Mosiah 5:6–15

Imagine an orphan with no one to help or care for them who eventually comes to know a loving, stable family that offers to adopt them.

• What are some reasons the orphan may want to be adopted and take the name of their new family?

• What blessings could their new mother and father offer that the orphan could not provide on their own?

• How might the orphan feel about their new family?

In his great address to his people, King Benjamin said, “I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ” (Mosiah 5:8) and be called “the children of Christ” (Mosiah 5:7). Some of King Benjamin’s people were Nephites, and others were descendants of Mulek. King Benjamin wanted all the people to be united under a single name like in a family.

As you study the scriptures today, ponder ways you may be like the orphan in the situation above and the Lord like the new parent.

Recall that in Mosiah 5:1–5, the people testified that the Spirit of the Lord had made “a mighty change” in them and that they were “willing to enter into a covenant with … God to do his will” (Mosiah 5:2, 5).

Read Mosiah 5:6–10, looking for words and phrases that you can write under the two columns of your chart. It may be helpful to know that the right hand of God suggests symbolic favor and that the left hand symbolizes disfavor.

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icon, record

1. Answer the following questions:

   • What blessings do you want in your life that only the Savior can provide? (Consider using phrases you identified from King Benjamin’s speech to answer this question.) Why do you want these blessings?

   • How can the Savior be like a loving parent to us?

   • According to King Benjamin, how had the people become children of Christ, or taken upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ?

One truth we can learn from King Benjamin is that as we make and keep sacred covenants, we become children of Christ and take upon ourselves His name.

Read the following statement by President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency to clarify how we take upon us the Savior’s name.

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President Dallin H. Oaks

Following the scriptural pattern, persons who are baptized witness before the Church “that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.” (D&C 20:37; see also 2 Ne. 31:13; Moro. 6:3.) When we partake of the sacrament, we renew this covenant and all the other covenants we made in the waters of baptism. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Taking upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 1985, 80)

• How have making and keeping covenants brought you closer to the Savior?

To help you to continue to deepen your understanding about taking the name of Jesus Christ, read Mosiah 5:11–13, 15, looking for more counsel from King Benjamin about taking the name of Jesus Christ upon yourself.

You may want to watch the video “Name of Christ” (3:51), located on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, for additional ideas on what it means to take upon yourself the name of Christ.

Think of examples you have seen in your life of people who have taken upon themselves the name of Christ.

• What do they do that shows that they have taken upon themselves His name?

• What role can the sacrament play in helping us do this better?

Consider the thoughts and impressions you have received from the Holy Ghost as you studied today. Think about what you can do to more fully take upon yourself the name of Christ.