1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,880 One of the perplexing quandaries of the gospel is what it means 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,480 to take upon oneself the name of Christ. 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,960 The We will all be saved in the end. 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,360 Delusion is older than the earth itself, and its origin is from 5 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:21,120 the one who proposed to do that very thing at the expense of the 6 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:26,920 agency of man. God offers to give all He has to 7 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,640 any and all of His children if they keep His commandments. 8 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,400 God's plan for His children. It's not haphazard 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,440 righteousness. There can be no fulfillment 10 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,880 without commitment first. It is this commitment that 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,080 scares people off. Every sane person wants 12 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,280 fulfillment, redemption, joy, knowledge, peace, strength, 13 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:51,080 love, and power. But not everyone is willing to 14 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,840 make the commitment to pay the price necessary to receive them. 15 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:02,720 The Lord said, Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall 16 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:04,440 enter into the Kingdom of heaven. 17 00:01:20,420 --> 00:01:23,820 Here's the question. Are faith and repentance enough 18 00:01:23,820 --> 00:01:28,740 to be forgiven and receive the full measure of blessings from 19 00:01:28,740 --> 00:01:30,940 the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ? 20 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:36,240 And why are ordinances and covenants necessary? 21 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,520 And what does it mean to take upon oneself the name of Christ? 22 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:47,600 Hello, I'm Larry Corbridge and this is episode 23 of Stand 23 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:56,470 Forever. So again, our faith and 24 00:01:56,470 --> 00:02:01,070 repentance enough to be forgiven and receive the full measure of 25 00:02:01,070 --> 00:02:04,070 blessings of the atonement from the Lord Jesus Christ. 26 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:12,440 The answer's no beginning. Beginning with Adam, baptism has 27 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:17,240 been necessary to be forgiven, forgiven of sin, and to receive 28 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,800 the Holy Ghost and enter the Kingdom of God. 29 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:24,080 It is the gate to the path that leads to eternal life. 30 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:30,400 When Jesus went to John for baptism, John naturally resisted 31 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:36,120 saying, I have need of thee to be baptized, and comest thou to 32 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:40,320 me. Jesus replied, Suffer it to be 33 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:45,520 so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. 34 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:50,080 And Jesus when he was baptized, the scripture records went up 35 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,280 straight way out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened 36 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,400 unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove 37 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:02,080 and lighting upon him. And lo, a voice from heaven 38 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:10,160 saying, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, Nephi 39 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,520 also reasoned. And now if the Lamb of God, he 40 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,240 being holy, should have need to be baptized by water to fulfill 41 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:21,960 all righteousness, oh, then how much more need have we, being 42 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,400 unholy, to be baptized even by water? 43 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:31,800 To Nicodemus the Lord said, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 44 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:38,760 Except the man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot 45 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:45,920 enter the Kingdom of God. Baptism is for the remission of 46 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:50,800 sins, to qualify one to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and 47 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:57,080 enter God's Kingdom. The very last charge Christ left 48 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:03,600 with his disciples was to teach all nations, baptizing them in 49 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:07,360 the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 50 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:13,120 He also said, Go ye unto all the world and preach the gospel to 51 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:18,160 every creature, that he that believeth and and is baptized 52 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:23,640 shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. 53 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:30,440 That is a stark reality that falls hard on the ears in a 54 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:35,680 culture that increasingly decries exclusion and celebrates 55 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:40,320 open borders even unto heaven under the Boehner of tolerance 56 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,320 and the false belief that a loving God will give everything 57 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,680 to everyone just because he loves them. 58 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,560 Ignoring Christ's teachings, including the parable of the 59 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:54,840 virgins, the We will all be saved in the end. 60 00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:59,240 Delusion is older than the earth itself, and its origin is from 61 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:04,960 the one who proposed to do that very thing at the expense of the 62 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:10,840 agency of man. Faith and repentance qualify 1 63 00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:16,400 to worthily receive ordinances beginning with baptism as 64 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:21,720 evidence of covenants leading to power to engage in the work of 65 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,760 God. The Lord said, For for the gate 66 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:30,480 by which you should enter is repentance and baptism by water, 67 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:35,120 and then and then cometh the remission of your sins by fire 68 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:40,960 and by the Holy Ghost, and then are ye in this straight and 69 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,200 narrow path which leads to eternal life. 70 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,160 Baptism is the introductory ordinance. 71 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,800 It is the gate to the path that leads to eternal life and every 72 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,960 other good thing between here and there. 