What Can I do to Increase My Spirituality?

 I often ask myself and ask in my prayers, "What can I do to increase my spirituality?" so I can receive more help from my Heavenly Father in my daily life. Over the years, I find that the things I need to work on can be grouped into the following categories. These ideas have come from the teachings of living apostles and prophets, so I have included their teachings below.

1. Focus on Jesus Christ
2. Prayer
• Focused, vocal prayer
• Spiritually plan my day
3. Scripture study
• Daily Read from the Book of Mormon
• Pray before reading
• Ponder and listen after
4. Temple covenants
5. Repentance & humility
6. Recognize and Record impressions
• Ask each day, “Have I seen the Hand of the Lord today?”
• Ask more – listen longer, His ways are higher

President Nelson, "Let God Prevail," Oct. 2020, “The only way to survive spiritually is to be determined to let God prevail in our lives, to learn to hear His voice and to use our energy to help gather Israel.”

President Russell M. Nelson, "Spiritual Treasures," Oct. 2019 Examine your life meticulously and regularly. As you do so, the Holy Ghost will prompt you about what is no longer needful, what is no longer worthy of your time and energy.

1. Focus on Jesus Christ

a.       Read and underline every verse cited about Jesus Christ

Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into our Lives - President Russell M. Nelson’s Challenge

Earlier this year, I asked the young adults of the Church to consecrate a portion of their time each week to study everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the standard works. I invited them to let the scriptural citations about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide become their personal core curriculum. I gave that challenge because I had already accepted it myself. I read and underlined every verse cited about Jesus Christ, as listed under the main heading and the 57 subtitles in the Topical Guide. When I finished that exciting exercise, my wife asked me what impact it had on me. I told her, “I am a different man!” I felt a renewed devotion to Him as I read again in the Book of Mormon the Savior’s own statement about His mission in mortality.

2. Prayer

a.      Focused, vocal prayer

Elder Jeffery R. Holland, To “Hear Him” Is the Essence of the Restoration, Nov. 2020  

I Hear Him through Determined Prayer. 

There is a great lesson in [Joseph’s prayer] about muscular, urgent, determined prayer to fight through, whether it is the adversary’s opposition, the cares of the day, or the distractions of our mind. We have many things that can keep us from having that divine experience. And we, like Joseph, will have to exert all our power to have the magnificent experience that God wants us to have.

 

I Hear Him by Making Quality Time to Pray Vocally.

As Joseph did, I believe it is important for us to pray out loud. It is basic to what God intends for us in our communication with Him. He invites a conversation, if you will, and wants so much to “hear us.” We should make every effort to let Him hear us—literally.

 

The scriptures occasionally talk about the Lord speaking, and they sometimes describe His voice. Sometimes it is a soft voice. Sometimes it is a loud voice. But it is always a penetrating voice. It is always a voice that captivates and engages the whole soul. For me, to say out loud the words of my prayer is to make it crisp and almost visible. Prayer takes on a meaning and a life that is not quite the same when I am just thinking words or mumbling a bit. When we communicate clearly to Him, we can expect to “hear Him” more clearly in return.

 

If you wait until midnight, when you are exhausted, and then say your prayers, it might be only a half-hearted effort before you tumble into bed. Consider moving that prayer up to earlier in the evening, when you are alert and attentive and can make it more powerful. Prayer time ought to be quality time, not just time that happens to be left over when everything else is done—the last gasp of the day, so to speak.

 b.     Spiritually plan my day

3. Scripture study

a.      Daily Read from the Book of Mormon 

 Pray before reading

b.     Ponder and listen after

Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, Nov. 2010 Our humility and our faith that invite spiritual gifts are increased by our reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures. We have all heard those words. Yet we may read a few lines or pages of scripture every day and hope that will be enough. But reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully.

