Tomorrow I was to teach the lesson, "What does it mean to take upon myself the name of Jesus Christ?" However, with all of you young women out of town I will not have that opportunity. I still wanted to share a few thoughts regarding the lesson.
Let's look in the scriptures to see what we can find regarding that question...
1 And
now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his
people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them.
2 And
they all cried with one voice, saying:
Yea, we believe all the words
which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and
truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a
mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness
of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that
which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all
things.
4 And
it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has
spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we
do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.
5 And
we are willing to enter into a covenant
with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in
all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that
we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.
6 And
now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and
therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired;
and
the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.
7 And now,
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; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free.
There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon
you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant
with God that ye should
be obedient unto the end of your lives.
9 And
it shall come to pass that
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.
10 And now it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God.
11 And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name
that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out,
except it be through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not
transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.
12 I say unto you, I would that ye should
remember to retain
the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the
left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall
be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.
13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?
14 And
again, doth a man take an ass which belongeth to his neighbor, and keep
him? I say unto you, Nay; he will not even suffer that he shall feed
among his flocks, but will drive him away, and cast him out. I say unto
you, that even so shall it be among you if ye know not the name by which
ye are called.
15 Therefore, I would that ye should
be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal
you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have
everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power,
and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.
When we choose to enter into a covenant with God that we will do his will and be obedient to his commandments all the days of our lives, then we have taken upon ourself the name of Christ. Taking upon ourself the name of Christ, serving him to the end of our days, is the only way we may obtain eternal life.
Some things to think about....
When has the Spirit touched your heart and you had no more desire to do evil (like the people of King Benjamin)?
Are your thoughts and actions in accordance to what our Heavenly Father and the Savior would have you do?
Do you understand the importance of covenanting to take upon the name of Christ?
We should strive to be like Jesus Christ: (3 Nephi 27:27)
27 And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just.
Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.
Some things to think about....
What could you do to be a better example of Jesus Christ?
Taking upon ourselves the name of Christ is part of our baptismal covenant and the ordinance of the sacrament: D&C 20: 37, 77
37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—
All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and 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, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.
77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and
witness
unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take
upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
Some things to think about....
If you have not yet been baptized, would you like to be?
When you partake of the sacrament each week do you remember the covenant you have made to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ?
How can you use the sacrament each week to better fulfill your covenant?
When we are baptized, we covenant to take upon ourselves the name of
Jesus Christ. We renew this covenant when we partake of the sacrament.
We fulfill this covenant by putting the Lord first in our lives, by
striving to think and act as He would, and by standing “as witnesses of
God at all times and in all things, and in all places”.
I hope you girls know that I love you and am willing to do anything to help you improve your relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love them and have learned through this lesson the importance of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. I hope I can be a better example for you as one who follows the Savior.
Love, Sister Chambers
