His Name

I have my language set on Facebook to pirate, and it's ... well, for lack of better words, the best. I love it, and it always gives me a daily laugh somehow. It changes around a lot, and I'm constantly seeing things that are totally new to me. Tonight, my notifications gave me something that I wanted to share, but I'm not sharing it because it made me laugh. I'm sharing it because it held a message.

Good name. We all had a name before we were born, and then we were given names when we crossed through the veil. Some parents, like mine, waited weeks to give it to me ... but they still did ;) Bonnie Gwyn Johnson. That's my given name, and it's special. I love it. Those words are the words by which I'm known, found, respected, hated, and everything else that's part of this world. I have a reputation in those three little (but so important) words. Hopefully it's a good one.

You, too, have a name. It means something to you. It represents who you are. But here's the thing: you create who you are, and who belongs to that name. It doesn't get a reputation all on its own. At least, not usually. This being the case, we all try to protect our names - our images. I know that I for one have a problem with pride. I don't like to be embarrassed. I don't like being messed with. I don't like people thinking badly of me. I want my name to be a good name. And when people think of me - good or bad - they think of my name. It's not good to let pride get the best of us, but it's also not good to betray ourselves - or our names. So really, it's all connected.

When we Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are baptized into the Church, we take upon ourselves another name: the name of Christ. In doing so, we covenant to do as He would do, and to treat His name with honor. This brings WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) to a whole new level. Would He go where we go? Would He say what we just said? Those are things we think about, because we've taken on His name. We represent Him. And His name is far more important than ours. We must protect it, just as He protects us.

When our name is stained, even if it's only known by us, He knows - and through the Atonement He can help us make it right. That's the beautiful thing about life. We have a name. We have a responsibility. But we also have new days. Second chances.

Of course, we have so much more than only a name. We have spirits to take care of and bodies to treat as temples, but who we are - that is so important. It's what's in the heart that counts. Even when the world thinks badly, even when pride is playing its tricks, it's the name you know you have that matters.

Be who you are :) And never forget that when you've chosen to represent Christ, you carry His name.

Bonnie Gwyn