When Peter healed the lame man at the gate of the temple, he didn’t just say, “Rise up and walk.” He said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). Jesus had promised the apostles, “In my name…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18). Now, that promise was being fulfilled, and Peter understood the significance of the Savior’s name in the process.
“Faith in his name hath made this man strong,” said Peter (Acts 3:16). The power to heal had come from Jesus, and Peter had accessed that power by performing the miracle in His name.
The following day, Peter and John were called before the Sanhedrin, where they were asked, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” (Acts 4:7). In response, Peter testified of Jesus Christ, saying, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Foreshadowing the words of Peter, the prophet Nephi wrote, “As the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.” He went on to say, “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:20, 26). There is power in a name, when that name represents the One who has the unique power to save us.
The angel who appeared to King Benjamin taught the same principle:
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.
For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
Mosiah 3:17-18
He equated the name of Christ with Christ’s atoning power. We are are saved through His name because the acceptance of His name represents a belief in His power to save.
When Benjamin’s people expressed a desire to enter into a covenant with God, Benjamin urged them to adopt the Savior’s name:
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.
Mosiah 5:8
Jesus later asked a group of disciples if they had not “read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name?” Then, He added, “For by this name shall ye be called at the last day; and whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:5-6). When we partake of the sacrament each Sunday, we testify that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. (See Moroni 4:3.)
Elder Robert C. Gay shared three ways we take upon ourselves the Savior’s name:
- By striving to see as He sees.
- By doing His work and serving as He served.
- By trusting Him.
(“Taking upon Ourselves the Name of Jesus Christ,” General Conference, October 2018)
Today, I will strive to take upon myself the name of Jesus Christ. I will remember that salvation comes only through His name, because only He has the power to save us.
https://open.spotify.com/track/18lQZaMVdNa4qwbi3tHPKP?si=Leyes6bgQtqurjIREr9kYw
I just happened across this song yesterday. It was a powerful reminder of the power of Jesus name.
Thanks for the reminder of the power of his very name.
I don’t know if my comment already came through on the post, So I’ll try this way just in case.
I happened to come across this song yesterday morning. I feel it goes along very well with your thoughts about the power of the name of Jesus. When we act and speak in his name, miracles do happen. Every time. I’ve always been impressed with the fact that Jesus said greater miracles than the ones He did, his disciples would do and we are able to do if we have faith. That seems very difficult for me to believe, but it is what the Savior said.
https://open.spotify.com/track/18lQZaMVdNa4qwbi3tHPKP?si=Leyes6bgQtqurjIREr9kYw
John 14:12 King James Version 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Thanks for another thoughtful post.
Thank you for sharing that song. It did come through, and I enjoyed listening to it! It goes very well with the message of the post.
I agree that it’s puzzling to think that we might perform greater miracles than Jesus performed during His mortal ministry. However, I think of President Nelson’s promise, “Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” General Conference, April 2018). And this one: “In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns ‘with power and great glory,’ He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful” (“Overcome the World and Find Rest,” General Conference, October 2022).
What a blessing it is for us to live at this time!
I love these quotes from President Nelson! Perhaps this is obvious, but I get the feeling that the miracles and blessings and manifestations will come as a direct result of the increased faith of true followers of Christ to act more boldly and bless more often in His name. I appreciate that insight, because I think when I first heard those quotes, I thought “Oh, that will be something wonderful to look forward to and to see!” But now, I’m thinking “How can I act more boldly in His name in order to bring about these miracles and blessings?” Less passive, more active. Thanks again for all the great research you pull together on various topics. It is a gift you have, and your chronicled journeys are a gift to all who stumble across them.