All things bear record · Doctrine and Covenants

Doctrine and Covenants 136

3 witnesses of Christ here.

Taking His Name

Let all the people of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those who journey with them, be organized into companies, with a covenant and promise to keep all the commandments and statutes of the Lord our God. Doctrine and Covenants 136:2

The pioneers travel as a people who carry Christ's name: His Church, called by His name, under covenant to keep His commandments.

AttestedExplicitcovenant_name

How we know: the verse itself names Him

  • the same title in D&C 115:4 — 'For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.'
  • the same title in 3 Nephi 27:8 — 'If it be called in my name then it is my church.'

Jehovah

Jehovah — 'I AM', the self-existent, covenant God of Israel

Keep yourselves from evil to take the name of the Lord in vain, for I am the Lord your God, even the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob. Doctrine and Covenants 136:21–22

The Lord leading the pioneers west says He is the same God who led Israel out of Egypt. That God is Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ, now leading a latter-day exodus.

AttestedExplicitHe speaks in the first person

How we know: the verse itself names Him

  • alludes to Exodus 3:6 — 'I am ... the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
  • alludes to Exodus 20:2 — 'I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.'
  • interpreted by 1 Nephi 19:10 — The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 'yieldeth himself ... to be crucified.'
  • interpreted by 3 Nephi 15:5 — The risen Christ: 'I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel.'

Jesus

Jesus — 'Jehovah saves'

Therefore, marvel not at these things, for ye are not yet pure; ye can not yet bear my glory; but ye shall behold it if ye are faithful in keeping all my words that I have given you, from the days of Adam to Abraham, from Abraham to Moses, from Moses to Jesus and his apostles, and from Jesus and his apostles to Joseph Smith, whom I did call upon by mine angels, my ministering servants, and by mine own voice out of the heavens, to bring forth my work; Doctrine and Covenants 136:37

The Lord traces His word through every age, with Jesus and His apostles at the center, down to Joseph Smith. 'Mine own voice out of the heavens' recalls the First Vision, where Joseph heard the voice of the Father and saw the Son.

AttestedExplicitname

How we know: the verse itself names Him