“Take Upon Him the Name of Christ”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet

In a revelation given to Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, the Lord said: “Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved; wherefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day; wherefore, if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father” (D&C 18:23-25).

“Some Other Name”

Those who are not adopted into the family of the Lord Jesus Christ-those who choose not to align themselves with him and his cause-are as spiritual orphans. They are fallen creatures, unredeemed and unregenerated, alone and alienated, without God or goodness in the world.

Though they may be sincere, they are enemies of God, and are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness (Mosiah 2:37; Mosiah 3:19; Alma 41:10-11).

Alma will later teach the people of Zarahemla:

“Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd. And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold.”

(Alma 5:38-39.)

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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