This is the first time the Book of Mormon has a statement that links the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. While each of the names/titles has appeared earlier, none have had this clear association of unity among the three. As was noted above, the earliest understanding of the Nephites was that the Father was Jehovah, and that the Son was Jehovah. The relationships among the members of the Godhead were apparently not as important for the early Nephites as they were right after the appearance of the Messiah. However, from this point on there is a deeper clarification of the three and their interrelationships. The simple connection of the Messiah to the one God is replaced with the relationship among the Godhead, just as it was for the Apostles in the Old World.