What’s in a Name?

Look for significance in each word of the name of the Church.

4 For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Doctrine & Covenants 115:4

Prior to this time the Church often went by “Church of Christ”.  Here the Lord gives the official name of the Church.  As others have done, let’s look at the significance of each word starting from the last word.

Saints: In the Bible, this has always referred to people who have been set apart and made holy by God.  Saints are special because God has made them special, and they have accepted the invitation, by ordinance, to be His people.

Latter-day: The Church today is just like the Church in the days of the Apostles. That was the former-day Church, and now we are Christ’s church in the latter-days. We are just the same.

Jesus Christ: The Lord has said this is His Church so it should bear his name (See 3 Nephi 27). Relatively few churches today bear the name of Jesus Christ in their titles. That is a big responsibility for us.

The Church: Not “A Church” but “The Church”. This is the one and only Church of and by Jesus Christ on the Earth (See also D&C 1:30). That claim is offensive to many, but the truth of it is glorious and why we invite all to come and become part of Christ’s own church on the earth today. For more, see “Thus Shall My Church Be Called” by Elder Russell M. Nelson, April 1990.

Today’s Takeaway: Consider what a great honor the Lord has given us to be part of His Church. Don’t take that for granted. Since this is the proper name, use the full name of the Church whenever possible. 

Are We True Enough?

Look for something that might offend people in other Churches.

  And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually—

Doctrine & Covenants 1:30

I know this is Christ’s church here on the earth again.  The Church is true “collectively”, but are we “individually” true?  A true church need’s true people to represent it.  For better or worse, people will often judge if a church is true, based on if the people of that church are true. Maybe we should ask ourselves questions like: Am I a true friend? A true employee? A true spouse? A true parent? A true member of this church? Am I a true follower of Christ?

Today’s Takeaway: Consider what it means to be true. Contemplate how true you are with family members and others you associate with.  Would you want them to judge how true the Church is based on how you act?  Think about how you can be a true representative of Christ’s true church.