17 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.
A fundamental teaching of the Book of Mormon is that we can only be saved through the atoning blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In the passage above, King Benjamin shares this principle in words given to him by an angel: “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.” So impactful was this phrase that both Alma and Helaman quoted it as they counseled their sons (Alma 38:9, Helaman 5:9).
This verse represents the heart of Benjamin’s final message to his people. His purpose in gathering them together was to “give unto them a name that never shall be blotted out, except it be through transgression” (Mosiah 1:12), and when they entered a covenant to serve God, he told them that they must take upon themselves the name of Christ:
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….
And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God (Mosiah 5:8.10).
Today, I will remember this important principle from the Book of Mormon. I will remember the covenants I have made with God, which have given me the opportunity to take upon myself the name of Jesus Christ. I will strive to live up to those covenants by following His commandments and by receiving His grace.
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