It is estimated that 97% of the people in the world have access to at least some part of the Bible. It is at the very top of the ”Most Read Books in the World” list. The Bible teaches many great and important things and is the basis for most Christian religious teachings.
Did you know that there is another book of scripture that makes the Bible and its teachings easier to understand? This book of scripture expounds on the doctrine of the Atonement, the fullness of the Gospel, how to make and keep sacred covenants, and even explains the very nature of God and Jesus Christ.
What is this companion book of scripture? The Book of Mormon. The Bible is one witness of Christ. The Book of Mormon is another. Mormons, or more accurately, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints have two powerful books of scripture that witnesses of the divinity of Jesus Christ!
What Mormonism says about Jesus Christ
What is the Book of Mormon?
The Book of Mormon is a mystery to a lot of people. However, it is available to everyone! (Click here for a free copy!) The writings are centered upon the Lord, His mission, and His ministry. Inside the cover page are the words, “Another Testament Of Jesus Christ.” The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. It was written to show what great things the Lord does for His children, to explain His covenants, and to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ.
The Book of Mormon has been organized into 6,607 verses, of which 3,925 refer to Jesus Christ, employing more than 100 titles. If you do the math, this means that some form of Christ’s name is used on an average of one reference for every 1.7 verses. Clearly, the Book of Mormon is centered on our Lord and His teachings.
Who is Jesus Christ? What kind of man is He? We can look at the Book of Mormon for answers.
7 Names of Christ Found in The Book of Mormon
This article features 7 names or “titles” that Christ is referred to in the scriptures. These titles from verses in the Book of Mormon will help us better understand Jesus and his divine role in our lives.
1. Lord
The very first verse in the Book of Mormon references Jesus as “the Lord.” It states, “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.”
It is significant to note that the prophet Nephi begins his record by acknowledging both Jesus and Heavenly Father. It is clear from the beginning that Nephi has strong testimony of and a relationship with them both.
The word Lord means: someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler. When Nephi calls Jesus “the Lord”, he is humbly recognizing Jesus Christ as his master and greatest influence.
2. Savior
The Jesus of the Bible and the Jesus of the Book of Mormon are in complete harmony with the title of Savior. Savior means that Christ came to save his people from their sins. Christ speaks of himself as the Savior countless times in the Book of Mormon. He did, in fact, come to Earth and atone for the sins of the World. He suffered and died so we could be free to live with our Father in Heaven. This sacrifice was done willingly and with love. When Christ refers to himself as “the Savior” he does it to remind us of his unfailing love for us.
Isaiah 43:3 states, “For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior.” In conjunction, the Lord speaks of himself again as the Savior in the Book of Mormon. He says, “… and all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty one of Jacob.” (1 Nephi 21:26)
When we recognize the role of the Savior in our own lives, we can draw closer to Christ, benefit from the Atonement, and feel the peace made possible through His sacrifice.
3. Holy One of Israel
Jesus Christ is the only person who has come to this world and lived a life free of sin. His perfection is made possible through his divinity. Our perfection is made possible through his atoning sacrifice.
This term, used over 34 times in the Old Testament signifies that Christ is holy and without sin. He is perfect in all things. This perfection can be a source of peace and comfort for us. Christ knows us perfectly, understands our motives and intentions, and loves us with pure love. When we learn to trust him as the Holy One, it can bring so much comfort into our world of uncertainty. The Holy One of Israel will always have his arms cast out ready to receive us! We just need to come unto Him.
2 Nephi 25:29, “And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out.”
4. God of the Whole Earth
The text written in Isaiah 54:5 and 3 Nephi 22:5 are identical. We are reminded by the prophets that Jesus is the God of the Whole Earth.
Compare the verses:
The Bible: “For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.“
The Book of Mormon: “For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called.“
What Mormonism Says About Jesus Christ is that he is The Lord is the God of the whole Earth.
His atonement is for everyone. His creation is for everyone. His love is for EVERYONE. Jesus Christ is not a respecter of persons. His interest and investment is for every single person no matter their race, religion, gender, or geographic location. I love that what Mormonism says about Jesus Christ is that every single person is valued and loved equally.
5. Lord of Hosts
I have heard this title countless times and never fully understood the power of the name Lord of Hosts until now. The Lord of Hosts is a fighter. He is a God of action and purpose. He will fight our battles for us and with us if we let Him. Even when we feel empty and weak, we can be strong in the Lord.
In 1 Nephi 20:2 it states, “Nevertheless, they call themselves of the holy city, but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel, who is the Lord of Hosts; yea, the Lord of Hosts is his name.”
Who are the Hosts? The Heavenly Hosts are a group or army with heavenly power to assist God’s people. They are angels. The main role of these Heavenly Hosts is to strengthen and comfort believers. They appeared to the shepherds on the night Christ was born. We are taught that God’s Heavenly Hosts will accompany the Savior when he returns to Earth for his Second Coming.
God and Jesus command the heavenly army. The hosts obey their commands. These angles are sent to earth to protect us. The Lord of Hosts commands them to battle against the threats of Satan. We have legions of angels that protect us from spiritual and physical harm. The Savior not only has power to save us from our own sins, but he presides over vast armies of angels who assist and guide us when we need their help in our daily lives. He is the Lord of Hosts.
6. Lord Omnipotent
There is no power under heaven that Jesus Christ does not possess. He has power over the earth and sky. His power reaches beyond the bounds of death. He can literally do anything in righteousness.
In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Mosiah uses the title “Lord Omnipotent” to describe Jesus. Mosiah prophesied Christ’s mission to Earth before he was even born as a babe in Bethlehem. He says in Mosiah 3:5 “For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dean, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.”
Mosiah continues to prophesy of all the amazing things Jesus will do and accomplish during His time on Earth, including the Atonement. Verse 17 reads, “And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.”
Mosiah chapter 3 is a beautiful reminder of how Jesus Christ humbled himself for our sake. He created the world, yet he came down as a mortal man to show us the way to live and make it possible for us to return to live with him and God. The Lord Omnipotent is the Lord over all. His power has no bounds.
What Mormonism says about Jesus Christ is that he used His divine power to save us from our sins.
7. Jehovah
Just as the first verse in the Book of Mormon references Jesus as the Lord, the final verse in the Book of Mormon calls out to him as “Jehovah.” Moroni, in his final moments on Earth, speaks of his anxious desire for his spirit to reunite with the great Jehovah.
Moroni 10:34, “And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal hJudge of both quick and dead. Amen.”
Knowing that Jesus Christ is the great Jehovah is critical to understanding his role during our dispensation of time as well as throughout the history of the world. According to the Bible Dictionary Jehovah is “the covenant or proper name of the God of Israel. It denotes the ‘Unchangeable One.” Jesus is the God of the Bible. He is the God of the Book of Mormon. He is the God of our world. Heavenly Father directs all of his communication to us through his Son. God administers His gospel to us through Jehovah.
The knowledge that Jesus Christ is unchangeable helps us have faith that just as He kept His promises to the people we read about in the scriptures, He will keep His promises to us.
The names given to our Lord take on new significance when they are approached through a thoughtful and sensitive study of their meanings. The Book of Mormon helps us to understand his profound character, his singular mission, and his divine relationship to man.
What Mormonism says about Jesus Christ through the Book of Mormon is clear.
These truths are more clearly revealed with this second witness to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. When we read it, we draw closer to God and Jesus than through any other book.
