The word Christians is used only five times in the scriptures: Acts 11:26; Alma 46:13, 15, 16; 48:10. We see that three of these instances occur in Alma chapter 46, the period of the title of liberty.
EVIDENCE: “Name-giving in the Book of Mormon”
According to Jennifer Clark Lane, names in the Book of Mormon have importance and significance consistent with Israelite practices recorded in the Old Testament (i.e., a name can be a memorial, an indication of change of character, and a part of a covenant or an adoptive relationship.) The Israelite concept that the term name (sem) also means memorial is demonstrated in the passage when Helaman talks with his sons Nephi and Lehi about their names. He tells them that they were given the names of their forefathers so “that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works” (Helaman 5:6–7). The Israelite idea that change of name shows a change of character is demonstrated by the Lamanites who are converted to Christ and “were desirous that they might have a name, that thereby they might be distinguished from their brethren” (Alma 23:16).
As in the Old Testament, renaming is also understood to be part of a covenant in Nephite culture. When Moroni rallies the people of Nephi with the title of liberty, “all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come” (Alma 46:15). The people proceed to “enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion” (Alma 46:20) and accept the ritual covenant-breaking punishment, which is that “if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments” (Alma 46:21; emphasis added). In the Book of Mormon the making of covenants is usually connected with taking the name of Christ upon one’s self. This practice connects the idea of renaming as a change of nature with the idea of renaming as adoption, because a new name was also an indication of adoption in the ancient Near East (“The Lord Will Redeem His People: Adoptive Covenant and Redemption in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon,” FARMS Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, vol. 2, no. 2 (Fall 1993), 47.)