73 00:05:56,840 --> 00:05:59,680 You get on the path through the gate. 74 00:06:00,840 --> 00:06:06,360 Jacob said, Oh, then come unto the Lord, the Holy One, remember 75 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:11,560 that his paths are righteous. Behold the way, Behold the way. 76 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:17,040 For man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him. 77 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,320 And the keeper of the gate is the holy One of Israel, he said, 78 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:25,040 And he employeth no servant there, and there is none, none 79 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:30,440 other way save it be by the gate, for he cannot be deceived, 80 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:45,090 for the Lord God is his name. Society would be chaotic without 81 00:06:45,090 --> 00:06:49,960 the law of contracts. Contracts lay out the plan and 82 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,480 understanding between two or more people, usually about the 83 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:58,480 scope of some work and reciprocal compensation, so no 84 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,600 one can rightfully claim any misunderstanding. 85 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,880 The parties to a contractor, not strangers, but know each other 86 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:11,280 at least sufficiently to fulfill the agreement according to its 87 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:15,840 terms. A contract places the parties in 88 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,360 a relationship with each other and governs their respective 89 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:24,680 rights and interests. If a homeowner, for example, 90 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:30,920 negotiates with a house painter to paint his home for $14,000, 91 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,400 and the terms of their agreement are reduced to writing signed by 92 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:38,640 both parties, the house painter has a lawful claim for payment 93 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,840 if he performs according to the terms of the agreement. 94 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,600 That all seems reasonable. If, however, a house painter 95 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:51,200 takes it upon himself to paint a house on his own accord without 96 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:55,760 any agreement, he cannot expect payment for his unsolicited 97 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,600 services. Word. 98 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:03,080 Otherwise, Amazon. Amazon could deliver a a what AD 99 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:08,520 9 Caterpillar tractor to your doorstep and charge you $100,000 100 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:12,280 even though you didn't order it. Without the law of contracts, 101 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:20,120 life would be chaos, chaotic. Similarly, our life now as well 102 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,840 as before after mortality, would be chaotic without the Law of 103 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:28,040 Covenants. Covenants, in a like manner, 104 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,160 layout the plan and full understanding between God and 105 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:35,080 His children about the scope of work on earth and reciprocal 106 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:39,200 compensation so that no one can rightfully claim any 107 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,679 misunderstanding. Covenants are the spiritual 108 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,360 creation for the Lord, said I, the Lord. 109 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:52,560 God created all things of which I have spoken spiritually before 110 00:08:52,560 --> 00:08:55,200 they were naturally upon the face of the earth. 111 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:01,320 The parties to a covenant are not strangers, but they know 112 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,560 each other at least sufficiently to fulfill the agreement. 113 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:09,680 According to its terms, the covenant places the parties in a 114 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:14,200 relationship with each other and governs their respective rights 115 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:20,120 and interests. God offers to give all He has, 116 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:27,080 especially His Son, His Spirit, and His life, to any and all of 117 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,960 His children. If they keep His commandments, 118 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:35,160 His children may accept His offer and enter a covenant with 119 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,840 God by worthily receiving ordinances. 120 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,960 And if they perform according to the terms of the agreement, they 121 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:46,640 may confidently expect to receive the incomparable 122 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:51,800 benefits of the covenant. That also all seems reasonable. 123 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:57,960 If, however, a person lives a good life on his own accord, as 124 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:04,600 he deems best, without any agreement or commitment, he 125 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:08,200 cannot expect God to compensate him in the same way. 126 00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:12,880 Were it otherwise, his children could lay claim to His greatest 127 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:19,680 blessings on their terms, not his, turning again everything on 128 00:10:19,680 --> 00:10:23,080 its head, making man the master and God the servant. 129 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:31,320 Contracts and covenants both require mutuality, reciprocal 130 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:34,440 commitments, and a meeting of the minds to the terms of the 131 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:38,200 agreement. If a wealthy person were to 132 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:43,480 broadcast a gratuitous offer to give away $1,000,000, and if you 133 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:47,040 were to show up on his doorstep to claim the prize, you would 134 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:51,080 have no legal claim to it because there was no mutuality, 135 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,160 no meeting of the of the minds, no agreement. 136 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:02,320 God's plan for his children is not it's not haphazard 137 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:06,160 righteousness. There can be no fulfillment 138 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:10,600 without commitment. First, you must commit. 139 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,480 It is this commitment that scares people off Everyone. 140 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,160 Everyone wants the benefits offered. 141 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,960 Every sane person wants fulfillment, redemption, joy, 142 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,200 knowledge, peace, strength, love, and power. 