None Other Name Under Heaven

After Peter and John healed the man at the temple, they were brought before the Jewish rulers and questioned. They asked, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” The question itself suggests that a name could give them power, and indeed it had. Peter responded boldly, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.” After testifying that it was in the name of Jesus that they had healed this man, Peter then declared more broadly, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:7, 10, 12). And so not only is there power in the name of Jesus to do mighty works, but there is power in His name—and only in His name—to save us. Paul would later declare to the Philippians, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). The name of Jesus is above all names, and not only will it bring salvation to all those who believe but at His name will every knee one day bow in humility.

                Other scriptures testify of the power of the name of Jesus Christ. The angel revealed to King Benjamin: “And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent” (Mosiah 3:17). His testimony confirms that of Peter’s; there is none other than Christ that can bring salvation. King Benjamin then expounded on this to his people and invited them to take upon them this powerful name: “And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives…. I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you” (Mosiah 5:8-12). We take upon us the name of Christ as part of our covenant with God so that through Him we can be found on the right hand of God. Nephi bore a similar testimony about the name of the Savior: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ…. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end” (2 Nephi 31:20-21). There is only one way and one name back to the Father. Nephi also wrote, “Yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.” Nephi’s witness affirms the power of the name of Jesus Christ to bring us salvation as we put our faith in Him. From Peter to Paul, from King Benjamin to Nephi, all true prophets have witnessed of Jesus Christ and the supremacy of His name to save us. And so, like Nephi we should likewise speak of His name as we try to be a witness of Him: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:20, 26).