Doctrine and Covenants 93

I AM

I AM — the self-existent One, the covenant name Jehovah

Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am; Doctrine and Covenants 93:1

Jesus Christ promises that everyone who repents and comes to Him will see His face and know that He is. "That I am" echoes the name He gave Moses at the burning bush, showing that the Lord speaking is Jehovah.

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 Exodus 3:14 — I AM THAT I AM, the name given to Moses
• alludes to D&C 88:68 — The promise that the sanctified will see His face
• alludes to D&C 67:10 — Promise that the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am

Light of the World

And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; Doctrine and Covenants 93:2

Christ declares Himself the true light who gives light to every person born into the world, the Light of Christ.

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

• quotes John 1:9 — That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world
• alludes to D&C 84:46 — The Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world
• the same title in John 8:12 — I am the light of the world

The Father and the Son

And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one— Doctrine and Covenants 93:3–4

Christ explains how He is one with the Father and why He can be called both Father and Son: the Father gave Him His fulness, and He is the Son because He took a body of flesh and lived among us.

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 John 10:30 — I and my Father are one
• alludes to John 14:10-11 — I am in the Father, and the Father in me
• alludes to Mosiah 15:2-4 — Abinadi explains why Christ is called the Father and the Son
• alludes to John 1:14 — The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us

Mortal Ministry

I was in the world and received of my Father, and the works of him were plainly manifest. Doctrine and Covenants 93:5

Jesus testifies of His mortal life: He lived in the world, received from His Father, and did the Father's works openly.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 5:36 — The works which the Father hath given me to finish bear witness of me

Premortal Christ

And John saw and bore record of the fulness of my glory, and the fulness of John's record is hereafter to be revealed. Doctrine and Covenants 93:6–7

Christ tells of John's record, which testified that Jesus had glory and existed in the beginning before the world was created.

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

• alludes to John 1:1-2 — In the beginning was the Word... The same was in the beginning with God
• alludes to John 17:5 — The glory which I had with thee before the world was

The Word

The Word — the one through whom God speaks and acts; here also "the messenger of salvation"

Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation— Doctrine and Covenants 93:8

John's record calls Jesus the Word and the messenger of salvation, the One who carries God's saving message and power to us.

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

• alludes to John 1:1 — In the beginning was the Word
• the same title in Moses 1:32 — By the word of my power, which is mine Only Begotten, all things were created

Redeemer of the World

Redeemer — the one who pays the price to buy back and set free

The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men. Doctrine and Covenants 93:9

Jesus is named the Light and Redeemer of the world, who came into the world to save it.

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 John 1:4-5 — In him was life; and the life was the light of men
• the same title in D&C 93:26 — I am the Spirit of truth

Creation by Christ

The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men. Doctrine and Covenants 93:9–10

Under the Father's direction, Jesus Christ created this world, other worlds, and all things. He is the source of life and light for all people.

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

• alludes to John 1:3 — All things were made by him
• alludes to Colossians 1:16 — By him were all things created
• alludes to Hebrews 1:2 — By whom also he made the worlds
• alludes to Moses 1:33 — Worlds without number have I created... by the Son I created them

Only Begotten of the Father

Only Begotten — the only child of the Father in the flesh

And I, John, bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit of truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us. Doctrine and Covenants 93:11

John testifies that he saw Jesus' glory as the Only Begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth, who came in a mortal body and lived among people.

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

• quotes John 1:14 — We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth
• the same title in Moses 1:6 — Mine Only Begotten... full of grace and truth

Son of God

Son of God — the literal Son of the Father

And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace; Doctrine and Covenants 93:12–14

Jesus did not have all of the Father's fulness at birth; He grew from grace to grace until He received a fulness, and so He was called the Son of God. His growth is the pattern for ours (verse 20).

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 John 1:16 — Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace
• alludes to Luke 2:52 — Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man

Beloved Son

And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son. Doctrine and Covenants 93:15

At Jesus' baptism the Holy Ghost descended on Him and the Father's voice declared, "This is my beloved Son." All three members of the Godhead are present.

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

• the same event in Matthew 3:16-17 — The baptism of Jesus and the Father's voice
• the same event in Mark 1:10-11 — Thou art my beloved Son
• the same event in 1 Nephi 11:27 — Nephi sees the Holy Ghost come down upon the Redeemer at His baptism

Son of God

And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father; Doctrine and Covenants 93:16–17

John testifies that Jesus received the Father's full glory and all power in heaven and on earth, because the Father dwelt in Him.

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

• alludes to Matthew 28:18 — All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth
• alludes to Colossians 2:9 — In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily

Grace for Grace

I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness. Doctrine and Covenants 93:19–20

Christ teaches that true worship is coming to the Father through His name. If we keep His commandments we can grow grace for grace, as He did, and be glorified in Him.

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

• alludes to D&C 93:12-13 — Christ's own growth from grace to grace is the pattern
• alludes to John 14:6 — No man cometh unto the Father, but by me
• alludes to John 17:21-22 — As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us

The Firstborn

Firstborn — the first spirit child of the Father, heir of the birthright

And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn; Doctrine and Covenants 93:21

Jesus declares that He was with the Father in the beginning and is the Firstborn, the eldest of the Father's spirit children.

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

• the same title in Colossians 1:15 — The firstborn of every creature
• the same title in Hebrews 1:6 — When he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world
• alludes to Psalm 89:27 — I will make him my firstborn

Church of the Firstborn

And all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the church of the Firstborn. Doctrine and Covenants 93:22

Those who are spiritually born again through Christ share in His glory and become members of the Church of the Firstborn, inheriting with Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to D&C 76:54 — They are the church of the Firstborn
• alludes to Hebrews 12:23 — The general assembly and church of the firstborn
• alludes to Mosiah 5:7 — Ye shall be called the children of Christ... this day he hath spiritually begotten you

The Spirit of Truth

Spirit of truth — here a title Christ applies to Himself, the source of all truth

The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth; Doctrine and Covenants 93:26

Christ calls Himself the Spirit of truth and says John testified that He received a fulness of all truth. In this revelation the title belongs to the Son, not only to the Holy Ghost.

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

• the same title in D&C 93:9 — The Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth
• alludes to John 14:6 — I am the way, the truth, and the life

Atonement — Redemption from the Fall

Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God. Doctrine and Covenants 93:38

Because Jesus Christ redeemed mankind from the Fall, every child begins life innocent before God. Little children are not accountable for Adam's transgression.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Moses 6:54 — The Son of God hath atoned for original guilt... children are whole from the foundation of the world
• alludes to Mosiah 3:16 — The blood of Christ atoneth for the sins of little children
• alludes to Moroni 8:8 — Little children are whole... the curse of Adam is taken from them in me

Jesus Christ — Friend

Verily, I say unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., or in other words, I will call you friends, for you are my friends, and ye shall have an inheritance with me— Doctrine and Covenants 93:45–46

The Lord calls His prophets friends and promises them an inheritance with Him, echoing Jesus' words to His apostles at the Last Supper.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 15:15 — Henceforth I call you not servants... but I have called you friends

The Anointed Preacher

Now, I say unto you, my friends, let my servant Sidney Rigdon go on his journey, and make haste, and also proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the gospel of salvation, as I shall give him utterance; and by your prayer of faith with one consent I will uphold him. Doctrine and Covenants 93:51

Sidney Rigdon is sent to proclaim "the acceptable year of the Lord," the words of Isaiah's messianic prophecy that Jesus read and applied to Himself in Nazareth.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 61:2 — To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD
• alludes to Luke 4:19 — Jesus reads it and says, This day is this scripture fulfilled