From Doctrinal New Testament Commentary Volume 3
Bruce R. McConkie
Revelation 3:12; I will write upon him the name of my God] God's name is God. To have his name written on a person is to identify that person as a god. How can it be said more plainly? Those who gain eternal life become gods! Their inheritance is both a fulness of the glory of the Father and "a continuation of the seed forever and ever. Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.
In this great King Follett Sermon, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught this doctrine in these words: "Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power . . . . What is it? To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a God, and ascend the throne of eternal power, the same as those who have gone before." (Teachings, pp. 346-347.)
Revelation 3:12; My new name- See Revelation 19:11-16
Revelation 19:12; A name written, that no man knew] As with all glorified beings, our Lord has a new name in celestial exaltation, a name known to and comprehended by those only who know God in the sense that they have become as he is and have eternal life. Thus, Christ's "new name" shall be written upon all those who are joint-heirs with him, and shall signify that they have become even as he is and he is even as the Father.
In this great King Follett Sermon, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught this doctrine in these words: "Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power . . . . What is it? To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a God, and ascend the throne of eternal power, the same as those who have gone before." (Teachings, pp. 346-347.)
Revelation 3:12; My new name- See Revelation 19:11-16
Revelation 19:12; A name written, that no man knew] As with all glorified beings, our Lord has a new name in celestial exaltation, a name known to and comprehended by those only who know God in the sense that they have become as he is and have eternal life. Thus, Christ's "new name" shall be written upon all those who are joint-heirs with him, and shall signify that they have become even as he is and he is even as the Father.
