Genesis 2

Jehovah

Jehovah — the unchangeable One, the eternal I AM (rendered LORD)

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, Genesis 2:4–8

Here the covenant name first appears: 'the LORD God.' Latter-day Saints understand Jehovah to be the premortal Jesus Christ, who formed Adam's body and breathed life into him. The Book of Mormon calls the God who gives man breath the Holy One of Israel.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

• a parallel account in Moses 3:4 — 'in the day that I, the Lord God, made the heaven and the earth.'
• interpreted by 2 Nephi 9:26 — 'restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.'

Tree of Life

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9

The tree of life stands for the love of God, shown most fully in the gift of His Son and the eternal life that comes through Him. It reappears in Lehi's dream and in the paradise of God in Revelation.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• alluded to by Revelation 2:7 — 'the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.'
• alluded to by 1 Nephi 11:21-25 — When Nephi asks the meaning of the tree, the angel shows him the Lamb of God; the tree is the love of God.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the unchangeable One, the eternal I AM (rendered LORD)

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:15–22

The LORD God speaks with Adam, gives him the first commandment, and makes Eve. In the Book of Moses the Lord God says this to 'mine Only Begotten', so the Father and the Son are both at work in the garden.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

• a parallel account in Moses 3:15-18 — The same words; in v18 'I, the Lord God, said unto mine Only Begotten, that it was not good that the man should be alone.'

Bridegroom

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24

Paul quotes this verse and says the great mystery of a husband and wife becoming one flesh speaks of Christ and the Church. Christ is the Bridegroom who gives Himself for His bride.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him

• quoted by Ephesians 5:31-32 — Quotes the verse, then: 'This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.'