In the October 2018 Women's Session of General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our Prophet, President Nelson, gave a challenge to the women:
I invite you to read the Book of
Mormon between now and the end of the year. As impossible as that may seem with
all you are trying to manage in your life, if you will accept this invitation
with full purpose of heart, the Lord will help you find a way to achieve it.
And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you.
The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.
As you read, I would encourage
you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be
intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of
Christ with your families and friends. You and they will be drawn closer to
the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to
happen.
I accepted the challenge, including to mark each verse about the Savior, and I am grateful for the many ways this has blessed my life. About half way through my reading I started to notice how many times the Book of Mormon talks about doing things "in the name of Christ." I wanted to understand better how I could follow this, so I gathered together some of the verses and quotes on this topic. Here is some of what I learned.
(See also: How to Mark Scriptures about Christ in your Book of Mormon)
All quotes are from Dallin H. Oaks, “Taking upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ,” unless otherwise stated.
(See also: How to Mark Scriptures about Christ in your Book of Mormon)
All quotes are from Dallin H. Oaks, “Taking upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ,” unless otherwise stated.
“Our witness that we are willing to take upon
us the name of Jesus Christ has several different meanings. Some of these
meanings are obvious, and well within the understanding of our children. Others
are only evident to those who have searched the scriptures and pondered the
wonders of eternal life.”
1.
When we are
baptized in his name
a.
2 Ne. 31:13.take upon
you the name of Christ,
by baptism,
b.
3 Nephi 27:1 were baptizing in the name of Jesus
c.
Mosiah 18:10 baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness
d.
“Persons who are baptized witness
before the Church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are
willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to
serve him to the end.” (D&C 20:37; see also 2 Ne. 31:13; Moro. 6:3.) When we partake of the sacrament, we renew
this covenant and all the other covenants we made in the waters of baptism.
(See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of
Salvation.)
2.
When we
belong to his Church
a.
As a second obvious meaning, we
take upon us our Savior’s name when we become members of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. By his commandment, this church bears his name.
(See D&C 115:4; 3 Ne. 27:7–8.) Every member, young and old, is a member of the “household
of God.” (Eph. 2:19.) As true believers in Christ, as Christians, we have gladly
taken his name upon us. (See Alma 46:15.) As King Benjamin taught his people, “Because of the
covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his
sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten
you.” (Mosiah 5:7; see also Alma 5:14; Alma 36:23–26.)
3.
When we
profess our belief in him
a.
We also take upon us the name of
Jesus Christ whenever we publicly proclaim our belief in him. Each of us has
many opportunities to proclaim our belief to friends and neighbors, fellow
workers, and casual acquaintances. As the Apostle Peter taught the Saints of
his day, we should “sanctify the Lord God in [our] hearts: and be ready always
to give an answer to every man that asketh [us] a reason of the hope that is in
[us].” (1 Pet. 3:15.) In this, we keep the modern commandment: “Take upon you
the name of Christ, and speak the truth in soberness.” (D&C 18:21.)
4.
When we do
the work of his kingdom.
a.
A third meaning appeals to the understanding
of those mature enough to know that a follower of Christ is obligated to serve
him. Many scriptural references to the name of the Lord seem to be references
to the work of his kingdom. Thus, when Peter and the other Apostles were
beaten, they rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his
name.” (Acts 5:41.) Paul wrote certain members who had ministered to the
Saints that the Lord would not forget the labor of love they had “shewed toward
his name.” (Heb. 6:10.) According to this meaning, by witnessing our willingness
to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, we signify our willingness to do the
work of his kingdom.
There are other meanings as well, deeper
meanings that the more mature members of the Church should understand and
ponder as he or she partakes of the sacrament.
It is significant that when we partake of the sacrament we do
not witness that we take upon us the
name of Jesus Christ. We witness that we are willing to
do so. (See D&C 20:77.) The fact that we only witness
to our willingness suggests that something else must happen before we actually
take that sacred name upon us in the most important sense.
