“Therefore Ye Shall Call the Church in My Name”

Alan C. Miner

People came up to the Lord and wanted to know the name that they should call the Church because they were having "disputations" (3 Nephi 27:3). In response, the Lord said:

Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;

And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day. (3 Nephi 27:5-6)

According to John Welch, the giving of the name of the church; the explaining of the importance of the name of the church, that it is the church of Christ, and that it should be called after the name of Christ, etc., is not just an idle thing. It is related to the fact that the name of Christ has been taken upon these people by way of covenant and, therefore, the Church describes those people who have entered into this covenant relationship with Christ. [John W. Welch, "Understanding the Sermon at the Temple, Zion Society," in Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 4, p. 157] [See the commentary on 3 Nephi 5:12]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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