Pullman University 2nd Ward Relief Society

This week's lesson was given by Emily Walker and focused on the what it means to Take Upon us the Name of Christ.

Here is a summary:

Each week, those that have been baptized as members of our church take a sacrament to renew the covenants that they made when they were baptized. One of those covenants is that we are willing to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ.

However, sometimes (as often happens when we do something again and again) we forget to think about the significance of what that really means.

So: let's talk about the Savior's Name, What it means to take His name upon us, and How we do it:

His Name: In Matthew 21:12 it reads: “In His name shall the Gentiles trust”. In HIS name... if you pause for a moment and just Think of his name... Jesus Christ. Think of it in you mind. Say it softly to yourself.

It seems almost too sacred to be said outloud. When we say it, it is softly, and with almost a whisper, a wave of the Spirit washes over us. Amazing to me that we feel such solemn sacredness toward this name, yet when we pray or end our testimonies, it sometimes blows past our lips without a second thought.

Say it softly and with respect and love – It is a sacred name, and a name in which we can trust.

The Gentiles, along with all of us, can trust in this name because it is through this name that we come unto salvation.

Now - think about it - it is such a sacred name and we have been invited to take that name upon ourselves! what a privilege! What an honor!

But what exactly does that mean?

The scriptures give us more understanding.

One reference in the Topical Guide points us to a well-known scripture in Matthew 11:28-30.

In this scripture, what are the things that Christ is asking us to do?

1. “come unto me”

2. “Take my yoke Upon you” – yoke = equally yoked with Him – walk with Him

3. “Learn of Me” – 2 meanings – learn with me and learn about me.

To make things a little more clear:

turn to 1 John 2:6

To abide in Him, or be one with Him, we must “Walk even as he walked”.

So – to take His anme upon is us to literally become like Him – Do as he does, say as he would say, love as he Loves –

THAT, sisters, is what we are covenanting to do.

When full-time missionaries are set apart, they are called, literally, to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ. This is done not only as they strive to walk as He walked, but symbolically as they put a nametag on each morning that has the name "Jesus Christ" written in large letters on it. To remind his missionaries of their sacred duty to represent the Savior, Bruce R. McConkie gave this to his missionaries when he was serving as a mission president:

"I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is my Master, and He has chosen me to represent Him. To stand in His place, to say and do what He himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts, my words are His words, and my doctrine is His doctrine. My commission is to do what He wants done, and to say what He wants said, to be a living, modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of His great and marvelous latter-day work. How great is my calling!"

We aren’t called to serve as full-time missionaries. BUT WE ARE CALLED, just like them, to take His name upon us. We won’t be wearing a nametag, but it will be inscribed on our hearts.

As such – we are called exactly to do this as well -

Are we willing?

We covenant that we are WILLING. But at WHAT POINT do we ACTUALLY take the name of Christ upon us?

Really, it is a life-long process.

HOW – how do we do this??? How do we become like Him? One with Him?

We live as he would – but this is a big task for natural men like ourselves! So we just need to work on it one principle at a time. Once principle that the Savior taught us is above all of the others is LOVE.

Again and again in the scriptures, the Savior emphasizes that we must love others, EVEN AS He does! (See John 13:34-35, John 15: 9-10, 12, 17, 1 Corinthians 13:2-3, 1 John 4:7)

Also, the Lord made it clear that love – His love in OUR hearts – pure love – is essential in becoming one with Him.

When we come to love others as He loves them, we not only grow closer to those people, but we grow closer to HIM – and we become more like Him. (1 John 4:12)

So How do we learn to love others as He would?

-Desire – the Lord will grant you those things that you truly, righteously desire

-Focus on the good – don’t give yourself a reason NOT to love!

-pray for love – He is the source! He will grant it unto you. Moroni 7:48 teaches us that we must pray with ALL the energy of heart – it is that important.

I can personally testify that the Father grants his Love unto those that truly seek it - I testify that as we strive to LOVE others and BECOME LIKE HIM daily, consistently, we will come to know Him.

Remember it is a PROCESS – but as we strive, we gain a little bit more light each day. And the more we strive now, the more we will come to know Him in this life, that when we meet him again, we too will know by which name we are called – for we shall be called His sons and daughters, and we will know Him and he will know us.

At that time, all things will be made known unto us:

D&C 88:49-50 “The light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him. Then shall ye know that he have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound.”

He is with us, He loves us. What a privilege it is to be able to take His name upon us!

Sisters - you are all loved :)