What’s in a Name?

Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet?

Maybe. But would people recognize it for what it is?

Reading in the Doctrine and Covenants this morning, I read these words: “this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” and thought about the council from Prophet Russell M. Nelson in General Conference October 2018.

It was the Savior Himself who said, “For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
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Thus, the name of the Church is not negotiable. When the Savior clearly states what the name of His Church should be and even precedes His declaration with, “Thus shall my church be called,” He is serious.
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What’s in a name or, in this case, a nickname? When it comes to nicknames of the Church, such as the “LDS Church,” the “Mormon Church,” or the “Church of the Latter-day Saints,” the most important thing in those names is the absence of the Savior’s name. To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan. When we discard the Savior’s name, we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us—even His Atonement.
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When we omit His name from His Church, we are inadvertently removing Him as the central focus of our lives.

Taking the Savior’s name upon us includes declaring and witnessing to others—through our actions and our words—that Jesus is the Christ. Have we been so afraid to offend someone who called us “Mormons” that we have failed to defend the Savior Himself, to stand up for Him even in the name by which His Church is called?
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So, what’s in a name? When it comes to the name of the Lord’s Church, the answer is “Everything!” Jesus Christ directed us to call the Church by His name because it is His Church, filled with His power.

As I’ve tried to follow this council more faithfully, I have seen benefits in my own life. 

At first, it was hard not to use phrases or nicknames that had become a habit for me. But, as I have made a conscious effort to use the full name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I have deepened my own testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and His role in the Plan of Salvation.

One way this happened was when I realized I was rushing through the name – trying to say it as quickly as possible. I may have met the letter of the law (so to speak) and but realized I missed the spirit of the law altogether.

President Nelson was right – by cutting out the Savior from the name of the His church I was removing Him from my life in ways I didn’t even recognize.

I have friends and family members who I grew up calling by one name (BJ, for example) who wanted to be called by what their given name was (in this case, Brian). That transition is hard. It takes effort and there are many times my early habit comes back and I still call them by what I spent years referring to them as. But I try again. I respect their desire to be known by a particular name. 

I can offer the same courtesy to Jesus Christ, who named His own church (see Doc & Cov 115:4; 3 Nephi 27:7-8).

As I have slowed down, I have deepened my connection to my Savior each time I say the name of His Church. I remember why I am here. I remember that He loves me. I remember that once again in the latter-days His Church is upon the earth. 

And, most importantly, I remember Him.