to Isaiah 53:1 — "To whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" introduces the suffering servant.

Thine Anointed

Anointed — Messiah (Hebrew) / Christ (Greek)

But inasmuch as they will repent, thou art gracious and merciful, and wilt turn away thy wrath when thou lookest upon the face of thine Anointed. Doctrine and Covenants 109:53

"Thine Anointed" is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The Father turns away wrath from those who repent when He looks on the face of His Son, because Christ is our Mediator.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes Psalm 84:9 — "Look upon the face of thine anointed."
• alludes to D&C 45:3-5 — Christ pleads before the Father for those who believe on His name.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the premortal Jesus Christ

That their hearts may be softened when thy servants shall go out from thy house, O Jehovah, to bear testimony of thy name; that their prejudices may give way before the truth, and thy people may obtain favor in the sight of all; Doctrine and Covenants 109:56

The temple is called Jehovah's house, and the servants go out to testify of His name. A week later Jehovah appeared there and said the house was built "to my name" (D&C 110:6-7).

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• fulfilled by D&C 110:7 — Jehovah accepts the house: "my name shall be here."

Messiah

Messiah — the Anointed One

And may all the scattered remnants of Israel, who have been driven to the ends of the earth, come to a knowledge of the truth, believe in the Messiah, and be redeemed from oppression, and rejoice before thee. Doctrine and Covenants 109:67

The prayer asks that scattered Israel come to believe in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and so be redeemed. Gathering Israel means bringing Israel to Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 1 Nephi 10:14 — Scattered Israel shall come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.

Jehovah, Mighty God of Jacob

Mighty God of Jacob — Jacob's Mighty One, the covenant God of Israel

O Lord, remember thy servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., and all his afflictions and persecutions—how he has covenanted with Jehovah, and vowed to thee, O Mighty God of Jacob—and the commandments which thou hast given unto him, and that he hath sincerely striven to do thy will. Doctrine and Covenants 109:68

Joseph Smith made covenants with Jehovah, called here the Mighty God of Jacob. Isaiah uses that title alongside "Redeemer" and "Saviour," names Latter-day Saints apply to Christ.

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

• the same title in Genesis 49:24 — "The mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel)."
• the same title in Isaiah 49:26 — "I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob."

Stone Cut Without Hands

Remember all thy church, O Lord, with all their families, and all their immediate connections, with all their sick and afflicted ones, with all the poor and meek of the earth; that the kingdom, which thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth; Doctrine and Covenants 109:72

This echoes Daniel's stone cut out without hands that grows into a mountain filling the earth. The latter-day kingdom of God rolls forth to prepare for the kingdom of Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Daniel 2:34-35 — The stone cut out without hands becomes a great mountain.
• alludes to D&C 65:2 — The gospel rolls forth as the stone cut out of the mountain without hands.

Second Coming

That thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners; Doctrine and Covenants 109:73–74

The Church is pictured as a bride getting ready for the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, on the day He unveils the heavens and comes in glory. The mountains and valleys are Isaiah's images of the Lord's coming.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Revelation 19:7 — The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
• alludes to Isaiah 64:1-3 — Rend the heavens; the mountains flow down at thy presence.
• alludes to Isaiah 40:4-5 — Valleys exalted, rough places plain, and the glory of the LORD revealed.

Second Coming

That when the trump shall sound for the dead, we shall be caught up in the cloud to meet thee, that we may ever be with the Lord; Doctrine and Covenants 109:75–76

The Saints hope to be caught up to meet the Lord when He comes, as Paul promised, and to stand in white robes with palms like the redeemed before the Lamb in John's vision.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — Caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
• alludes to Revelation 7:9 — Multitude before the Lamb clothed in white robes with palms in their hands.
• alludes to D&C 88:96-98 — Saints caught up to meet Him at His coming.

The Lamb

Lamb — the sacrificial Lamb of God; Hosanna — "save now"

And also this church, to put upon it thy name. And help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright, shining seraphs around thy throne, with acclamations of praise, singing Hosanna to God and the Lamb! Doctrine and Covenants 109:79

The prayer ends with the hope of singing Hosanna before the throne to God and the Lamb, Jesus Christ, who was sacrificed for us. The shout of Hosanna is the praise Jesus received at His triumphal entry.

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

• alludes to Revelation 5:13 — Every creature gives blessing and honor to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
• alludes to Matthew 21:9 — The multitude cries Hosanna to the Son of David.