Doctrine and Covenants 128

Jesus Christ

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

Now, the nature of this ordinance consists in the power of the priesthood, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, wherein it is granted that whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Or, in other words, taking a different view of the translation, whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven; for out of the books shall your dead be judged, according to their own works, whether they themselves have attended to the ordinances in their own propria persona, or by the means of their own agents, according to the ordinance which God has prepared for their salvation from before the foundation of the world, according to the records which they have kept concerning their dead. Doctrine and Covenants 128:8

Joseph teaches that the power to bind on earth and in heaven comes by revelation from Jesus Christ. The sealing power that makes baptism for the dead valid is His.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to Matthew 16:19 — Christ's promise to Peter of binding and loosing power, quoted in full at verse 10.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name, 'I AM', the premortal Christ

It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a dispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given. Hence, whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah. This is a faithful saying. Who can hear it? Doctrine and Covenants 128:9

Priesthood work done in the name of the Lord is made binding by the decrees of Jehovah, whom Latter-day Saints know as the premortal Jesus Christ.

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

• the same title in D&C 110:3-4 — Jehovah appears in the Kirtland Temple and declares, 'I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain.'

Rock (Christ building His Church)

And again, for the precedent, Matthew 16:18, 19: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Doctrine and Covenants 128:10

Joseph quotes Jesus's own words to Peter as the precedent for sealing power. Christ builds His Church on the rock of revelation and gives the keys of His kingdom.

• quotes Matthew 16:18-19 — The verse quotes the Savior's words to Peter.
• the same title in Helaman 5:12 — Build upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ.

Baptism as likeness of resurrection

Herein is glory and honor, and immortality and eternal life—The ordinance of baptism by water, to be immersed therein in order to answer to the likeness of the dead, that one principle might accord with the other; to be immersed in the water and come forth out of the water is in the likeness of the resurrection of the dead in coming forth out of their graves; hence, this ordinance was instituted to form a relationship with the ordinance of baptism for the dead, being in likeness of the dead. Doctrine and Covenants 128:12–13

Baptism by immersion is a similitude of burial and coming forth from the grave. Resurrection comes through Jesus Christ, so the font points to His victory over death, though the verse does not name Him.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Romans 6:3-5 — Paul teaches baptism is burial with Christ and rising in the likeness of His resurrection.

The Second Man, the Lord from Heaven

The second man — Christ as the heavenly counterpart of Adam

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as are the records on the earth in relation to your dead, which are truly made out, so also are the records in heaven. This, therefore, is the sealing and binding power, and, in one sense of the word, the keys of the kingdom, which consist in the key of knowledge. Doctrine and Covenants 128:14

Quoting Paul, Joseph names Christ as 'the second man', the Lord from heaven. As Adam brought death, Christ brings resurrection, and the earthly pattern conforms to the heavenly.

• quotes 1 Corinthians 15:47 — Paul's contrast of Adam and Christ.
• alludes to 1 Corinthians 15:22 — As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord

And again, in connection with this quotation I will give you a quotation from one of the prophets, who had his eye fixed on the restoration of the priesthood, the glories to be revealed in the last days, and in an especial manner this most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel, namely, the baptism for the dead; for Malachi says, last chapter, verses 5th and 6th: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Doctrine and Covenants 128:17

Malachi's prophecy speaks in the Lord's voice of Elijah coming before His great day. Elijah's return prepares the earth for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

• quotes Malachi 4:5-6 — The prophecy Joseph cites.
• fulfilled by D&C 110:13-16 — Elijah comes in the Kirtland Temple and declares the day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.
• a parallel account in D&C 2:1-3 — Moroni's rendering of the same prophecy.

Thy God Reigneth

Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth! As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them! Doctrine and Covenants 128:19

Joseph borrows Isaiah's hymn of good tidings. Abinadi explains that the One who reigns and publishes peace in this passage is the Lord who redeems His people, Jesus Christ.

• alludes to Isaiah 52:7 — Source of the 'feet ... upon the mountains' and 'thy God reigneth' wording.
• interpreted by Mosiah 15:14-18 — Abinadi identifies the founder of peace in this passage as the Lord who redeemed His people.

The Lord's voice to the Three Witnesses

And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets—the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book! The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times! Doctrine and Covenants 128:20

Joseph recalls the Lord's voice calling the Three Witnesses. The revelation to them closes with 'I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it', so the voice is Christ's.

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

• the same event in D&C 17:1-9 — The revelation to the Three Witnesses, in which Jesus Christ names Himself as the speaker.

The Church bears His name

And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, and at sundry times, and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! And the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope! Doctrine and Covenants 128:21

The restored Church carries the name of Jesus Christ, because it is His Church and its members have taken His name upon them.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in 3 Nephi 27:7-8 — The Savior teaches that His Church must be called in His name.
• the same title in D&C 115:4 — The Lord gives the Church its name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

King Immanuel

Immanuel — God with us

Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free. Doctrine and Covenants 128:22

Christ is praised as King Immanuel, who before the world was prepared the way to redeem the dead. Because of Him, the prisoners in the spirit world can go free.

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

• the same title in Isaiah 7:14 — The prophecy of the child named Immanuel.
• alludes to Isaiah 61:1 — The Messiah proclaims liberty to the captives and opens the prison to them that are bound.
• alludes to Luke 4:18 — Jesus applies Isaiah's promise of deliverance for captives to Himself.

Eternal King

Eternal King — the everlasting ruler over all creation

Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers! Doctrine and Covenants 128:23

Continuing the praise of King Immanuel from verse 22, all creation is called to tell the wonders of the Eternal King and declare His name. All things bear record of Christ.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Job 38:7 — The morning stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy.
• alludes to Moses 6:63 — All things are created and made to bear record of Christ.

Refiner's Fire at His Coming

Behold, the great day of the Lord is at hand; and who can abide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation. Doctrine and Covenants 128:24

Joseph quotes Malachi's prophecy of the Lord who suddenly comes to His temple. At His Second Coming, Christ will refine and purify His people like silver, so the Saints are to offer Him an offering in righteousness: the records of their dead.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• quotes Malachi 3:1-3 — The messenger of the covenant comes to His temple as a refiner's fire.
• a parallel account in 3 Nephi 24:2-3 — The Savior gives the same words to the Nephites.
• alludes to D&C 13:1 — The sons of Levi offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.