"And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day."
3 Nephi 27:6
This is a pretty clear recipe for being saved... so, the question is, how do we take upon ourselves the name of Christ?
Stepping back and thinking about what other names we take upon ourselves might be a good start. We label ourselves, sometimes with things that we are happy to be, and some that we are sad to be. We might tell people that we are graduates, or parents, or spouses, or siblings. We might talk about our careers or our hobbies. On the negative side, we might say we aren't good at something or that we are anti something.
Just as those choices of earthly labels that we take upon ourselves determine to an extent who we choose to become, choosing to take upon us the name of Christ can also completely change who we have the potential to be. Choosing to follow and to emulate Christ doesn't (obviously) turn us into carbon copies of him, just as we don't become our earthly heroes, but unlike them, our connection and dedication to Christ can lift us and give us power to be more than we ever have been--to reach well beyond our previous limitations, and be able to do and become and serve more than we ever believed possible. It is a dedication not only to him, but to his gospel, his teachings, his compassion, his example, and his love... and so much more.
Today, let's think about what it means to take upon us the name of Christ, and then let's do more than think about it. Let's commit to it. Let's become it. Let's be the people of Christ, and spread his example and shine his example always, everywhere that we go.
3 Nephi 27:6
This is a pretty clear recipe for being saved... so, the question is, how do we take upon ourselves the name of Christ?
Stepping back and thinking about what other names we take upon ourselves might be a good start. We label ourselves, sometimes with things that we are happy to be, and some that we are sad to be. We might tell people that we are graduates, or parents, or spouses, or siblings. We might talk about our careers or our hobbies. On the negative side, we might say we aren't good at something or that we are anti something.
Just as those choices of earthly labels that we take upon ourselves determine to an extent who we choose to become, choosing to take upon us the name of Christ can also completely change who we have the potential to be. Choosing to follow and to emulate Christ doesn't (obviously) turn us into carbon copies of him, just as we don't become our earthly heroes, but unlike them, our connection and dedication to Christ can lift us and give us power to be more than we ever have been--to reach well beyond our previous limitations, and be able to do and become and serve more than we ever believed possible. It is a dedication not only to him, but to his gospel, his teachings, his compassion, his example, and his love... and so much more.
Today, let's think about what it means to take upon us the name of Christ, and then let's do more than think about it. Let's commit to it. Let's become it. Let's be the people of Christ, and spread his example and shine his example always, everywhere that we go.
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