Elder Schmitt Oct 2022

 My earnest desire is that you will come to know Jesus by His many names and that you will become like Him.

A few years ago, I had a life-changing experience during a sacrament meeting in our home ward in Arizona. As the sacrament prayer indicated our willingness to “take upon [ourselves] the name of [Jesus Christ],”¹ the Holy Ghost reminded me that Jesus has many names. This question then came to my heart: “Which of Jesus’s names should I take upon myself this week?”

Three names came to my mind, and I wrote them down. Each of those three names contained Christlike attributes that I wanted to develop more fully. In the week that followed, I focused on those three names and tried to embrace their corresponding attributes and characteristics. Since that time, I’ve continued to ask that question as part of my personal worship: “Which of Jesus’s names should I take upon myself this week?” Answering that question and striving to develop the related Christlike attributes has blessed my life.

In His great Intercessory Prayer, Jesus expressed this important truth: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”²   

John 17:3; emphasis added. Concerning this prayer, President David O. McKay taught: “This text is taken from one of the most glorious prayers—I suppose the greatest prayer—ever uttered in this world, not excepting the Lord’s Prayer. This was Christ’s prayer uttered just before he entered the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal. … I know of no more important chapter in the Bible” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1967, 5).

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Today I’d like to share with you the blessings and power that come from knowing Jesus Christ by His many names.

One simple way we get to know someone is by learning their name. It has been said that “a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”³ Have you ever had the experience of calling someone by the wrong name or forgetting their name? My wife, Alexis, and I have, on occasion, called one of our children “Lola.” Unfortunately, as you may have guessed, Lola is our dog! For better or worse, forgetting someone’s name communicates to that person that you probably don’t know them very well.

Jesus knew and called people by name. To ancient Israel, the Lord said, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”⁴ On Easter morning, Mary’s witness of the resurrected Christ was solidified when Jesus called her by name.⁵ Likewise, God called Joseph Smith by name in answer to his prayer of faith.⁶

In some cases, Jesus gave His disciples new names that were indicative of their nature, capacity, and potential. Jehovah gave Jacob the new name of Israel, which means “one who prevails with God” or “let God prevail.”⁷ Jesus gave James and John the name of Boanerges, which meant the “sons of thunder.”⁸ Seeing his future leadership, Jesus gave Simon the name of Cephas or Peter, which means a rock.⁹

Just as Jesus knows each of us by name, one way we can come to better know Jesus is by learning His many names. Like the names of Israel and Peter, many of Jesus’s names are titles that help us understand His mission, purpose, character, and attributes. As we come to know Jesus’s many names, we will come to better understand His divine mission and His selfless character. Knowing His many names also inspires us to become more like Him—to develop Christlike attributes that bring joy and purpose to our lives.

A few years ago, President Russell M. Nelson studied all the scriptures concerning Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide.¹⁰ He then invited young adults to study these same scriptures. Concerning Jesus’s many names, President Nelson said, “Study everything Jesus Christ is by prayerfully and vigorously seeking to understand what each of His various titles and names means personally for you.”¹¹

Following President Nelson’s invitation, I began developing my own list of Jesus’s many names. My personal list now has over 300 names, and I’m sure there are many more that I haven’t discovered yet.

While there are some of Jesus’s names that are reserved only for Him,¹²  For example, Jesus is Messiah, the Christ, Great Jehovah, the Firstborn from the Dead, and the Only Begotten Son of God.

I would like to share five names and titles that have application to each of us. I invite you to develop your own list as you come to know Jesus by His many names. In doing so, you will find that there are other names—along with their corresponding Christlike attributes—that you will want to take upon yourself as Jesus’s covenant disciple.¹³  In addition to President Nelson’s invitation to study the scriptures concerning Jesus in the Topical Guide, you can also study Jesus’s many names by referring to the Bible Dictionary under “Christ, names of.” You may also wish to study Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s book Witness for His Names (2019) and a devotional talk by Elder Ronald A. Rasband titled “Name above All Names” (Brigham Young University–Hawaii devotional, Oct. 20, 2020), speeches.byuh.edu.

First, Jesus is the Good Shepherd.¹⁴ As such, Jesus knows His sheep,¹⁵ “calleth his own sheep by name,”¹⁶ and, as the Lamb of God, gave His life for His sheep.¹⁷ Similarly, Jesus wants us to be good shepherds, particularly in our families and as ministering brothers and sisters. One way we demonstrate our love for Jesus is by feeding His sheep.¹⁸ For those sheep who may be wandering, good shepherds go into the wilderness to find the lost sheep and then stay with them until they return to safety.¹⁹  I particularly like the Joseph Smith Translation of Luke 15:4, which reads, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine and go into the wilderness after that which is lost, until he find it?” (in Luke 15:4, footnote a, emphasis added).

As good shepherds and as local conditions permit, we should seek to spend more time ministering to people in their homes. In our ministering, texting and technology should be used to enhance, not replace, personal contact.²⁰  As Elder David A. Bednar observed: “Everybody thinks a text is enough [for ministering]. There are occasions where you need to be in the home and you need to look the people in the eyes, because you’re going to receive impressions and inspiration in the home that you’ll never get any other way” (“An Evening with Elder David A. Bednar” [broadcast for religious educators], Feb. 7, 2020], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Second, Jesus is the High Priest of Good Things to Come.²¹ Knowing that His Crucifixion was just hours away, Jesus said: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”²² Today, as our world is frequently polarized and divided, there is a great need for us to preach and practice positivity, optimism, and hope. Despite any challenges in our past, faith always points toward the future,²³ filled with hope, allowing us to fulfill Jesus’s invitation to be of good cheer.²⁴ Joyfully living the gospel helps us to become disciples of good things to come.

