New Names

I read yesterday an article by Jerry Earl Johnston in the Mormon Times section of the Deseret News on March 17^th entitled What it means to be given a new name.   He wrote about how King Zedekiah’s original name was Mattaniah, but King Nebuchadnezzar renamed him and this was a symbol of how Zedekiah was betraying his Hebrew origins and pledging allegiance to the Babylonians.  Johnston wrote, “In ancient days, when someone gave you a new name, you were expected to serve them.”  He then suggested that this practice of renaming people still continues to our day, giving examples such as brides taking on the name of their husbands, or Marion Morrison taking on the name John Wayne that Hollywood gave him.  Johnston continued, “Of course, things get doubly serious when God is the one giving people another name.  He puts his seal on their hearts and writes their names on his palms.  You better be ready for all that awaits you.  The stakes are high.”  He then mentioned examples of those who with terribly important missions had their names were changed by God: Michael became Adam, Gabriel became Noah, and Saul became Paul.  Johnston commented, “The soul who gets renamed should be prepared to go the distance, to sacrifice all and serve with might, mind, and strength.”  As we talk about receiving new names as part of the ordinances of the gospel, perhaps we don’t fully appreciate the importance of what this entails. 

                The scriptures speak of receiving a new name in several places.  Speaking of the Lord’s people in the last days, Isaiah wrote saying, “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name” (Isaiah 62:2).  In the book of Revelation John mentioned twice the new name that those who overcome will receive: “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it” (Revelation 2:17).  To the Church at Philadelphia he similarly wrote, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name” (Revelation 3:12).  In our dispensation the Lord seemed to refer to the same heavenly event when He said, “And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it” (D&C 130:11).  At some point in the next life those who have been faithful will be granted a new name that represents their becoming sealed as Christ’s for good. 

                The other more obvious “new name” that we receive as disciples of Christ is the name that we take upon us at baptism.  To be baptized the Lord requires that we be “willing to take upon [us] the name of Jesus Christ” (D&C 20:37).  Then in our renewing of that covenant in the Sacrament we commit that we are again “willing to take upon [us] the name of [the] Son” (D&C 20:77).  King Benjamin taught his people who were willing to repent of their sins and make that covenant: “And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you” (Mosiah 5:7).  Full-time missionaries put on badges that have the name of Jesus Christ that are visible to everyone, but in reality we all commit to be called by that name as we engage as disciples.  And, indeed, for those who make such commitments in our day, “You better be ready for all that awaits you.”