143 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,920 But not everyone is willing to make the commitment to pay the 144 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:37,960 price necessary to receive them. The Lord said, not everyone that 145 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:42,400 saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of 146 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:47,240 heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in 147 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:51,960 heaven, many will say to me, He said, in that day, Lord, Lord, 148 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,840 have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out 149 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,520 devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? 150 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:05,440 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you depart 151 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:14,920 from me, ye that work iniquity. You can't just be good and show 152 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:20,760 up a stranger hoping to be paid. Without the law of Covenants, 153 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:27,680 chaos would prevail. A woman seeking to have her 154 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:30,600 temple blessings restored said this. 155 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:36,080 Until recently, I had not fully grasped the concept of 156 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:40,800 ordinances and the special significance of ordinances in 157 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:46,600 relationship to exaltation. The ordinances of salvation and 158 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:51,040 exaltation administered in the Lord's restored church, she 159 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:55,880 said, are far more than rituals or symbolic performances. 160 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,880 Rather, they constitute authorized channels through 161 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:04,360 which the blessings and powers of heaven can flow into our 162 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,200 individual lives. Great insight. 163 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:14,760 The power of godliness, the gift of God's Spirit is conferred by 164 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:19,240 the ordinances of the priesthood, the Lord said, And 165 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,920 this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and 166 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:27,000 holdeth the key of knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom, 167 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,120 even the key of the knowledge of God. 168 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:33,920 Therefore, listen to this. Therefore, in the ordinances 169 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:40,080 there of the power of godliness is manifest, and then He repeats 170 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:44,480 it, and without the ordinances thereof and the authority of the 171 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:50,160 priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto 172 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,880 the children of men in the flesh. 173 00:13:55,080 --> 00:14:00,120 Baptism leads to the power of godliness, the power of the Holy 174 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,920 Ghost. The Lord said, now this is the 175 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:07,560 commandment, Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me 176 00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:11,920 and be baptized in my name. That Now let me pause there. 177 00:14:12,560 --> 00:14:15,720 The word that is a very important word, it signals 178 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:23,800 destination and coming to me and be baptized in my name, that ye 179 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,720 may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, 180 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:33,680 that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. 181 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,640 So again, the word that is important in Scripture as it 182 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:45,080 signals purpose or or destination, so faith, 183 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:52,080 repentance and baptism, that to the end, that of receiving the 184 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,960 gift of the Holy Ghost and standing spotless before God. 185 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:01,720 Therefore, in the ordinances of the priesthood the power of 186 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:07,280 godliness is manifest. So let's think about the 187 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:11,360 sacrament. The sacrament leads to the power 188 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:17,440 of godliness, the power of the Holy Ghost, as sacred as it is. 189 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:23,320 This is the sacrament prayer. Oh God the Eternal Father, we 190 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:26,760 ask thee, in the name of Thy Son Jesus Christ, to bless and 191 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,600 sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, 192 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,960 that they may eat in remembrance of the body of Thy Son. 193 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:39,760 And witness unto thee, O God the Eternal Father, that they are 194 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:43,480 willing to take upon them the name of Thy Son, and always 195 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:47,440 remember Him, and keep His commandments which He has given 196 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:55,120 them, that they may always have His Spirit to be with them. 197 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:04,560 Again, the word that that we may always have His Spirit to be 198 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:08,200 with us. Therefore, in the ordinances of 199 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,600 the priesthood, the power of godliness is manifest. 200 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:19,120 Think about temple ordinances as as part of the dedicatory prayer 201 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,720 of the Kirtland Temple and in reference to the ordinances and 202 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:29,080 work of the temple that the Prophet Joseph Smith prayed, and 203 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:34,160 that they may grow up in thee and receive a fullness of the 204 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,200 Holy Ghost. In connection with temple 205 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:42,560 ordinances, he said that in order to engage in His work, His 206 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:48,800 servants must be endowed with power from on high through the 207 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:55,040 ordinances of the temple. So again, therefore, in the 208 00:16:55,040 --> 00:17:00,240 ordinances of the priesthood, the power of godliness is 209 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:05,760 manifest. This truth reveals, listen to 210 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:13,079 this, this truth reveals that everyone is on equal footing. 211 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,839 The power of godliness is not the sole domain of the 212 00:17:18,839 --> 00:17:23,000 priesthood. Rather, it is equally available 213 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:28,600 to everyone through the ordinances of the priesthood. 214 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,280 It is available to everyone equally through the ordinances 215 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:36,760 of the priesthood. Everyone is on equal footing. 