“In My Name Shall They Be Called, and They Are Mine”

We don’t have to wait until the Savior’s coming to be called by his name and hear his voice. Our covenants are meant to help us accomplish those aims here and now.

I recently came across the words of the Savior to Alma in Mosiah 26:18, 21, and 24. The Lord said, “Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in my name shall they be called, and they are mine. . . . And [they] that will hear my voice shall be my sheep; . . . and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.” I always thought that these verses would apply to me only at the last day, but upon reading them again, I wondered what I could do now to be called by the Savior’s name and to hear his voice.

In his general conference address “All Must Take upon Them the Name Given of the Father,” Elder Paul B. Pieper teaches that the covenants we make—especially those made at our baptism, at our confirmation, and during the sacrament—are key to taking upon ourselves the name of Christ and hearing his voice. 

Elder Pieper teaches that the true purpose of baptism is to make a commitment to “take His teachings, His characteristics, and ultimately His love deep into our beings so that they become part of who we are.”

Baptism opens the door to confirmation. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are enabled to hear and recognize the voice of the Savior, and, according to his promises, we become his sheep.

The concepts of  taking upon us the name of Christ and hearing his voice are closely connected, as we see reflected in the sacrament prayer: “they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them” (Moroni 4:3, emphasis added). Each week, I have the opportunity to take upon myself the name of my Savior, and each week, the promise remains that as I do so, I will abide in his spirit and be one of his sheep. 

I’m glad to know that I do not need to wait until the last day to be called by the Savior’s name and to hear his voice. As I seek to understand and to keep my covenants, I will find that the Lord is enabling me today to “come forth, and . . . have a place eternally at [his] right hand.”

Discover more by reading the full version of Elder Paul B. Pieper’s article “All Must Take Upon Them the Name Given of the Father.”

Source: General Conference

—Maddy Abadillo, Latter-day Saint Insights

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Find more insights

Watch this short video “Receiving the Lord’s Name” to hear Elder David A. Bednar’s thoughts on how the ordinances of the gospel are related to taking Christ’s name upon us.

Read “Taking Upon Ourselves the Name of Jesus Christ” by Elder Robert C. Gay to learn more about becoming like the Savior and trusting in his grace.

Read “Holy Ghost” in Gospel Topics for more information about the role the Holy Ghost can play in your life.