Doctrine and Covenants 42

Jesus Christ

Jesus (Yeshua) — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

Hearken, O ye elders of my church, who have assembled yourselves together in my name, even Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, the Savior of the world; inasmuch as ye believe on my name and keep my commandments. Doctrine and Covenants 42:1

The Lawgiver names Himself: the elders have gathered in the name of Jesus Christ, and He is the one giving them the law.

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

• alludes to Matthew 18:20 — 'where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.'

Son of the Living God

Son of the living God — the literal Son of the Father, who lives

Hearken, O ye elders of my church, who have assembled yourselves together in my name, even Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, the Savior of the world; inasmuch as ye believe on my name and keep my commandments. Doctrine and Covenants 42:1

Christ uses the words of Peter's great confession about Himself. He is the Son of the living God.

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

• quotes Matthew 16:16 — Peter: 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

Savior of the World

Savior — the one who rescues from sin and death

Hearken, O ye elders of my church, who have assembled yourselves together in my name, even Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, the Savior of the world; inasmuch as ye believe on my name and keep my commandments. Doctrine and Covenants 42:1

Christ is not only Israel's Savior but the Savior of the whole world.

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

• the same title in John 4:42 — 'this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.'
• the same title in 1 John 4:14 — 'the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.'
• the same title in D&C 43:34 — 'I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.'

Asking the Father in Christ's name

For verily I say, as ye have assembled yourselves together according to the commandment wherewith I commanded you, and are agreed as touching this one thing, and have asked the Father in my name, even so ye shall receive. Doctrine and Covenants 42:3

We pray to the Father in the name of the Son, and Christ promises those prayers will be answered. He stands between us and the Father.

• alludes to John 16:23 — 'Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.'
• the same title in 3 Nephi 18:20 — 'whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right... it shall be given unto you.'

Going forth in His name

Behold, verily I say unto you, I give unto you this first commandment, that ye shall go forth in my name, every one of you, excepting my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon. Doctrine and Covenants 42:4–6

Missionaries go out under Christ's name and authority, two by two, just as He once sent out His disciples.

• alludes to Mark 6:7 — Jesus sent the Twelve 'forth by two and two.'
• alludes to Luke 10:1 — The Seventy sent 'two and two before his face.'

Jehovah's covenant formula

Jehovah — the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Christ

Until the time shall come when it shall be revealed unto you from on high, when the city of the New Jerusalem shall be prepared, that ye may be gathered in one, that ye may be my people and I will be your God. Doctrine and Covenants 42:9

Christ repeats the covenant promise Jehovah made to ancient Israel, now tied to the gathering at the New Jerusalem. The God of the old covenant is the same Jesus Christ.

• alludes to Jeremiah 31:33 — 'I will be their God, and they shall be my people.'
• alludes to Ezekiel 36:28 — 'ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.'

The Holy Ghost bears record of the Son

For, behold, the Comforter knoweth all things, and beareth record of the Father and of the Son. Doctrine and Covenants 42:17

One mission of the Holy Ghost is to testify of the Father and of the Son. Teachers speak by the Comforter so that their words carry that witness.

• alludes to John 15:26 — 'the Comforter... shall testify of me.'
• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:32 — 'the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me.'
• the same title in 2 Nephi 31:18 — The Holy Ghost 'witnesses of the Father and the Son.'

Love for Christ shown in obedience

If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments. Doctrine and Covenants 42:29

Christ repeats what He taught at the Last Supper: we show love for Him by serving Him and keeping His commandments. This verse leads straight into the law of consecration.

• alludes to John 14:15 — 'If ye love me, keep my commandments.'

Giving to the poor is giving to Christ

And inasmuch as ye impart of your substance unto the poor, ye will do it unto me; and they shall be laid before the bishop of my church and his counselors, two of the elders, or high priests, such as he shall appoint or has appointed and set apart for that purpose. Doctrine and Covenants 42:31

Christ counts what we give to the poor as given to Him personally. Consecration is an offering to the Savior.

• alludes to Matthew 25:40 — 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'

He shall come to His temple

That my covenant people may be gathered in one in that day when I shall come to my temple. And this I do for the salvation of my people. Doctrine and Covenants 42:36

Christ says He will come to His temple and that consecration helps prepare a gathered people for that day. It fulfills Malachi's promise that the Lord would suddenly come to His temple.

