Mosiah 23

Jehovah (Thus Saith the Lord)

Jehovah — the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Christ

But he said unto them: Behold, it is not expedient that we should have a king; for thus saith the Lord: Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another; therefore I say unto you it is not expedient that ye should have a king. Mosiah 23:7

Alma quotes the Lord's word that no one should esteem himself above another. As prophet, he speaks for the Lord, the premortal Christ, who later taught that the greatest is the servant of all.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

Redeemer — Liberty from the Bonds of Iniquity

And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds; yea, even out of the hands of king Noah and his people, and also from the bonds of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over you. Mosiah 23:13

Alma's words closely echo Paul's 'Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.' Being freed from the bonds of iniquity is the redemption Christ brings.

• alludes to Galatians 5:1 — 'Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.'
• alludes to John 8:36 — 'If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.'

Lifted Up at the Last Day

Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Mosiah 23:21–22

Mormon promises that those who trust in the Lord through trials will be 'lifted up at the last day,' echoing Jesus's promise to raise up His believers at the last day. The words also reach forward to Alma the Younger's testimony to his son.

• alludes to John 6:40 — Christ: 'I will raise him up at the last day.'
• alluded to by Alma 36:3 — Alma: whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in trials and lifted up at the last day.

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the covenant God of the fathers, Jehovah

For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob. Mosiah 23:23–24

The only Deliverer is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the covenant God who named Himself to Moses. Nephi teaches that this same God would yield Himself as a man to be crucified, so the title points to Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• interpreted by 1 Nephi 19:10 — The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob yields Himself as a man into the hands of wicked men to be lifted up.
• the same title in Exodus 3:6 — The LORD reveals Himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:14 — The risen Christ: 'I am the God of Israel.'