“Do they themselves become Christs? Not in the sense that they are called upon to atone for the sins of others and make immortality and eternal life available for themselves or their fellowmen on this or any world. But they do carry his name and are obligated to bear it in decency and dignity.’ (Promised Messiah, p. 363.)”
“That They Are Willing to Take Upon Them the Name of Thy Son”
The name of Christ comes upon us not merely for the asking but only as we exercise faith in him, keep his commandments, and partake of the ordinances of salvation. When we covenant to take the name of Christ we are in fact covenanting with the Lord that we will so live our lives that we can be spiritually “born of him” and “become his sons and his daughters” (see Mosiah 5:7-12; Mosiah 15:11-12; Mosiah 27:25; D&C 34:2-3; D&C 39:4).
Those who have thus been born again become members of the family of Christ and thus take upon them the family name- they become Christians in the true sense of that word and are obligated by covenant to live by the rules and regulations of the royal family, to live a life befitting the new and sacred name they have taken.
“Family members bear the family name,” wrote Elder Bruce R. McConkie. “By it they are known and called and identified; it sets them apart from all those of a different lineage and ancestry.
Adopted children take upon themselves the name of their newfound parents and become in all respects as though they had been born in the family. And so it is that the children of Christ, those who are born again, those who are spiritually begotten by their new Father, take upon themselves the name of Christ.
By it they are known; in it they are called; it identifies and sets them apart from all others. They are now family members, Christians in the real and true sense of the word.”