Mosiah 1

As king Benjamin said he would proclaim one of his sons, Mosiah, to be king over the people, he also tells him -

"...moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem..."  (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 1:11)

I gave a talk relating to this in a recent stake priesthood leadership meeting -

Stake Conference – Priesthood Leadership Session

February 2016

As many of you have experienced, several years ago while serving as a ward Young Mens president, as I walked into sacrament meeting one Sunday morning, I immediately noticed that there was only one priest sitting at the sacrament table.  Placing my things on one of the pews while motioning to the sacrament table, I told my wife that I would be back after the sacrament.  She understandably nodded and I proceeded to the sacrament table to assist in the administration.

As I was sitting down, the young man happily proposed that if I would pray over the bread, he would be happy to do the water.  With a nod, I agreed, and we reverently waited to administer the sacrament.  As the sacrament hymn was being sung, like always, we reverently stood and broke the bread. 

When it was time for the prayer, I knelt down as I had done so many times before, slid out the little shelf with the built-in microphone and the attached sacrament prayers, it quickly became evident that things were not as they had been before.

With a little preface, that Sunday morning was just following that somewhat traumatic experience in the lives of some adults when their vision goes out of focus and suddenly, almost overnight, they are desperate need of reading glasses.  Unfortunately, that morning I had not yet developed a good habit of bringing reading glasses with me.

So as I knelt to speak into the microphone, the words on the prayer cards were nothing but a complete blur.  Being somewhat shocked, I tried to move a little bit back in hopes the words would appear more into focus.  But the farther I moved back, the farther the microphone moved away.  I suddenly realized that by doing so, there is no way the prayer could be heard.  And to be honest, I just couldn’t get back far enough to bring the words into focus.

I panicked!  What to do?  There in great anxiety and what seemed to me to be an embarrassing eternity…all I could come up with was…”well, okay, here it goes” and I began to repeat the words I had heard so many times before…but having never really sat down and memorized.

“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.”  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 20:77)

As I completed the prayer, I refused to look over at the bishopric.  I knew if that wasn’t right I would never get to right…I don’t even know if I got it right here tonight.  But I do believe the other priest looked over at the bishopric and we continued in the administration of the sacrament. 

If by chance I didn’t get the prayer right, I don’t know if the bishopric decided to extend compassion …or that maybe they weren’t even paying attention.  But one thing I’m grateful for, I didn’t have to try to repeat it again.  I learned a great lesson that morning, I never leave home without my reading glasses.  But just in case I ever do, all my talks are generally printed in font size 16 just in case.

My intentions today in sharing this experience is not about administering the sacrament.  But more about the important words of the sacramental prayer or the covenants wherein that are spoken….specifically where we covenant –

“…that [we] are willing to take upon [us] the name of thy Son…”  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 20:77)

Recently, those words have pricked my conscience. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure I understood exactly what they meant…What does it mean to take upon oneself the name of Christ?   In that it seemed to weigh heavy on my mind, I began some research in hopes to better understand the meaning of that covenant I make every week. 

This is the focus of my remarks this afternoon.  That is, what does it mean to be willing to take upon oneself the name of Jesus Christ?

I began my research reviewing the great and last message of King Benjamin.  As the king learned that his people had believed –

 “All his words” (Mosiah 5:2)…and that they were “willing to enter into a covenant with their God” –

King Benjamin then followed –

“…I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ…”  (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 5:8)

Suggesting that in order to do so, they must be –

“…willing …to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command…”  (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 5:5)

As well as that they –

“…should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works…”  (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 5:15)

As I pondered those words, it struck me that taking upon oneself the name of Christ must really mean, 1) we must be willing to do His will which obviously includes keeping the commandments, and 2) we must also be willing to do His work or as King Benjamin said, “always abounding in good works”.

Thus as we take upon us the name of Christ, we represent Him and thereby must be willing to do His will and do His work.  As we do, King Benjamin said –

“…ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters…therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.”  (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 5:7)

Later, Moroni would summarize these two requirements when we take upon ourselves His name explaining –

“…none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.”  (Book of Mormon | Moroni 6:3)

The Savior taught much the same thing to his disciples in the Americas as they took upon them His name, instructing –

“…ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do…”  (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 27:21)

The necessity of doing His will and doing His works becomes more apparent as Alma asked his followers at the Waters of Mormon as they too were about to enter into a covenant or in other words as Alma said,  “to be called His people”, that they must be  –

“…willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [they] may be in…”  (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 18:8 - 9)

Obviously, there is no question that this is the Savior’s will and His work.  Moroni would later address his contemporaries –

“…Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ?”  (Book of Mormon | Mormon 8:38)

…Asking –

“Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?”  (Book of Mormon | Mormon 8:39)

Again, obviously, caring for the poor and needy, is the will and the work of the Savior.

Thus what I discovered in my research was “the will of the Lord” and “and the works of the Lord” are the two keys in representing or taking upon oneself a name.  Which would then also suggest that taking upon oneself a name then is more a principle of action than that of receiving a title.