216 00:17:38,360 --> 00:17:42,440 And not to diminish the blessing of a righteous father in the 217 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:47,080 home, but a single mother, for example, may have the power of 218 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:53,680 godliness in her life and in her home through the ordinances of 219 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:57,200 the priesthood, even if there is no priesthood holder in the 220 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:01,400 home. As with all covenants, the 221 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:05,640 ordinance of baptism is necessary, but the ordinance 222 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,680 alone is not enough to form a binding agreement. 223 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,680 You can't take a man out of the gut, out of the gutter, and 224 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:18,440 baptize him in a drunken stupor and expect a covenant to be 225 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:22,160 formed. As with contracts, there must be 226 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:26,520 a meeting of the minds for a covenant to be formed, an 227 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:30,160 understanding and conscious acceptance of the terms of the 228 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:34,360 offer. The Lord said this, and again, 229 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:37,480 by way of commandment to the Church concerning the manner of 230 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:41,240 baptism. All those who humble themselves 231 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,920 before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with 232 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:49,560 broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the 233 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:53,560 Church, that they have truly repented of all their sins, and 234 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:57,960 are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having 235 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:01,280 a determination to serve Him to the end. 236 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:05,920 And truly manifest by their works that they have received of 237 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:10,440 the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall 238 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:14,360 be received by baptism into His Church. 239 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,800 So humility is a condition to baptism. 240 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:27,040 One must want the blessings of baptism and have a broken heart 241 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:32,120 and contrite spirit, and be willing to take upon himself or 242 00:19:32,120 --> 00:19:37,560 herself the name of Jesus Christ and have a determination to 243 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:43,360 serve Him to the end by engaging in His work to build up His 244 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:52,280 Kingdom. So that brings us to this 245 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:56,680 important question. What does it mean to take upon 246 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:03,240 oneself the name of Christ? Names. 247 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:08,520 Names are important. They help to order what would 248 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,400 otherwise be chaos. They help people to know who 249 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,120 they are and where where they belong. 250 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,120 God gave the first man the name of Adam, and Adam called his 251 00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:23,720 wife E. He also gave names to every 252 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:29,520 living creature. Life eternal is to know God and 253 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:35,560 Jesus Christ. To know someone begins with a 254 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:41,800 name. It is primal and instinctive. 255 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:46,520 It is the first thing we learn when introduced to someone. 256 00:20:47,360 --> 00:20:51,200 Hello, my name is Larry, what is your name? 257 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:57,360 Conversation then progresses to where do you live and what do 258 00:20:57,360 --> 00:21:00,800 you do? We explain who we are and try to 259 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,960 get a fix on who others are and where they belong. 260 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:12,040 And all that begins with a name. When God spoke to Moses on top 261 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:15,280 of a mountain, he began by calling Moses by name. 262 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:23,280 Moses. Moses then introducing himself, 263 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:29,400 he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the 264 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,000 God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 265 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,520 He then explained his intent to bring the children of Israel out 266 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,880 of the bondage of the Egypt and for Moses to be his servant. 267 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:47,440 To that end, Moses understandably asked, Who am I? 268 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,960 Who am I to do such an impossible task? 269 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:57,480 And God responds only indirectly, saying, Certainly I 270 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:02,120 will be with thee. Moses then has the courage to 271 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:07,960 ask God's name. He says, When I come unto the 272 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:13,040 children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your 273 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:17,000 Father's has sent me unto you. And they shall say to me, What 274 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:20,120 is his name? What shall I say unto them? 275 00:22:22,120 --> 00:22:27,920 And God said unto Moses, I am that I am. 276 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:35,400 And he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I 277 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:40,760 am has sent me unto you. When? 278 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,920 When Paul fell to the ground, surrounded in light, and heard a 279 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:49,600 voice saying, Saul, Saul, why persecute us, thou me? 280 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:57,880 Paul replied, Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, 281 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:03,440 whom thou persecuted. When the Lord appeared to the 282 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:08,520 Nephite people after his resurrection, he said, Behold, I 283 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:12,000 am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come 284 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:17,360 into the world. Interestingly, Heavenly Father 285 00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:21,240 usually introduces himself indirectly by deferring to his 286 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:28,160 Son, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 287 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:33,200 Hear him. He makes himself known by his 288 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:37,640 Son. Names are important. 289 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:42,600 One of the perplexing quandaries of the gospel is what it means 290 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:46,240 to take upon oneself the name of Christ. 