Moses 1

Endless

Endless — without beginning of days or end of years; eternal

And God spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless? Moses 1:3

In Moses 1 the speaker is the Father, who calls Jesus "mine Only Begotten" (v. 6). Yet the same name "Endless" is used by Jesus Christ of Himself in D&C 19, showing that the Father and the Son share the same eternal nature and titles.

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 19:10-12 — Christ says "Endless is my name" and explains endless punishment as God's punishment.
• alludes to Hebrews 7:3 — Similar wording "without beginning of days"—used of Melchizedek as a type of the Son of God.

Only Begotten

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

And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all. Moses 1:6

The Father Himself testifies that His Only Begotten is, and will be, the Savior. Long before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He was already the chosen Savior, full of grace and truth.

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

• the same title in John 1:14 — The Word made flesh, "the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
• the same title in Moses 5:7 — "The Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth."
• the same title in Moses 1:32 — Same title and phrase "full of grace and truth" in the same vision.

Moses as a type of Christ

And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all. Moses 1:6

God declares outright that Moses is a likeness of the Only Begotten. Moses' life as a deliverer, lawgiver, and mediator for Israel was meant to point people to Jesus Christ.

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

• a type of what is in Deuteronomy 18:15 — A Prophet "like unto me" whom the Lord will raise up.
• interpreted by Acts 3:22-23 — Peter applies Moses' prophet-like-me prophecy to Jesus.
• interpreted by 1 Nephi 22:21 — Nephi identifies the prophet like unto Moses as the Holy One of Israel.

Moses as a type of Christ

And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee? Moses 1:13

Moses answers Satan's temptation by remembering who he is: a son of God made in the likeness of the Only Begotten. Knowing his relationship to God and to Christ gives him power to resist.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in Moses 1:6 — God first told Moses he was in the similitude of the Only Begotten.
• alludes to Matthew 4:8-10 — Jesus is likewise tempted by Satan to worship him and refuses.

Moses as a type of Christ

Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me: Thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten. Moses 1:16

For the third time Moses repeats God's words that he is a similitude of the Only Begotten, and uses that truth to command Satan to leave.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in Moses 1:6 — The original declaration of the similitude.

Praying in the name of the Only Begotten

And he also gave me commandments when he called unto me out of the burning bush, saying: Call upon God in the name of mine Only Begotten, and worship me. Moses 1:17

From the burning bush God commanded Moses to pray in the name of the Only Begotten. Praying to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ has been the pattern since the beginning.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same event in Exodus 3:2-4 — The Lord calls to Moses out of the burning bush.
• the same title in Moses 5:8 — Adam is commanded to call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 18:19 — Jesus: "ye must always pray unto the Father in my name."

Only Begotten (counterfeited by Satan)

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

And now, when Moses had said these words, Satan cried with a loud voice, and ranted upon the earth, and commanded, saying: I am the Only Begotten, worship me. Moses 1:19

Satan falsely claims the Savior's own title, trying to take Christ's place, just as he tried in the premortal council. Moses sees through the lie because he has seen God's true glory.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to Moses 4:1-2 — Satan's premortal attempt to take the Son's role and God's honor.
• alludes to Isaiah 14:13-14 — Lucifer seeks to be like the Most High.

Power in the name of the Only Begotten

And now Satan began to tremble, and the earth shook; and Moses received strength, and called upon God, saying: In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan. Moses 1:21

Moses finally drives Satan away by commanding him in the name of the Only Begotten. The name of Jesus Christ carries power over the adversary.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same event in Moses 4:1 — God later recalls that Moses commanded Satan in the name of the Only Begotten.
• alludes to Acts 16:18 — Paul commands an evil spirit out "in the name of Jesus Christ."

The Son (witnessed by the Holy Ghost)

And it came to pass that when Satan had departed from the presence of Moses, that Moses lifted up his eyes unto heaven, being filled with the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and the Son; Moses 1:24

The Holy Ghost's mission is to bear record of the Father and the Son. Moses, filled with the Holy Ghost, receives that witness before seeing God's glory again.

• the same title in Moses 5:9 — Identical phrase: the Holy Ghost "beareth record of the Father and the Son."
• alludes to John 15:26 — The Comforter "shall testify of me."

Moses the deliverer as a type of Christ

And lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days; for thou shalt deliver my people from bondage, even Israel my chosen. Moses 1:26

Moses, already called a similitude of the Only Begotten, is sent to deliver Israel from bondage. His deliverance of Israel from Egypt pictures Christ delivering all of us from the bondage of sin and death.

• the same title in Moses 1:6 — Moses is declared to be in the similitude of the Only Begotten.
• alludes to Alma 36:28-29 — Alma links the Lord's delivering Israel from Egypt with His power to deliver souls.

Creation by the Only Begotten (the Word)

The Word of my power — the Son through whom the Father's power creates

And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth. Moses 1:32–33

The Father explains that He created worlds without number through His Only Begotten Son, whom He calls "the word of my power." Jesus Christ is the Creator under the Father's direction.

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

• alludes to John 1:1-3 — The Word was with God and all things were made by him.
• alludes to Hebrews 1:2 — God made the worlds by His Son.
• alludes to D&C 76:24 — By Him, through Him, and of Him the worlds are and were created.
• the same event in Moses 2:1 — "By mine Only Begotten I created these things."