Another of Jesus’s titles is that He is the Same, Yesterday, Today, and Forever.²⁵ Consistency is a Christlike attribute. Jesus always did His Father’s will,²⁶ and His arm is constantly outstretched to save, help, and heal us.²⁷  Alma 5:33 Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.

Alma 19:36 And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name.

3 Nephi 9:14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.

As we are more consistent in living the gospel, we will become more like Jesus.²⁸  See, for example, David A. Bednar, “More Diligent and Concerned at Home,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 20: “Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives. … We need to be and become more consistent.”

Although the world will experience large swings in its pendulums of popularity as people are tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine,²⁹ consistent gospel living helps us to be steadfast and immovable during the storms of life.³⁰ We can also demonstrate consistency by accepting President Nelson’s invitation to “make time for the Lord.”³¹ Great spiritual strength comes from small and simple things³² like developing “holy habits and righteous routines”³³ of daily prayer, repentance, scripture study, and service to others.

Fourth, Jesus is the Holy One of Israel.³⁴ Jesus’s life was a pattern of holiness. As we follow Jesus, we can become a holy one in Israel.³⁵  In a recent worldwide devotional for young adults, Sister Wendy Nelson posed a question that she said could change lives, increase confidence and decrease anxiety, motivate, increase gratitude and decrease stress, help resist temptation, and bring joy, comfort, love, and peace. That question was “What would a holy young adult do?” She then encouraged application of this question in just one situation each day for three successive days. 

We increase in holiness as we regularly visit the temple, where “Holiness to the Lord” is etched above every entrance. Every time we worship in the temple, we leave endowed with greater power to make our homes places of holiness.³⁶ For any who do not currently have a recommend to enter the holy temple, I invite you to meet with your bishop and prepare yourself to enter or return to that holy place. Time in the temple will increase holiness in our lives.

One last name of Jesus is that He is Faithful and True.³⁷ Just as Jesus was ever faithful and always true, His earnest desire is that we exhibit these qualities in our lives. When our faith falters, we can cry out to Jesus, “Lord, save me,” just like Peter as he began to sink in Galilee’s stormy sea.³⁸ On that day, Jesus reached down to rescue the drowning disciple. He has done the same for me, and He will do the same for you. Don’t ever give up on Jesus—He will never give up on you!

When we are faithful and true, we follow Jesus’s call to “abide in me,” which can also mean “stay with me.”³⁹ When we are confronted with questions, when we are mocked for our faith, when the fingers of scorn are pointed at us by those in the world’s great and spacious buildings, we remain faithful and we stay true. In these moments, we remember Jesus’s plea: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”⁴⁰ As we do so, He gives us needed faith, hope, and strength to stay with Him forever.⁴¹  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once noted that, in Spanish, the English phrase “abide in me” is translated as “permaneced en mi.” He continued: “The sense of this then is ‘stay—but stay forever.’ … Come permanently, for your sake and the sake of all the generations who must follow you, and we will help each other be strong to the very end”

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus wants for us to know Him because His is the only name under heaven whereby we can be saved.⁴² Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—no one can return to the Father except by Him.⁴³ Jesus is the only way! For that reason, Jesus beckons, “Come unto me,”⁴⁴ “Follow me,”⁴⁵ “Walk with me,”⁴⁶ and “Learn of me.”⁴⁷

With all my heart, I bear witness of Jesus Christ—that He lives, that He loves you, and that He knows you by name. He is the Son of God,⁴⁸ the Only Begotten of the Father.⁴⁹ He is our Rock, our Fortress, our Shield, our Refuge, and our Deliverer.⁵⁰ He is the Light which Shineth in Darkness.⁵¹ He is our Savior⁵² and our Redeemer.⁵³ He is the Resurrection and the Life.⁵⁴ My earnest desire is that you will come to know Jesus by His many names and that you will become like Him as you exemplify His divine attributes in your life. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Lessons Learned:

1. The five names he chose to focus on are direct messages for us today.

2. Good Shepherd- never a greater need for a Good Shepherd. (See 2 Timothy 3:1-7) and for us to “shepherd” others to Christ. Minister in person. Go in to "their wilderness" to bring them back.

3. High Priest of good things to come- we’ll need an eternal perspective as we go through our tribulations. We need to KNOW good things are coming in the millennial when Christ will be with us! You want to be here for that!

4. Same Y/T/F- we need to know the scriptures to have faith in what God can and will do. We need to be faithful and consistent in daily gospel living. He has extended mercy to others in the past. He will do so again. His Spirit will be poured upon us and those who repent will be received by Him and blessed.

5. Holy One - go to the temple. Make your home and life holy. Ask yourself what a "holy one" would do.

7. Faithful and True - in contrast to Satan’s deception (the test of our day) we can trust Jesus. We’ll need to “show” our faith and stay no matter how hard it gets. He never leaves you- don’t leave Him. Stay with him forever, permanently for your sake and all who follow after you. Help each other stay. Stay focused on Him!

8. Study John 17. It's the most important chapter in the Bible