291 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:50,000 It is somewhat paradoxical because the name of the 292 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,920 priesthood was changed to avoid the two off repetition of His 293 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:58,240 name. And yet God has instructed us to 294 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,000 do all that we do in the name of Jesus Christ. 295 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:07,360 Morone, I warned, saying, See that you are not baptized 296 00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:09,920 unworthily. See that you partake not of the 297 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:13,960 sacrament of Christ unworthily, but see that you do all things 298 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:18,360 in worthiness, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of 299 00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:21,360 the living God. And if you do this, and endure 300 00:24:21,360 --> 00:24:24,880 to the end, ye will in no wise be cast out. 301 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:31,680 So again, what does it mean to do all things in the name of 302 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:35,920 Christ? We of course pray to our Father 303 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:40,360 in the name of Christ. All ordinances are performed in 304 00:24:40,360 --> 00:24:45,120 the name of Christ. Miracles and healings are done 305 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:48,600 in the name of Christ. The early apostles and disciples 306 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:55,120 preached in his name, Paul said of of Corinthians who were once 307 00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:58,080 unrighteous. They were washed, in other 308 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:02,640 words, baptized, sanctified, justified in the name of the 309 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,560 Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 310 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,560 Paul also said, God the Father highly exalted Christ and gave 311 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:15,200 him a name which is above every name. 312 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:20,800 An Angel of the Lord instructed Adam, saying, Thou shalt do all 313 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:23,520 that thou doest in the name of the Son. 314 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:28,640 When we are baptized, we take upon us the name of Jesus 315 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,520 Christ. As we partake of the sacrament 316 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:36,360 bread, we covenant that we are willing to take upon us the name 317 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:40,080 of the Son. The apostle John explained the 318 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:44,120 purpose of his gospel saying, But these things are written 319 00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:47,600 that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of 320 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:53,640 God, and that believing you might have life through his 321 00:25:53,800 --> 00:26:00,160 name. Again, what does he mean? 322 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:05,800 That we might have life through the name of Christ? 323 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:11,240 He also recorded, and this is his commandment, that we should 324 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:16,200 believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one 325 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:18,720 another as he gave us commandment. 326 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:24,440 On another occasion he said These things have I written unto 327 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:28,120 you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may 328 00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:32,080 know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the 329 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:37,360 name of the Son of God. One might think John would have 330 00:26:37,360 --> 00:26:41,560 said believe on Christ rather than his name. 331 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:48,880 I know I keep asking this, what does it mean to believe on the 332 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:54,680 name of Christ? Nephi recorded There was none 333 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:58,560 other name given under heaven, save it be this Jesus Christ 334 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:04,680 whereby man can be saved in our day, the Lord revealed, Behold, 335 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:08,760 Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and 336 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:12,120 there is none other name given whereby man can be saved. 337 00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaking of Christ, Alma said. And behold, it is he that cometh 338 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:21,840 to take away the sins of the world, Yeah, the sins of every 339 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:26,200 man who steadfastly believeth on his name. 340 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:32,400 Helaman said the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those 341 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:36,080 who believe on the name of Christ, who is the Son of God. 342 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,920 Why not say heaven is open to all who believe on Christ rather 343 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:46,200 than his name? Again, I know this is a lot. 344 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:50,360 I just want you to get an idea how pervasive this truth is 345 00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:52,680 threaded throughout all of Scripture. 346 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:56,760 Also in our day. The Lord further clarify the 347 00:27:56,760 --> 00:27:59,960 commandment to love God, saying, Wherefore I give unto you a 348 00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:04,000 commandment saying, Thus thou shalt love the Lord thy God with 349 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:07,360 all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength, and 350 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:11,720 in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him. 351 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:16,480 It is interesting that when Peter and John were arrested, 352 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:22,200 the Sanhedrin Council admonished Peter and John for teaching in 353 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:27,680 the name of Christ and commanded them not to speak at all nor 354 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:34,120 teach in the name of Jesus, rather than simply ordering them 355 00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:36,640 not to speak of Jesus and his teachings. 356 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:42,160 The concept of acting in the name of another must have been 357 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:47,520 commonly understood by them. Probably no one. 358 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:49,560 Now this may be the last example. 359 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:53,680 I'm not sure. Probably no one has taught more 360 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:57,840 compellingly about the name of Christ than King Benjamin. 361 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:05,160 He promised His people He would give them a name that thereby 362 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:08,200 they may be distinguished above all people. 