What Does it Mean to Take upon Myself the Name of Jesus Christ?

Hello sweet Young Women! It’s Sister Stohl.💕

I hope you are all well and holding up during these very different and trying circumstances. I want you all to know that all your Young Women leaders have been thinking and praying for you all. We miss seeing everyone and connecting at church. Luckily we can still connect through the gospel from afar!

If you would, please think about connecting with one of your fellow Young Women this week. Pray for guidance and inspiration on who to connect with. It could be even something super simple like a text or card telling them you are thinking of them. I know you all miss your friends!

So for scripture study some nights, we watch a scripture video named “Drawn in” and it goes over what we are studying in Come Follow Me. Anyways, he calls King Benjamin, “King Benja DA MAN”. Kind of corny and I laugh every time, but it really is so true! These chapters of King Benjamin’s sermons are some of the BEST in the Book of Mormon. This week we are focusing on Mosiah 4-6. If you haven’t read it, I challenge you to!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/4?lang=eng

Let’s start with a couple verses in Mosiah 5.

Mosiah 5:7-8

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.

So in these scriptures, King Benjamin just finished his (awesome!) address and was asking the people to take upon them the name of Christ. I want you to ponder these questions:

What do you think that looks like?

How should taking His name upon us influence the choices we make every single day?

Should and could others be able to tell we have taken His name upon us?

I LOVE these words by President Henry B. Eyring: “[To take His name upon us] means we must see ourselves as His. We will put Him first in our lives. We will want what He wants rather than what we want or what the world teaches us to want” (“That We May Be One”, Ensign, May 1998, 67).

What does it mean to see ourselves as Christ’s? I feel like this is a very powerful question. We are acting FOR Christ. We are representing him. It makes me think of the little black tags all missionaries wear. Those missionaries are actively taking the name of Christ upon them by doing his will and not only that, they are wearing those black name tags with His name upon them. Although we don’t have those name tags, we can still put the Savior first in our lives. Like missionary work, it requires time and is very purposeful. What does that look like in YOUR life?

Also, think about your baptismal covenants. We have covenanted to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. Do we have Christ’s name written in our hearts? What is something we can do to show that we do?

To take upon its the name of Christ, has many blessings! Not only do we receive increased guidance from the spirit and we are able to bless others in the process, we are promised everlasting salvation and eternal life! Read Mosiah 5:15:

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.

In a talk by Robert C. Gay entitled, “Taking Upon Ourselves the Name of Jesus Christ”, he asked himself “Am I taking upon myself the Savior’s name as He would have me do so?”. Please listen or read this talk:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/10/taking-upon-ourselves-the-name-of-jesus-christ.p3?lang=eng#p3

I am really touched in this talk when he talks about the love of our Heavenly Parents and our Savior Jesus Christ. When we take upon the name of Jesus Christ and we see as he sees, not only can we see the infinite worth of others but also ourselves. I really, really love that! Sometimes, I definitely need a reminder of the way the Savior feels about me. Most of us are hypercritical of ourselves so this is a great reminder that no one is a lost hope! What sticks out to you in that talk?

I want to bear testimony to you that when we take upon us the name of Christ, we will be blessed. He loves any and all of our efforts. We just need a willing heart to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I challenge you to think of ways you can outwardly show that you have taken upon His name this week. I love you girls and miss you!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

We would LOVE to hear your thoughts! Please leave an impression or comment from the lesson or something that you studied this week in Mosiah 4-6. I would also encourage you to write them down in a journal and/or share with a family member. Thank you girls!!!