The angel who appeared to King Benjamin said that Jesus would bring us salvation “through faith on his name” (Mosiah 3:9). After hearing those words, Benjamin’s people prayed and experienced a change of heart “through faith on his name” (Mosiah 5:7).
How can we have faith in a name? Because the name represents the person. It is the word which we associate uniquely with an individual, and the way we treat that word reflects our relationship with that person.
Udi Hammerman, a contributing author at My Jewish Learning, offered the following insight about names and relationships:
Our names are our essence. They are meant to describe what we truly are. If there were no names, what could one person call another? “Hey you: tall guy, smart guy, guy with red hair…” We would have no connection to anyone’s true essence. There could be no real relationship.
“The Book of Names,” on myjewishlearning.com
Notice how John connects names with relationships at the beginning of his gospel:
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
John 1:11-12
Today, I will have faith on the name of Jesus. I will remember that my reverence for His name and my appropriate use of it represent my respect for Him and strengthen my relationship with Him.
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