 

4. Temple covenants

5. Repentance & humility

Elder Neil L. Anderson, The Gift of Forgiveness, Liahona, Feb. 2021

In prayer we review the happenings of the day, asking,

• “Where did I see the Lord’s hand in my life?
• How did my actions reveal honesty and unselfishness?
• What more could I have done?
• What thoughts and emotions do I need to control?
• How could I have better followed the example of the Savior?
• How could I have been more kind, more loving, more forgiving, and more merciful toward others?
• In what ways was I less than my Heavenly Father would want me to be?”

In prayer we review the happenings of the day… Then we pause and listen. Our personal prayers open the window to personal revelation from our Heavenly Father.

Our repentance, followed by forgiveness from the Savior of the world, is the foundation of our prayers and efforts to return to our heavenly home.

With faith in Jesus Christ, we openly acknowledge to our Heavenly Father

• our mistakes,
• oversights,
• and unthoughtful actions toward others.

We humbly ask for forgiveness, listen to the quiet impressions of the Spirit, and promise our Heavenly Father that we will be more attentive to those things we can improve. We confess our sins and we forsake them (see Doctrine and Covenants 58:43). We restore that which we can restore to those we have hurt or offended. It may be an apology to a spouse or a child, a message to a friend or coworker, or a resolve to follow a neglected spiritual impression.

Repentance becomes a continual thought, a constant effort.

President Russell M. Nelson has said:

“Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. …

“… Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance—of doing and being a little better each day.”

 

6. Recognize and Record impressions

a.      How to #HearHim

President Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives, Apr. 2018 Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.” Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.

 

President Nelson, Hear Him, Apr. 2020

I promise that as you increase your time in temple and family history work, you will increase and improve your ability to hear Him.

 

Elder Jeffery R. Holland, To “Hear Him” Is the Essence of the Restoration, Nov. 2020  

 I Hear Him by Trusting My Feelings

Another way I “hear Him” is to trust what I feel. I often get asked, “How do I know that what I am feeling is coming from the Lord?” We don’t always get a written, certified statement issued in response to our prayers, but if your searching is honorable and true and clean and noble, trust the feelings that come. I encourage people to act on those feelings and to believe that their instincts can be founded on truth. At that point you do not have to ask, “Did it come from Him?” He will make sure that it doesn’t come from an evil source.

 

God wants us to be like Him. We mature, and with effort we become more like God. We think more of His thoughts and feel more of His feelings. We are one with Him, and our impressions ought to be indistinguishable from His promptings. That unity is one of the things the Savior prayed for. By striving to live as one with Him, you will be more like God and you will “hear Him” and trust Him, even as you trust your own feelings when praying to Him.

 

b.     Ask each day, “Have I seen the Hand of the Lord today?”

c.      Ask more – listen longer, His ways are higher

Book of Mormon Theme: 1 Nephi- The Lord will help us accomplish what is necessary

Once in a while for my gospel study time, I enjoy going through my Book of Mormon from the beginning and reading just the passages I underlined. As I did that this week, the following theme was very apparent throughout 1 Nephi, – the Lord will “prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them.”

Many of us are familiar when Nephi says it in 1 Nephi 3:7, but the same wording is used in other places as well.

In Chapter 1, Nephi himself explains that he is going to show us this principle.

1 Nephi 1: 20 But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

Examples of This Wording

• ·         1 Nephi 3:7: I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
• ·         1 Nephi 5:8: And she [Sariah] spake, saying: I know of a surety that the Lord has given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them.
• ·         1 Nephi 9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these [2^nd] plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I now not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works.
• ·         1 Nephi 17:3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them.

Examples of How the Lord Prepares a Way

·         Sending promptings is one way the Lord helps us accomplish things:

 After they give their best efforts to get the plates but nothing works, Nephi makes a third attempt. This time he says:

1 Nephi 4:6-7: I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.  Nevertheless I went forth...

·         Strengthening us to endure is sometimes the way the Lord “prepares a way...”:

1 Nephi 17:2-3 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, ...our women were strong, yea , even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.

