When
discussing the use of “LORD” (Yahweh/Jehovah), Jeffrey R. Holland wrote the
following:
Lord
This is one of the most frequently used
titles for Jesus in the scriptures, especially when referencing Jehovah in the
Old Testament. Its most common synonym is Master,
suggesting governance and authority over possessions, property, and people,
such as a medieval "lord of the manor" or "master of the
house." Fortunately, in the case of Christ, His lordly role is
characterized by benign, loving governance and authority.
It should be
noted that, as with the title such as God,
Lord is often applied to the Father, thus making it sometimes
problematic in determining which of these two Deities is being referenced.
Obvious examples appear in the Psalms, where David's cries are virtual prayers
directed toward the Lord He to whom
prayers are directed has traditionally been the Father, not the Son. However,
inasmuch as Jehovah serves under the Father in the Old Testament and as such is
the God of those people, it is sometimes
unclear to whom prayers are being directed in that era. (Jeffrey R. Holland,
Witness for His Names [Salt Lake
City: Deseret Book, 2019], 101, emphasis in bold added)
I was pleased to read this as too many Latter-day Saints have the naïve view
that all instances of Yahweh has Jesus as its referent only, notwithstanding the Father being called “Jehovah” in
uniquely LDS Scripture (D&C 109: 34, 42,
56, 68). Furthermore, there are passages in the Old Testament where Yahweh is
the Father, such as Psa 2:7; 110:1; Isa 53:10. For a discussion, see:
Keith H. Meservy, LORD
= Jehovah in Ensign 32,
no. 6 (June 2002): 29
The June 1916 First Presidency Statement: