How do we distinguish when Elohim or Christ is speaking?
Question
Gramps,
How can we distinguish when Elohim is speaking or when Christ is speaking?
Doyle
Answer
Dear Doyle,
I believe that it is Christ speaking unless otherwise noted. For example, we have been taught that Christ is the God of the Old Testament. So when we read in the Old Testament that God spoke, we know that was Christ.
In the New Testament, Heavenly Father speaks (and this is clearly noted) when Christ was baptized. (Matt. 3:17).
In the Book of Mormon, when Christ comes to visit the people, He is introduced by Heavenly Father who said, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name–hear ye him.”
In the Doctrine and Covenants, in the first vision Heavenly Father said, “This is my beloved son, hear Him.”
Thus, we can see a pattern, that Heavenly Father speaks to introduce Christ, and further direction is given by Christ. This makes sense because we know that Christ is our mediator with the Father. As John said, “No man cometh unto the Father except by Jesus Christ.” (John 14:6)
Gramps
One of my favorite quotes about this is from Elder Richard G. Scott:
“The scriptures record that throughout history, on occasions of exceptional importance, God the Father’s voice has been heard. On repeated occasions Jesus Christ has personally appeared to select individuals. Yet there is only one supernal, singular instance of which we have knowledge that God the Father Himself appeared in person. This was done with His precious Holy Son, Jesus Christ, to an audience of one. That one was young Joseph Smith Jr., an extraordinary spirit prepared before the foundation of the earth. He would become the greatest prophet sent to earth.” (October 2005 General Conference, “Truth Restored”)
Similarly, President Joseph Fielding Smith taught:
“All revelation since the fall has come through Jesus Christ, who is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. In all of the scriptures, where God is mentioned and where he has appeared, it was Jehovah who talked with Abraham, with Noah, Enoch, Moses and all the prophets. He is the God of Israel, the Holy One of Israel; the one who led that nation out of Egyptian bondage, and who gave and fulfilled the law of Moses. The Father has never dealt with man directly and personally since the fall, and he has never appeared except to introduce and bear record of the Son” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:27)