What does it mean to take upon us the name of Christ?

I got to give a lesson in church yesterday and felt that it was meant for me. Here are the notes:

Lesson Notes

Where does it say? – “…willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember Him” 1. D&C 20:77 Sacrament Prayers

What does that mean? (ask each boy what they think)

• putting the Lord first in our lives,
• striving to think and act as He would
• standing “as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9)

Read 2. Mosiah 5: 2 and 3. Mosiah 5:5

“2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”

“5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.”

What does it mean to “do His will?”

4. Eyring Quote: President Henry B. Eyring: “We promise to take His name upon us. That means we must see ourselves as His. We will put Him first in our lives. We will want what He wants rather than what we want or what the world teaches us to want” (“That We May Be One,” Ensign, May 1998, 67).

What does the world teach us to want?

Two Masters Image

Game with two coaches: Coach 1=God (Happiness) vs Coach 2=Satan (Misery)

Examples? For me: Social Media, music videos, most TV

5. (Matthew 4:18–20) Example of Peter and Andrew:

6. Hales Quote #1: “As Christians today, we have the opportunity to act straightway, immediately, and decisively, just as Peter and Andrew did: ‘they forsook their nets, and followed him.’ We too are called upon to leave our nets, to reject worldly habits, customs, and traditions. We are also called to forsake our sins. ‘When [Jesus] had called the people unto him … , he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’ (Mark 8:34) Denying ourselves of ungodly behavior is the beginning of repentance, which brings a mighty change of heart until ‘we have no more disposition to do evil.’ (Mosiah 5:2)”

Is following Jesus Christ hard? Why?

7. Hales Quote #2: As we follow Him, He blesses us with gifts, talents, and the strength to do His will, allowing us to go beyond our comfort zones and do things we’ve never before thought possible.

VIDEO: Dare to Stand Alone

What’s the main message in this video? How have the youth in the video “taken upon them the name of Christ?”

What experiences have you had like these?

Who can we ask for help to do the will of God? How do we do that? When do we do that? Does it really work? How often do we have to pray for help?

Should we argue with those that don’t believe the same that we do?

8. Hales Quote #3: Christian peace. Throughout His ministry He urged understanding and promoted peace. Especially among His disciples, He taught that Christians cannot contend with other Christians, notwithstanding their differences.

SUMMARY: What does it mean to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ?

What did you learn and how do you plan to implement it?