363 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:13,440 When they assembled the following day, He concluded his 364 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:19,640 historic teaching, repeatedly emphasizing the name of Christ, 365 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:23,400 saying this. And now, because of the covenant 366 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:27,440 which He have made, you shall be called the children of Christ, 367 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:33,200 His sons and His daughters. For behold, this day He has 368 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:37,600 spiritually begotten you. For ye say that your hearts are 369 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:41,480 changed through faith on His name. 370 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:48,080 Therefore ye are born of him, and have become his sons and his 371 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:51,480 daughters, continuing on with King Benjamin. 372 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:54,800 And under this head ye are made free. 373 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:57,800 And there is no other head whereby you can be made free. 374 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:02,520 There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh. 375 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:06,760 Therefore I would that you should take upon you the name of 376 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:10,720 Christ, all you that have entered into a covenant with 377 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:13,920 God, that you should be obedient unto the end of your lives. 378 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:17,720 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be 379 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:23,360 found on the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by 380 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:28,840 which he is called, For he shall be called by the name of Christ 381 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:33,880 still, King Benjamin. And now it shall come to pass, 382 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:38,000 that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ, 383 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,440 must be called by some other name. 384 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:45,880 Therefore he findeth himself on the left hand of God. 385 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:50,280 And I would that you should remember also, that this is the 386 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:53,920 name that I said unto you, that I would give unto you, that 387 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:58,240 never should be blotted out, except it be through 388 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:01,640 transgression. Therefore take heed that you do 389 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:05,520 not transgress, that the name not be blotted out of your 390 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:08,720 hearts. I say unto you, I would that you 391 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:13,760 should remember to retain the name written always in your 392 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:17,640 hearts, that you are not, that you are not found on the left 393 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:21,080 hand of God, but that you here and know the voice by which you 394 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:27,160 are called, and also the name by which He shall call you. 395 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:32,120 End of quote. Long quote. 396 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:39,160 The New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and 397 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:44,040 Covenant are replete with references. 398 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:47,040 And that's not all. That's not all of them, Not 399 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:50,000 nearly. They are replete with references 400 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:56,440 to the name of Jesus Christ, rather than Jesus Christ himself 401 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:00,880 alone. One would expect references to 402 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:05,840 Christ individually rather than pervasive references to his 403 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:11,720 name. So again, what do they all mean? 404 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:17,520 Names, as I said, are important. They help to order what would 405 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:21,320 otherwise be chaos. Names identify not only who we 406 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:24,600 are where we belong, but to whom we belong. 407 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:30,440 By taking the name of Christ, we not only nominally but literally 408 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:37,440 know and proclaim to whom and where we belong with Christ and 409 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:44,400 our Eternal Father that we are one with them. 410 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:50,080 By the name of Christ we know and declare unmistakably to 411 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:56,480 everyone and anyone, everywhere and anywhere, who we are and 412 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:59,440 where we belong, bringing order out of chaos. 413 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:04,320 Additionally, the law of agency. Now this is important. 414 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:08,360 The law of agency in the common law of the United States 415 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:12,640 recognizes that a principal they may authorize another, the 416 00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:20,560 agent, to act in his behalf and in his name within the scope of 417 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:24,760 the authority conferred. The relationship between the two 418 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:31,600 is also referred to as principal and agent or master and servant. 419 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:37,480 The servant undertakes to represent the master while 420 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:41,320 engaged in the affairs and work of the master, usually when the 421 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:46,080 master cannot be present. While the laws of men do not 422 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:50,680 always reflect the laws laws of God, in this instance the law of 423 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:57,200 agency is a very good parallel for what it means to take upon 424 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:00,640 us the name of Christ and act in the name of Christ, and that 425 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:04,160 salvation is in the name of Christ. 426 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:12,520 To take the name of Christ implies willingness to be His 427 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:19,480 agent, act in His behalf and do His work. 428 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:26,040 Acting in the name of Christ means to represent him, do what 429 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:29,600 He did and what He would have you do. 430 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:36,280 Salvation is in the name of Christ by undertaking His work, 431 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:41,280 building up His Kingdom on both on both sides of the veil, as an 432 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:44,719 active contributing member and servant. 