What future event or events could this covenant
contemplate? The scriptures suggest two sacred possibilities, one concerning
the authority of God, especially as exercised in the temples, and the
other—closely related—concerning exaltation in the celestial kingdom.
5.
Using the
authority of God, especially as exercised in the temples
a.
From Sinai came the commandment, “Thou shalt not
take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” (Ex. 20:7, Deut. 5:11.)
Latter-day revelation equates this with using the name of God without
authority. The Lord declares in a modern revelation, for “many there be who …
use the name of the Lord, and use it in vain, having not authority.” (D&C 63:61–62.)
b.
The Old Testament contains scores of references to
the name of the Lord in a context where it clearly means the authority of the
Lord. Most of these references have to do with the temple.
c.
Similarly, in modern revelations the Lord refers to
temples as houses built “unto my holy name.” (D&C 124:39; D&C 105:33; D&C 109:2–5.)
In the inspired dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet Joseph
Smith asked the Lord for a blessing upon “thy people upon whom thy name shall
be put in this house.” (D&C 109:26.)
d.
All of these references to ancient and modern
temples as houses for “the name” of the Lord obviously involve something far
more significant than a mere inscription of his sacred name on the structure.
The scriptures speak of the Lord’s putting his name in a temple because he
gives authority for his name to be used in the sacred ordinances of that house.
That is the meaning of the Prophet’s reference to the Lord’s putting his name
upon his people in that holy house. (See D&C 109:26.)
e.
Willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ
can therefore be understood as willingness to take upon us the authority of
Jesus Christ. According to this meaning, by partaking of the sacrament we
witness our willingness to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple
and to receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the
authority of the Savior when he chooses to confer them upon us.
6.
Exaltation in
the celestial kingdom.
a.
Another future event we may anticipate when we
witness our willingness to take that sacred name upon us concerns our
relationship to our Savior and the incomprehensible blessings available to
those who will be called by his name at the last day.
b.
Mosiah 3:17;
“There shall be no other name given nor
any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men,
only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.”
c.
Acts 4:10, 12
Peter proclaimed “the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” to the leaders of the
Jews, declaring that “there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved.”
d.
Alma taught that Jesus Christ, the Son, the Only
Begotten of the Father, would come “to take away the sins of the world, yea,
the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.” (Alma 5:48; Alma 9:27; Alma 11:40; Hel. 14:2.)
e.
Mosiah 5:9
“Whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall
know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of
Christ.”
f.
3 Ne. 27:5–6
“ye must take upon you the name of Christ. For by this name shall ye be called
at the last day; And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end,
the same shall be saved at the last day.”
g.
Mosiah 26:24
“For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come
forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.”
h.
Thus, those who exercise faith in the sacred name of
Jesus Christ and repent of their sins and enter into his covenant and keep his
commandments (see Mosiah 5:8)
can lay claim on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Those who do so will be
called by his name at the last day.
i.
In these great scriptures from the Book of Mormon,
we learn that those who are qualified by faith and repentance and compliance
with the laws and ordinances of the gospel will have their sins borne by the
Lord Jesus Christ. In spiritual and figurative terms they will become the sons
and daughters of Christ, heirs to his kingdom. These are they who will be
called by his name in the last day.
j.
According to this meaning, when we witness our willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus
Christ, we are signifying our commitment to do all that we can to achieve
eternal life in the kingdom of our Father. We are expressing our candidacy—our
determination to strive for—exaltation in the celestial kingdom.
How Else Do We Use His Name?
1.
General
a.
Mosiah 25:23 desirous to
take upon them the name of Christ
b.
Mosiah 26:18 blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name
c.
3 Ne. 27:5 take upon you the name of Christ
d.
Ether 4:19 blessed is he
that is found faithful unto my name,
2.
Faith on His
Name
3.
Praying in
His Name
a.
3 Nephi 27:2 And Jesus again ashowed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the
Father in his name
4.
His Church Should
Be Called in His Name
a.
3 Nephi 27:3,5 And they said unto him: Lord, we will
that thou wouldst tell us the aname whereby we shall call this church;
