THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

King Benjamin said:

"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.  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."  - Mosiah 5:8-9

Through the ordinance of baptism we covenant to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, always remember Him, and keep His commandments.  As we keep our part of the covenant, God promises the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, a remission of our sins, and being born again.

Each week we renew the covenants we make by partaking of the sacrament.  Partaking of the sacrament weekly is a commandment.  It helps us remain worthy to have the Spirit with us always.  It is a weekly reminder of our covenants.

Jesus Christ introduced this ordinance to His Apostles just before His Atonement.  We can read the account of the Last Supper in Luke 22:15-20.  After the Lord introduced the ordinance of the Sacrament he offers an example to the Apostles.  In John 13:4-15 we read another account of the Last Supper. 

After Jesus washes the feet of the Twelve He says:  "Know ye what I have done to you?  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."

The service rendered by the Savior caught the disciples by surprise.  The washing of the guests feet was considered a lowly act.  An act that only a servant would have performed for the master of the house.  As the Savior had always done he used this act of service as an opportunity to teach.

When we engage in service we are representing the Savior.  We are doing as he would do.  To take upon the name of Jesus Christ we become true disciples.  Our commitment to true discipleship is evidenced when we can consecrate our lives to the serve the Lord.  We have opportunities daily to show this commitment:

• We can speak kind words to each other
• We can seek opportunities to serve or help another
• We can listen for and follow the promptings of the Spirit
• We can find opportunities to help ease another's burden
• We can give comfort
• We can stand as a witness

Several years ago when I was the Young Women's President the annual theme was:

"Be steadfast and immovable always abounding in good works."

The complete verse reads:  "Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Ominpotent, 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."  - Mosiah 5:15

Our good works are a reflection of who we are.  We honour our names.  We honour our family names.  And we honour the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

A PLACE FOR THE SAVIOR IN OUR LIVES

Today, more than any other time, we have many distractions.  We have little or no time for things that matter most.  At some point we need to push aside daily chores, work responsibilities, time wasters, etc. so that we have time to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

This requires a little bit of sacrifice on our part.  The Savior has asked many to stop what they are doing so that he can give them what they need.  He asks us to be actively engaged in developing a relationship with Him.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "My desire today is for all of us...to have more straight forward personal experience with the Savior's example.  Sometimes we seek heaven too obliquely, focusing on programs or history or the experience of others.  Those are important but not as important as personal experience, true discipleship, and the strength that comes from experiencing firsthand the majesty of His touch" ("Broken Things to Mend," Ensign, May 2006, 70).

We need to stop and listen.  We need to pray about what we have been taught by the Savior and then act.  We need to do as the Savior.  When we live our life as the Savior did we will know Him better.

George Albert Smith, the eighth President of the church, understood at a very young age how to live as the Savior did.  He knew the Savior intimately.  At the age of 34 he made a list that he called his "personal creed". 

When I read the list of 11 ideals that he committed to live by, I realized that he was modeling his life after the Savior's.  And it wasn't just a list.  President Smith was exactly what he committed to being.  He knew the Savior intimately and he emmulated the Savior, a testament to his committment to make the Savior a major part of his life.

Do you have a place in your life for the Savior?  If you do just one thing from President Smith's list you will be one step closer to knowing Jesus Christ; developing a personal relationship.

George Albert Smith's Personal Creed

1.  "I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor.

2.  "I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed.

3.  "I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind.

4.  "I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life.

5.  "I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right.

6.  "I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy.

7.  "I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends.

8.  "I would not knowingly wound the feelings of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend.

9.  "I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father.

10.  "I would not be an enemy to any living soul.

11.  "Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter, I feel it not only a duty but also a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth."

Find a place in your life for the Savior.  Follow His example.  Drop your nets and follow Him.

THE INVITATION - COME FOLLOW ME

The Savior has invited each one of us to seek after him;  to draw nigh unto him; to learn of him; and to become like him.  We have been invited on a life journey that will help us to know and recognize the hand of the Lord in our lives.

Developing a testimony of the Savior requires a level of committment.  We need to find time to study the life of the Savior.  We can learn much about the Savior as we read of His life and teachings in the scriptures.  The New Testament chronicles the life of the Savior.  Reading about his life will bring us closer to Him.  As a second witness and a companion to the Bible, the Book of Mormon Testifies of Christ.  A central purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ.  It testifies of Christ by affirming the reality of His life, mission, and power.  It teaches true doctrine concerning the Atonement - the foundation for the plan of salvation.  Several of those whose writings are preserved in the Book of Mormon saw Christ personally.

We can draw closer to Him through prayer.  When we pray about what we have read, asking for a witness that what we have read is true, we will experience great ah-ha moments.  We will gain a testimony of the Savior and know him intimately.

Another witness of the Savior is found in the conference talks of the prophets, apostles and general authorities.  These men know the Savior intimately.  When we study and pray about their words we will add strength to our personal testimonies.