433 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:50,560 Salvation is not in Jesus Christ by merely accepting Christ in 434 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:54,080 your heart or even being made clean through His atonement 435 00:34:54,080 --> 00:35:00,680 alone, rather also doing the things He did acting in His 436 00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:05,920 name, which enables 1 to retain a remission of sins and have the 437 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:11,280 oil the companionship of the Holy Ghost and thereby be 438 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:17,640 permitted to enter His presence. If you want to get close to God, 439 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:24,480 engage in his work. What would Jesus do? 440 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:29,400 It's a wonderful question and focus that has been popularized 441 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:33,720 throughout the Christian world like center choose the right. 442 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:38,960 What would Jesus do is become a worldwide symbol to remind good 443 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:43,800 people to focus on Christ. It is a worthy standard, but as 444 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:48,120 far as I can tell it's not something the Lord said. 445 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:53,800 He said rather follow me and do the things which you have seen 446 00:35:53,800 --> 00:36:00,120 me do. What did Jesus do is the greater 447 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:03,280 question more than what would he do. 448 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:08,520 Therefore he said, Hold up your light, that it may shine unto 449 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:13,160 the world, Behold, I am the light which you shall hold up, 450 00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:19,280 that what you have seen me do. He also said, Verily, verily, I 451 00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:23,640 say unto you, that this is my gospel, and you know the things 452 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:26,640 that you must do in my church, for the works which you have 453 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:30,440 seen me do, that shall ye also do. 454 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:34,960 For that which you have seen me do, even that shall ye do. 455 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:39,000 Therefore, if you do these things, blessed are ye, for you 456 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:41,040 should be lifted up at the last day. 457 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:48,160 The Lord said, follow me. We have this incredible 458 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:52,760 blessing, this benefit, the benefit of hindsight. 459 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:57,560 We don't have to guess. We can't fairly say we can't 460 00:36:57,560 --> 00:37:01,720 know what Christ did. We are the only ones in the 461 00:37:01,720 --> 00:37:05,400 history of the world with the expansive view of history, the 462 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:09,360 Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine of Covenants, the Pearl 463 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:12,640 of Great Christ, and the fullness of the gospel of Jesus 464 00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:16,760 Christ. What would Jesus do again is a 465 00:37:16,760 --> 00:37:19,320 good question, but what did Jesus do? 466 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:24,680 Is the better one all that gives meaning and identity to your 467 00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:29,840 individual name? If your name is a good name, it 468 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:33,000 is because you made it so. No one else can do that. 469 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:38,280 Again, names are important not only for what they give to us, 470 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:50,240 but what what we make of them. Understanding the importance and 471 00:37:50,240 --> 00:37:53,120 purpose of baptism for the remission of sins. 472 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:58,440 People occasionally say I wish I could be baptized again. 473 00:37:59,720 --> 00:38:03,400 Such a wish falls flat on the floor because it ignores the 474 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:06,600 sacrament, which offers an opportunity for weekly 475 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:09,760 reassessment and renewal of covenants. 476 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:15,240 Although there are allusions to temple ordinances in the New 477 00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:21,000 Testament, Jesus expressly teaches and demonstrates only 478 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:26,160 two ordinances, baptism and the sacrament. 479 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:31,480 Those are also the two ordinances he revealed among the 480 00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:34,040 Nephi people, of which we have a clear record. 481 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:39,680 Those two ordinances are prominent in both ministries. 482 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:45,920 They go together. Life is beneficially comprised 483 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:51,400 of a series of overlapping and intersecting cycles of days, 484 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:56,680 seasons, and years. Each has a beginning and an end 485 00:38:56,680 --> 00:39:01,200 which links to yet another beginning and on and on. 486 00:39:02,240 --> 00:39:07,160 Both beginnings and ends are important with. 487 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:12,240 With each beginning we we look forward with hope to what may 488 00:39:12,240 --> 00:39:15,280 unfold with renewed vigor to see it through. 489 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:22,000 With With each end we may look back and assess what went well 490 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:29,040 and would didn't go so well. These cycles should not be 491 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:35,120 routine, rather essential breaks in a routine to look back long 492 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:38,280 enough to better inform the next beginning. 493 00:39:39,720 --> 00:39:42,920 Some people do this routinely. With the beginning of a new 494 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:46,880 year, for example, they look back over the year and they set 495 00:39:47,120 --> 00:39:51,400 resolutions for the new year. That same process should be 496 00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:56,040 replicated weekly and even daily for the annual resolutions to 497 00:39:56,040 --> 00:40:00,080 take effect because we are prone to forget. 498 00:40:01,720 --> 00:40:07,600 Oddly, we are especially quick to forget God, President Spencer 499 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,720 W Kimball said. Perhaps the most important word 500 00:40:10,720 --> 00:40:17,480 in the dictionary is remember. While it is ironic that most 501 00:40:17,480 --> 00:40:21,640 important things are repressed by lesser but pressing things, 502 00:40:22,720 --> 00:40:25,920 maybe it is understandable. Because the most important 503 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:30,800 things are not visible usually, and therefore not mindfully 504 00:40:30,840 --> 00:40:34,840 urgent. They must be remembered to be 505 00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:39,120 present. There may never have been a time 506 00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:42,960 when it is easier and yet harder to remember the most important 507 00:40:42,960 --> 00:40:46,080 things. Living in the dispensation of 508 00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:49,480 the fullness of times, you have more to help you remember than 509 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:52,560 ever before. You have scriptures, the 510 00:40:52,560 --> 00:40:57,120 fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, more books and means of 511 00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:00,920 communication than ever before. All of which should help to keep 512 00:41:00,920 --> 00:41:04,280 the most important things top of mind. 513 00:41:05,680 --> 00:41:11,720 But at the same time, you we are bombarded by distractions, a 514 00:41:11,720 --> 00:41:16,480 tsunami of lesser things. Consequently, there is reason to 515 00:41:16,480 --> 00:41:20,080 believe the attention span of people is is shorter. 