Oaks - Taking upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ - April 1985

President Oaks speaks about taking the name of the Lord upon us.  He speaks about the words of the sacrament prayer and the meaning behind those special words.  He talks about three specific meanings that all can understand.

• Following the scriptural pattern, persons who are baptized witness before the Church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.” When we partake of the sacrament, we renew this covenant and all the other covenants we made in the waters of baptism.
  
• As a second obvious meaning, we take upon us our Savior’s name when we become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. By his commandment, this church bears his name. Every member, young and old, is a member of the “household of God.” As true believers in Christ, as Christians, we have gladly taken his name upon us.
  
  • We also take upon us the name of Jesus Christ whenever we publicly proclaim our belief in him. Each of us has many opportunities to proclaim our belief to friends and neighbors, fellow workers, and casual acquaintances.
    
• A third meaning appeals to the understanding of those mature enough to know that a follower of Christ is obligated to serve him. Many scriptural references to the name of the Lord seem to be references to the work of his kingdom. Thus, when Peter and the other Apostles were beaten, they rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
  
  • According to this meaning, by witnessing our willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, we signify our willingness to do the work of his kingdom.
    

He speaks about the word "willing" and what specific words accompany this in the sacramental prayers.

• It is significant that when we partake of the sacrament we do not witness that we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. We witness that we are willing to do so. The fact that we only witness to our willingness suggests that something else must happen before we actually take that sacred name upon us in the most important sense.
  

President Oaks goes on to speak about the additional things that are needed in our lives to take upon us the name of Christ.  He speaks about the authority of God and how we can find greater meaning in a deeper understanding of the temple ordinances and in preparing for exaltation in the celestial kingdom.

• What future event or events could this covenant contemplate? The scriptures suggest two sacred possibilities, one concerning the authority of God, especially as exercised in the temples, and the other—closely related—concerning exaltation in the celestial kingdom.
  

As we participate in the temple ordinances, a greater understanding of our relationship with the Savior and be obtained.  The atonement can have a bigger impact on our lives when we are striving to take the name of Christ upon us.  When the atonement takes full force in our lives, we can be confident that we will be worthy of God's grace and that exaltation is possible through the Savior.

• Those who exercise faith in the sacred name of Jesus Christ and repent of their sins and enter into his covenant and keep his commandments can lay claim on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Those who do so will be called by his name at the last day
  
• Those who are qualified by faith and repentance and compliance with the laws and ordinances of the gospel will have their sins borne by the Lord Jesus Christ. In spiritual and figurative terms they will become the sons and daughters of Christ, heirs to his kingdom. These are they who will be called by his name in the last day.
  
• When we witness our willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, we are signifying our commitment to do all that we can to achieve eternal life in the kingdom of our Father. We are expressing our candidacy—our determination to strive for—exaltation in the celestial kingdom.
  

Taking upon us the name of Christ causes us to look for deeper meaning in the covenants we have made.

• It causes us to renew the covenant we made in the waters of baptism to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and serve him to the end. We also take upon us his name as we publicly profess our belief in him, as we fulfill our obligations as members of his Church, and as we do the work of his kingdom
  
• But there is something beyond these familiar meanings, because what we witness is not that we take upon us his name but that we are willing to do so. In this sense, our witness relates to some future event or status whose attainment is not self-assumed, but depends on the authority or initiative of the Savior himself.
  

Finally, President Oaks reminds us that exaltation is possible as that is the greatest of all the gifts of God.  We can only hope to obtain this gift through the sacred gift from our Savior Jesus Christ.

• Our willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ affirms our commitment to do all that we can to be counted among those whom he will choose to stand at his right hand and be called by his name at the last day. In this sacred sense, our witness that we are willing to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ constitutes our declaration of candidacy for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Exaltation is eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God.”
  

I think this talk deserves a long read again on a Sunday afternoon.  There is so much more than what I have shared here.  Please, take some time to read the entire talk on your own.  Hopefully I have hit on a few highlights.   I believe I can find greater meaning in the words of the sacrament prayers after reading this talk.  I realize that taking the name of Christ upon me is a life long pursuit and one that I need to be making better decisions today to qualify for the additional blessings that the Savior has for me.  Put this talk on your reading list in the near future and let's all find deeper meaning the words of the sacrament prayers.