Matthew 1:20-23
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his cname Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Why the Name Jesus? Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew Yeshua or Joshua which means "Jehovah saves" or "Jehovah is salvation". This was actually a common name among the Jews, but to this was added the title of "Christ" which means "annointed one", in Greek this is translated "Messiah"
D&C 18:21-25
21 Take upon you the name of Christ, and speak the truth in soberness.
22 And as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.
23 Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved;
24 Wherefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day;
25 Wherefore, if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father.
How is Salvation found in a name?
John 5:26-27, 30
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
As the crown of womanhood is in the giving of life, the crown of Man is in the giving of a name; conferring upon posterity the family name. Ceremony and ritual often accompany this.
By declareing a name upon the child, the Father declares the child his, making the child heir to all that he has, Declareing he will love and protect his progeny because the child is a manifestation of his own flesh and blood.
Children in return are taught to love and respect their parents. To see that the name placed on them is a sacred trust. A rebellious child can be disinherited, cutting the child off from the blessings associated with the name.
That God intended for the Husbands name to be taken on by the wife and children is to be seen from the beginning
Moses 6:9
9 In the image of his own body, male and female, created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created and became living souls in the land upon the footstool of God.
Their name was Adam. They became one flesh. The giving of ones name declares a stewardship. You declare that you will care and protect and provide for. Thus Adam placed a name over all things in the Earth, and it was Adam who gave Eve a name.
God the Father placed his name upon Jesus Christ, his only begotten in the flesh, declareing him a rightful heir.
In turn the Savior invited all his earthly brothers and sisters to return to the Heavenly family of which they were once part. To take upon themselves the family name and become heirs to the blessings associated with it.
D&C 39:1-5
1 Hearken and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great bI Am, even Jesus Christ—
2 The light and the life of the world; a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not;
3 The same which came in the meridian of time unto mine own, and mine own received me not;
4 But to as many as received me, gave I power to become my sons; and even so will I give unto as many as will receive me, power to become my sons.
5 And verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth my gospel receiveth me; and he that receiveth not my gospel receiveth not me.
Romans 8:14-17
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
"Faith, repentence, baptism and the laying on of hands," wrote Elder Orson Pratt, "are the four rules of adoption. Remmision of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, are the two blessings of adoption which are inseperably connected with obedience to the rules. Both the rules and the blessings of adoption are the same in all ages and dispensations of the gospel. No manor woman ever entered into the church or kingdom of God on this earth, and became a legal citizen thereof, without complying strictly with these rules. Indeed, it is the only door or entrance into the kingdom." ("The Kingdom of God," in Orson Pratt's Works, p.48.)
Further, as a person receives the ordinances of salvation and thereafter enjoys the gift and influence of the Holy Ghost, he is said to have been "born again," to have risen above spiritual death unto spiritual life, to have come alive to the things of the spirit.
As the Savior and foreordained Messiah, Jesus our Lord became the "author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9), and the Father's gospel- the gospel of God (see Romans 1:1-3)- became his, the father of resurrection, and the father of redemption. He is also the King of kings, and spiritual adoption represents acceptance into his family kingdom. Those who have been born again become members of the family of Christ and thus take upon them the family name- they become Christians in the true sence of the word and are obligated by covenant to live by the rules and regulations of the royal family, to live a life befitting the new and sacred name they have taken.
(excert from my priesthood lesson from the first sunday this month)
Gaz