516 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:23,400 Today. Many people are always plugged 517 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:26,040 in, but not with the most important things. 518 00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:30,560 It is rare that something external is not directing or 519 00:41:30,560 --> 00:41:34,880 shading our thoughts. Sustained intentional thinking 520 00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:41,840 is not so common. The weekly cycle to remember is 521 00:41:41,840 --> 00:41:44,800 facilitated, of course, by the sacrament. 522 00:41:45,640 --> 00:41:50,200 Each Sabbath is an end in another beginning, which is 523 00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:54,600 reflected in the revealed words of the sacrament prayer itself. 524 00:41:56,320 --> 00:42:00,680 For me, the sacrament prayers represent Christ as the way in 525 00:42:00,680 --> 00:42:06,720 the life, In other words, the bread as well as the Savior, the 526 00:42:06,720 --> 00:42:11,720 blood and water. The bread may represent the life 527 00:42:11,720 --> 00:42:15,160 of Christ as the way. As you proclaim what you are 528 00:42:15,440 --> 00:42:19,160 willing to do. It is prospective, looking 529 00:42:19,160 --> 00:42:23,080 forward toward Christ. It is a statement of intention, 530 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:28,280 a covenant or promise that you are willing to take His name, 531 00:42:28,720 --> 00:42:32,040 willing to remember Him always, and willing to keep His 532 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:37,200 commandments, that you may always have His spirit to be 533 00:42:37,200 --> 00:42:40,080 with you. Will. 534 00:42:40,280 --> 00:42:43,640 What you are willing to do is especially important. 535 00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:47,360 In the end, it's a matter of will. 536 00:42:47,360 --> 00:42:52,480 What are you willing to do? The water, on the other hand, is 537 00:42:52,760 --> 00:42:57,800 retrospective. You look back over the week and 538 00:42:57,800 --> 00:43:02,400 see what went well and what did not, to better inform your 539 00:43:02,400 --> 00:43:06,920 willingness to take the name of Christ and keep His commandments 540 00:43:06,920 --> 00:43:09,400 in the next cycle. During the coming week. 541 00:43:10,600 --> 00:43:15,320 As you look back, you are mercifully spared from declaring 542 00:43:15,320 --> 00:43:21,320 something you cannot truthfully declare, namely, that you always 543 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:24,720 kept the Lord's commandments and that you had a perfect week. 544 00:43:26,440 --> 00:43:29,800 Acting in the name of Christ and keeping His commandments are 545 00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:33,760 part of the declaration of what you are willing to do as you 546 00:43:33,760 --> 00:43:37,040 partake of the bread, Christ as the way in the life. 547 00:43:38,320 --> 00:43:42,880 But thankfully they are missing from the declaration of what you 548 00:43:42,880 --> 00:43:48,040 did as you take the water representing the blood of Christ 549 00:43:48,040 --> 00:43:50,680 who compensates for what you failed to do. 550 00:43:52,480 --> 00:43:57,600 Of the three elements of your declaration of will as you 551 00:43:57,600 --> 00:44:02,080 partake of the bread, the only one that survives to the 552 00:44:02,080 --> 00:44:07,040 declaration of what you actually did as you partake of the water 553 00:44:07,720 --> 00:44:11,920 is that you do always remember Him. 554 00:44:14,320 --> 00:44:18,320 This suggests 2 things. First, to always remember 555 00:44:18,320 --> 00:44:22,200 Christ, that you may have His Spirit to be with you is 556 00:44:22,200 --> 00:44:29,000 something you can always do because God would not expect you 557 00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:32,480 to falsely declare something you're not capable of doing. 558 00:44:33,600 --> 00:44:40,480 It must be an obsession. No half measures will do, but 559 00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:44,680 the standard to always remember Christ is more easily met than 560 00:44:44,680 --> 00:44:50,160 what one might suppose. It isn't to live a Christ like 561 00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:54,200 life in every instance. Rather it is to always measure 562 00:44:54,600 --> 00:45:01,280 your life against His, both your successes and your lapses. 563 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:09,560 It is always to be mindful of Him in in both directions ahead 564 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:13,960 and behind, whether in the context of thinking before 565 00:45:13,960 --> 00:45:20,720 before you act, thinking ahead, thinking what Christ did again 566 00:45:21,120 --> 00:45:26,960 the way the bread, or realizing after the fact how your actions 567 00:45:26,960 --> 00:45:30,400 fell short against that same standard of His life and 568 00:45:30,400 --> 00:45:36,160 teachings. The Savior in the water leading 569 00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:39,400 to repentance and enlightened improvement. 570 00:45:40,520 --> 00:45:44,680 To remember Him always is essentially to look to Christ as 571 00:45:44,680 --> 00:45:50,840 the standard in both directions, however successful you may or 572 00:45:50,840 --> 00:45:53,880 may not be in reaching that standard from day-to-day. 573 00:45:55,400 --> 00:45:59,640 Whenever we do, He should always be the standard against which we 574 00:45:59,640 --> 00:46:02,480 measure our lives. We can always do that. 575 00:46:04,760 --> 00:46:12,560 We can always remember Him. Secondly, always may also mean 576 00:46:12,560 --> 00:46:20,720 to not quit, keep at it, always press forward always no matter 577 00:46:20,720 --> 00:46:24,040 what. To always remember Christ 578 00:46:24,040 --> 00:46:27,920 suggests you never give up or give in, never stop trying, 579 00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:35,720 never lay down to rest. Finally, both the bread, Christ 580 00:46:35,720 --> 00:46:41,560 as the way and the water, the death and Atonement of Christ as 581 00:46:41,560 --> 00:46:47,600 the Savior are essential to what is most important, namely 582 00:46:47,920 --> 00:46:52,880 sanctification and always having God's Spirit to be with you. 583 00:46:55,120 --> 00:47:01,600 What a blessing are these cycles of of beginnings and endings 584 00:47:02,280 --> 00:47:07,000 which refresh and break what would otherwise be 1 long slog 585 00:47:07,960 --> 00:47:14,960 finally leading to death on the desert floor with without and 586 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:20,200 without an end, and another beginning without a break, 587 00:47:20,200 --> 00:47:23,240 without an an Oasis here and there. 588 00:47:23,720 --> 00:47:27,040 You would become overburdened, eventually succumb to your 589 00:47:27,040 --> 00:47:31,080 mistakes and lose your way. There would be no opportunity to 590 00:47:31,080 --> 00:47:34,760 shed the burden of the past and move freely and confidently 591 00:47:34,760 --> 00:47:40,480 ahead with renewed hope, vigor and will for a new year, a new 592 00:47:40,480 --> 00:47:47,440 week, or a new day. As King Benjamin said, O man, 593 00:47:47,760 --> 00:47:57,680 remember and perish not. In the next episode we will 594 00:47:57,680 --> 00:48:02,600 consider the greatest blessing one may receive in this life. 595 00:48:04,440 --> 00:48:08,320 I hope you will join me then. Thank you.