• alludes to Malachi 3:1 — 'the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant.'
• the same event in D&C 36:8 — 'I will suddenly come to my temple.'
• the same event in D&C 133:2 — 'The Lord who shall suddenly come to his temple.'

The least of these

And it shall come to pass, that he that sinneth and repenteth not shall be cast out of the church, and shall not receive again that which he has consecrated unto the poor and the needy of my church, or in other words, unto me— Doctrine and Covenants 42:37–38

Christ says it again plainly: what is consecrated to the poor is consecrated to Him. He quotes His own words from the parable of the sheep and the goats.

• quotes Matthew 25:40 — 'ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'
• the same title in Mosiah 2:17 — In the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

The Lord who spoke through the prophets

Jehovah — the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Christ

For it shall come to pass, that which I spake by the mouths of my prophets shall be fulfilled; for I will consecrate of the riches of those who embrace my gospel among the Gentiles unto the poor of my people who are of the house of Israel. Doctrine and Covenants 42:39

Christ says the ancient prophets spoke His words. As Jehovah, He is the God who inspired them, and He will fulfill what they promised about the riches of the Gentiles blessing Israel.

• alludes to Isaiah 60:5 — 'the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.'
• alludes to Isaiah 61:6 — 'ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles.'

Healing blessings in His name

And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me. Doctrine and Covenants 42:44

Elders bless the sick in Christ's name. Whether the sick person lives or dies, they belong to Him.

• alludes to James 5:14 — Call for the elders... anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
• alludes to Romans 14:8 — 'whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord.'

Dying in Christ; hope of a glorious resurrection

Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection. Doctrine and Covenants 42:45–47

Because of Christ's Resurrection, faithful people can hope for a glorious resurrection. For those who die 'in' Christ, death is sweet instead of bitter.

• alludes to John 8:52 — 'If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.'
• alludes to Revelation 14:13 — 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.'
• the same title in 1 Corinthians 15:22 — 'in Christ shall all be made alive.'

Faith in Christ to be healed

And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed. Doctrine and Covenants 42:48–51

Healing comes by faith in Christ, the same power behind His mortal miracles of giving sight, hearing, and strength to the lame. Isaiah said the Messiah's day would bring those signs.

• alludes to Isaiah 35:5-6 — 'the eyes of the blind shall be opened... Then shall the lame man leap as an hart.'
• alludes to Matthew 9:28-29 — 'Believe ye that I am able to do this?... According to your faith be it unto you.'
• alludes to Matthew 11:5 — 'The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk... and the deaf hear.'

Power to become His sons

And they who have not faith to do these things, but believe in me, have power to become my sons; and inasmuch as they break not my laws thou shalt bear their infirmities. Doctrine and Covenants 42:52

Even those without faith to be healed, if they believe in Christ, can become His sons and daughters. The Saints are to carry each other's weaknesses, just as Christ carried ours.

• the same title in D&C 39:4 — 'power to become my sons.'
• alludes to John 1:12 — 'to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.'
• alludes to Matthew 8:17 — 'Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.'

The Giver of wisdom

Therefore, he that lacketh wisdom, let him ask of me, and I will give him liberally and upbraid him not. Doctrine and Covenants 42:68

Christ uses James's famous promise, but in His own voice: 'ask of me.' He is the God who gives wisdom freely, the promise that led Joseph Smith to the grove.

• quotes James 1:5 — 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.'
• alludes to Joseph Smith—History 1:11 — Joseph reads James 1:5 before the First Vision.

The Church of Christ

And again, every person who belongeth to this church of Christ, shall observe to keep all the commandments and covenants of the church. Doctrine and Covenants 42:78

The Church bears Christ's name because it is His. Its members covenant to keep His commandments.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in 3 Nephi 27:7-8 — 'ye shall call the church in my name... if it be called in my name then it is my church.'

Christ's pattern for reconciliation

And if thy brother or sister offend thee, thou shalt take him or her between him or her and thee alone; and if he or she confess thou shalt be reconciled. Doctrine and Covenants 42:88–89

Christ restores the steps He taught in mortality for dealing with offenses: go privately first, and only then bring it to the Church. The aim is reconciliation.

• alludes to Matthew 18:15-17 — 'go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone... tell it unto the church.'