This is apparent in the Lord’s great covenant with Abraham, where the Lord promised –

“…for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed…”  (Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 2:10)

Thus in accepting the name of Abraham, the responsibility became –

“…that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations…”  (Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 2:9)

What I consider to be a very simple example in our stake of taking upon oneself a name is that of Kyle Whittingham, a member of our stake high council.  But in this case, I will tend to interchange name with color.

Many years ago, Brother Whittingham took upon him the color, of an institution as a player in the sport of football.  Taking upon him the color of that institution, Kyle was named to the first team all-WAC team earning Defensive Player of the Year Honors and MVP of the 1981 Holiday Bowl.  A definite example of doing the will and work of that institution.

As many of you know, in recent years, he took upon him the color of another institution.  Now as a coach, he has won multiple bowl games, including beating Alabama in the 2008 Sugar Bowl.  That year, he led his team to an undefeated season and was recognized in by some associations essentially as co-national champions.  He was awarded The American Football Coaches Association National Coach of the Year Ward as well as many other awards.  Again honoring and representing the color of that institution.

Some of you may think that my motive of using this example this afternoon is in hope that I might gett some free tickets for next fall.  Maybe! But I will confess that I tend to follow the other color just a little bit more.

But what my real motive was is to provide what I consider a very good example of what it really means to be willing to take upon oneself a name or in this case, the color of an institution.  I believe taking upon oneself a name has a great deal with representing, and doing the works and will of that organization.

Just a thought, speaking of the Lord’s institution, I would argue that its color is –

“…light and truth.”  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 93:36)

As I continued to ponder the meaning of taking upon the name of Christ, my thoughts turned to the symbolism of Lehi’s great vision of the Tree of Life, as he shares –

“…I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.

8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.”  (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 8:7 - 9)

I have wondered at times, “what is the meaning of this large and spacious field” Lehi saw for it becomes apparent that somewhere within this large a spacious field there was –

“…a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.”  (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 8:10)

In as much of Lehi’s dream is symbolic in nature, the thoughts that came to me is that this large and spacious field must represent the opportunity to serve the Tree of Life, to do His will, to do His work.  In other words, may I suggest, the large and spacious field represents the covenant we make to take upon ourselves the name of Christ.

The opportunity to serve Him, do his will and works, appears almost endless, for Lehi even recalled that this –

“…large and spacious field, [was] as if it had been a world.”  (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 8:20)

Such great opportunities to serve, in my mind, might include ministering, teaching, proclaiming the gospel, the work of salvation, visiting and caring for the poor and needy, family history and temple work, church service missionary opportunities…I put that in for President Maxfield.  The list goes on and on…again, as if there is a world of opportunity.

This past Christmas, as a gift, a good member of this stake, delivered to me my actual high school student record with all my classes and grades…even including my ACT scores.  What a nice gift, but not something I would want my posterity to see.

As I reviewed those records, it reminded me of the somewhat distracted, non-focused, or better said by Lehi, a dark and dreary waste of that period of my life.  And one thing I know for sure, my first quarter at the “U” was really a waste!

But then, much like Lehi, I too –

“…began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies” (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 8:8)

It was then that I also beheld a large a spacious field, but in my case at that time, it was the mission field.  Obviously, to obtain that large and spacious field I had to satisfy the requirements of entering in at the gate, repenting and pressing forward on the strait and narrow path while holding fast to the rod of iron. 

As I did so, I had the privilege of serving in a portion of that large and spacious field in the Alberta-Saskatchewan Mission.  I can testify that it was while serving in that field that I clearly remember approaching and partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Life.

I have ever since strived to remain steadfast and immovable in the large and spacious field wherein the Tree of Life is.

Over the years, as I have strived to serve in that field, I have also observed that there are forbidden paths that tend to lead away from this field where I have witnessed a few becoming lost.  In some cases, it was because they became distracted by the materialism of the world, while others because of a mist of darkness or temptations of the devil. There were some that have become ashamed or embarrassed of His work and will.   But in most cases, they have been lead away because of pride where they thought themselves prudent and wise and as a result the master of the vineyard asked –

“…Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?”  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 5:47)

He answered His own question –

“….Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good?  And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves.”  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 5:48)

“O that cunning plan of the evil one!  O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men!  When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not.”  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:28)

We must remember that as leaders serving in this large and spacious field or vineyard, the Savior –

“…commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.”  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:29)

Thus instructing –

“…the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money (and I will add praise, or pride) they shall perish.”  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:31)

And thus because of pride, many wander off in forbidden paths.  In other words, they cease to keep the covenant in taking upon them the name of Christ…the very source of their strength.  For the Savior explained –

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”  (New Testament | John 15:5)

In order to avoid the forbidden path of pride and materialism, Jacob counseled his people –

“Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance…”  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 2:17)

As I close, let me repeat that again –

Think of your brethren like unto yourself…you are no better than they are in the eyes of the Lord.

Be familiar with all…visit them and become their friend.

Be free with your substance…which would also include your time.

May we remember as we partake of the sacrament that –

“…none [should be] received…save they [take] upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.”  (Book of Mormon | Moroni 6:3)