“Some Other Name”

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

All must have a name; some are called the Children of Christ, they having covenanted with Him to keep His commandments. Others are called by some other name, and are not known to Him as His own. They will find themselves on His left hand, and therefore will not be protected by His power, or sustained by His might. In fact, they will be left almost alone to bring about their own end.

Many years after Benjamin reigned over the Nephites in Zarahemla, the Risen Redeemer established His Church among the inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere. He chose Disciples here, as He had chosen Apostles in Jerusalem. He taught them the Gospel; He also empowered them to teach the people the same things He had showed to them.

One day the Disciples, as they journeyed about baptizing in the name of Jesus, met together in "mighty prayer and fasting." The question uppermost in their minds was one that, too, bothered many of the Saints. What name was the newly founded Church to bear? They pondered; some had offered one name, some another, still others favored something else. They disagreed among themselves for they did not understand the mighty works of the Lord. The Disciples, as they had been taught, earnestly sought the Lord for His answer to their dilemma.

While thus engaged in calling upon the Lord, He suddenly appeared among them and asked, "What will ye that I shall give unto you?"

They, answering, replied, "Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter."

"And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing?

"Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;

"And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.

"Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake.

"And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses' name then it be Moses' church; or if it be called in the name of

a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel." (3 Ne. 27:1-8)

Verily is a word frequently used by the prophets the same as behold and it came to pass. It means of a truth, certainly, or truly.

We have here the very words of the Savior concerning the name by which His children shall be called, and He further brings to the attention of His Disciples the fact that the Scriptures add to His own words, the testimony of the prophets, "Ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name."

Again, we draw the attention of the reader to the loss they sustain in the expurgation by Jewish editors of all mention of Christ in the Sacred Scriptures. Any reference to His Holy Name, Christ, has been deleted by them. His great name is objectionable to their present worship, and their pious greed has divested from their devotions any allusion to the Greatest of their Prophets, the Messiah for whom they have long waited, the poor Galilean whom their fathers so much despised.

The words of the Savior confirm those of King Benjamin, "And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceeding great joy, even as though he had already come among them." (Mosiah 3:13)

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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