Taking Upon Ourselves the Name of Jesus Christ

 

Taking Upon Ourselves the Name of Jesus Christ

Robert C. Gay - Ensign, October 2018

First, to take upon ourselves the name of Christ means we faithfully strive to see as God sees.

Second, to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, we must not only see as God sees, but we must do His work and serve as He served.

Finally, I believe that to take upon ourselves His name, we must trust Him. 

A few years ago my older sister passed away. She had a challenging life. She struggled with the gospel and was never really active. Her husband abandoned their marriage and left her with four young children to raise. On the evening of her passing, in a room with her children present, I gave her a blessing to peacefully return home. At that moment I realized I had too often defined my sister’s life in terms of her trials and inactivity. As I placed my hands on her head that evening, I received a severe rebuke from the Spirit. I was made acutely aware of her goodness and allowed to see her as God saw her—not as someone who struggled with the gospel and life but as someone who had to deal with difficult issues I did not have. I saw her as a magnificent mother who, despite great obstacles, had raised four beautiful, amazing children. I saw her as the friend to our mother who took time to watch over and be a companion to her after our father passed away.

During that final evening with my sister, I believe God was asking me, “Can’t you see that everyone around you is a sacred being?”

Brigham Young taught:

“I wish to urge upon the Saints … to understand men and women as they are, and not understand them as you are.”