Beginning on a personal note, I have to wonder why it is that we continue to pray to have our false beliefs made known to us. We fully understand that such prayers invariably get answered. The results are almost always unsettling, but rarely to this degree.
Spoiler alert.
In part 1, the question.
In part 2, the answer (the solution is quite simple).
In part 3, an extensive elaboration on the question — included are the results of my research and study, which together magnify the confusion without even a hint of resolution (unless you already know the answer :- ).
By reading in this order, my profound ignorance and misunderstanding will be all the more evident and pitiful. Feel free to scoff at all my mental machinations and ridiculous rationalizations. I have. In point of fact, in 20/20 hindsight, I feel pretty dim.
If you would prefer the joy of following my course of descent into the pit of despair and then ascending to greater light, read Part 1, then Part 3 and then after thinking and praying about all that for a while, conclude with Part 2. I promise that it will not be as depressing for you as it was for me; you will know in advance that an answer awaits.
Another option would be to read in this order: 1, 3, 2, 3. That would probably be the most fun of all.
The Question:
In spite of a variety of explanations and rationales, Psalms 101 has always created a certain mental dissonance. I’ll use the Darby translation to temporarily avoid launching into the Hebrew (highlights added):
1 Psalm of David. Jehovah said unto my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put thine enemies as footstool of thy feet. 2 Jehovah shall send the sceptre of thy might out of Zion: rule in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in holy splendour: from the womb of the morning shall come to thee the dew of thy youth. 4 Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek. (Psalms 110:1-4)
If “my Lord” is the Messiah, then “Jehovah” must be the Father. In all my time in the LDS Church, I’ve been taught that Jehovah is the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
There are a variety of other scriptures that are similarly confusing. For example: carefully read D&C 109 while paying attention to the names for God. Note: Joseph claimed this dedicatory prayer was received by revelation. Unless you believe that Joseph is alternating back and forth in praying to (addressing) both The Father and The Son, context would say that the first three uses of Jehovah would be The Father (109:34, 42, 56), while the last (109:68) might be The Son.
What gives? Did these two great prophets not know what they were talking about? Are both scriptures in error (we certainly know that other errors have been introduced into both ancient and modern scripture)?
Who is Jehovah?
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