Doctrine and Covenants 122

Lamb of God

If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can't you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; Doctrine and Covenants 122:6

Joseph, innocent and hunted by enemies, is pictured as a lamb among wolves. The image softly echoes Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God whose blood was sought by His enemies, and prepares for verse 8 where Joseph is compared to the Son of Man.

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

• alludes to Matthew 10:16 — Jesus sends His servants 'as sheep in the midst of wolves'.
• alludes to Isaiah 53:7 — The suffering Servant 'is brought as a lamb to the slaughter'.

The Lord speaking to Joseph (Jesus Christ)

And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. Doctrine and Covenants 122:7

The Lord personally tells Joseph that even the worst suffering will give him experience and be for his good. The Lord who speaks in the Doctrine and Covenants is Jesus Christ, and He speaks as one who has suffered more than Joseph.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in D&C 121:7-8 — The same Liberty Jail answer: 'My son, peace be unto thy soul.'
• alludes to Romans 8:28 — 'All things work together for good to them that love God.'

Son of Man

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

The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Doctrine and Covenants 122:8

Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, went lower than every trial listed in verses 5-7 through His Atonement and death. No one suffers anything He has not gone beneath, so He can understand and lift us, and His disciples should not expect to be spared what their Master endured.

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 D&C 88:6 — Christ 'ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things'.
• alludes to Alma 7:11-12 — He takes upon Him the pains, afflictions and infirmities of His people so He may know how to succor them.
• the same title in Moses 6:57 — The Father's name is Man of Holiness, and His Only Begotten is the Son of Man.
• alludes to John 15:20 — 'The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.'
• alludes to Hebrews 2:18 — Because He suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.