In His Holy Name

Years ago when I was active in my local Rotary Club I was asked to give a prayer. The former pastor who was in charge of prayers asked me not to use the name of Jesus Christ, in order to be sensitive to those who were not Christian. I thought at the time that it was rather arrogant to ask someone to pray, but not to their God. I agonized over what to do. I knew that Jesus had many names, and I could just use another so I finally settled on praying "in the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

My Bishop was also in my club, and a while later he was asked to pray. I wondered what he would do knowing that he had received the same injunction. He got up and gave a simple prayer, closing in the name of Jesus Christ, like usual; it was very refreshing. "The Mormons" Were never asked to pray again, as long as I was there.

We are commanded to do all things in the name of Jesus Christ, as Nephi explains: "ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ." (2 Nephi 32:9) This command is repeated many times in the Scriptures. What does it mean to speak, or pray in His name?

Learning How
There is a period of time when we use His name by rote. This is when we are learning and growing so we often say or do all things in His name by convention. We are taught to speak in His name, both prayers, and lessons. We close what we say in His name even though we may say things that He would not say. We also may do things in His name that He would not do. This is acceptable because we are learning. As His Children we are coming to know Him. 

During this time, it is easy to assume that because we have made a covenant with Him, and are commanded to use His name, that we are actually doing things in His name. However, this may not, in fact it most often is not, the case.  In order to speak properly in the Name of Jesus Christ, we must be speaking His words. If the words we speak are not from the Holy Ghost, they are not the words of Christ. We may pray for things that are not God's will to give us, in which case the prayer, as heartfelt as it may be, is not His.  As we learn and grow we are allowed to repent and begin to speak His words in truth.

His words
Jesus explained how He did things: "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5:30) We likewise must seek only the will of our Father in Heaven in order to properly use the name of Jesus Christ.  Gradually, over time, as we are immersed in the Gospel, we come to know Him, and know what He would say, and know what He would do by growing up in the Gospel and learning the words of Christ. These come from three places: 1. The words of the prophets, 2. Angels, and 3. The Holy Ghost.

The words of the prophets
Prophets speak in a different tongue, a whole different language. It is a spiritual language that is not understood by the definitions of the words used. Each word represents something in another world. "Time" means "mortality."
"Light" means "intelligence."
"Good" means "God's will."
"Faith" is the means by which we learn and grow.
"Charity" is the pure love of Christ
The words in the Scriptures don't have the same meaning as they do in an English dictionary. All the prophets testify of Christ. In order to properly speak in the the name of Christ, we must know, understand, and speak the words of the prophets.

The tongue of Angels
Angels are messengers sent from God. They are "ministering angels" because they come to teach us. They speak what God tells them to say, as Nephi explains: "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:3)   If we "feast" on the words of Christ, we will learn the tongue of angels, and be able to understand the messages the bring to us.  When we do as the angels tell us, we can use the name of Christ.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost
The pattern of having faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, repenting of our sins, and being baptized allows us to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift is given to those who have received a remission of their sins, and remember Christ always.  It allows people to know the will of God in all things. If we know His will, we can do it, and by so doing will be able to correctly do all things in His name. Even our prayers must be given to us by the Holy Ghost so we can properly close our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ. If we speak our own words, they are not His.

To do everything we do in the name of the Son, and pray to our Father in Heaven in the name of His Son we must know, and do His will; and speak His words -- and not ours. These words were given to me by the Holy Ghost. They are the words of Christ. I share them with you in His holy name, Jesus Christ, amen.