And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

·         We have to be given power from the Lord:

      1 Nephi 4:31 ...having received much strength from the Lord, therefore I did seize upon the servant of Laban...

1 Nephi 7:17 ...I prayed unto the Lord...wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.

·         The Lord prepares us for an unseen future event:

1 Nephi 9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these [2^nd] plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I now not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works.

·         The Lord provides miracles:

1 Nephi 16:16 And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.

1 Nephi 16:29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

·         The Lord shows us from time to time how to do something we can’t accomplish on our own:

1 Nephi 18:1 And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.

1 Nephi 18:2 I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men.

1 Nephi 18:3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

How to Come Unto Christ – The Final Plea of Book of Mormon Prophets

In my recent reading, I was noticing that the final plea of many Book of Mormon prophets were all about the invitation to Come Unto Christ !

2 Nephi 2:6–8, 26-30 : Lehi’s Final Plea

6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they reredeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.

30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. Amen.

2 Nephi 33:4, 10-11: Nephi’s Final Plea

4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.

10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.

Omni 1:25–26: Amaleki’s Final Plea

25 And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and knowing king ^aBenjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall ^bdeliver up ^cthese plates unto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil.

26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

Mormon 7:5–9 : Moroni’s first final plea

5 Know ye that ye must come to the ^aknowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.

6 And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat.

7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the ^echoirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are ^fone God, in a state of ^ghappiness which hath no end.

8 Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.

9 For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.

Moroni 10:30, 32-33 : Moroni’s second final plea

30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God.

Book of Mormon Themes: The Lord Will Prepare a Way for Us to Overcome our Trials

Once in a while for my gospel study time, I enjoy going through my Book of Mormon from the beginning and reading just the passages I underlined. As I did that this week, the following theme was very apparent throughout 1 Nephi, – the Lord will “prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them.” Many of us are familiar when Nephi says it in 1 Nephi 3:7, but the same wording is used in other places as well.

In Chapter 1, Nephi himself explains that he is going to show us this principle.

1 Nephi 1: 20 But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

Examples of This Wording

·         1 Nephi 3:7: I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

·       

            1 Nephi 5:8: And she [Sariah] spake, saying: I know of a surety that the Lord has given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them.

· 

         1 Nephi 9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these [2^nd] plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I now not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works.

·         1 Nephi 17:3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them.
   
      1 Nephi 17:13  And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

     
      1 Nephi 17:19: And thus my brethren did complain against me…we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work.

Examples of How the Lord Prepares a Way

· 

        Sending promptings is one way the Lord helps us accomplish things:

 After they give their best efforts to get the plates but nothing works, Nephi makes a third attempt. This time he says:

1 Nephi 4:6-7: I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.  Nevertheless I went forth...

·         Strengthening us to endure is sometimes the way the Lord “prepares a way...”:

1 Nephi 17:2-3 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, ...our women were strong, yea , even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.

And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

·         We have to be given power from the Lord:

       1 Nephi 4:31 ...having received much strength from the Lord, therefore I did seize upon the servant of Laban...

1 Nephi 7:17 ...I prayed unto the Lord...wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.

·         The Lord prepares us for an unseen future event:

1 Nephi 9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these [2^nd] plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I now not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works.

·         The Lord provides miracles:

1 Nephi 16:16 And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.

1 Nephi 16:29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

·

         The Lord shows us from time to time how to do something we can’t accomplish on our own:

1 Nephi 18:1 And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.

1 Nephi 18:2 I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men.

1 Nephi 18:3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

I love this related video by Elder Gary Stevenson:

No Blessings Denied the Faithful

How Do We Take The Name of Jesus Christ Upon Us? What I Learned From Following President Nelson's Challenge.

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.

 “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,

e.      Moro. 4:3 (D&C 20:37) willing to take upon them the name of thy Son 

2.      Faith on His Name

a.      if they will not repent and believe in his name, 2 Ne. 9:24.

b.      heaven is open … to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, Hel. 3:28.

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;

b.      I shall give this people a name, Mosiah 1:11.

c.       this is the name that I said I should give, Mosiah 5:11.