"In the name of Jesus Christ"

Sitting in my main worship service of my church (Sacrament Meeting) I came up with this interesting thought. The meeting was a "Fast and Testimony Meeting" so not your typical service with one or two main sermons. Instead, this meeting typically consists of 20-35 people randomly getting up out of the congregation to bear witness of the things they know to be true.

In the Mormon faith a testimony typically goes something like this:

1. Introduction- Your name, basic hello, or some witty comment.
2. "The meat"-
1. Story that relates to some Gospel principle
2. Testimony of some Gospel truth
3. Declaration of belief of some thing or another
3. Conclusion- Goes something like "and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen" (the critical part being that everything being done in the name of Jesus Christ).

Well, I don't know why, but for some particular reason, there were more people that wanted to bear their testimony than usual this week. This led to a very rushed group of people. In this rush, when they would get to the conclusion they would blast through the concluding phrase and the pinnacle personage with it.

The solemn declaration "...in the name of Jesus Christ..." turned into a trivial and rushed "...iname a Jes'Chr'is, Amen."

This got me thinking- Why is it so important for us to end "in the name of Jesus Christ"?

Here's a scripture for you: Moses 5:6-8

6 And after many days an ^aangel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer ^bsacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. 

7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a ^asimilitude of the ^bsacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of^cgrace and ^dtruth. 

8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the ^aname of the Son, and thou shalt^brepent and ^ccall upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.

So basically, everything that we do should be in the name of the Son of God. Simply put, it's a commandment!

So that brings the question: How ought we treat the name of diety? And after thinking more and more about how the name of Jesus Christ was being passed over, I started to realize how many times in my personal prayers, testimonies, lessons, etc. that I have simply passed by the name of the Savior as a means to conclude.

There is more than just a conclusion behind the "in the name of Jesus Christ."

THE MEDIATOR- There is a very specific reason why we conclude in the name of the Savior at the end of prayers. This is because Christ is our mediator with the father(1 Timothy 2:5). Ok, what the heck is a mediator? I guess a better question is "Who is THE mediator?" and it is Christ. A mediator is someone who is basically a messenger to convey a message from one party to another.

Ok, well why can't I just talk with God the Father directly? Why do I HAVE to go through the (for lack of better word) "middle man" (wow that seems blasphemous to call Christ a middle man)? Well, I don't quite know THE answer to this one. 

My personal belief is that we can't address the Father directly, because we're not qualified to do so. The Savior Jesus Christ is qualified. Jesus Christ was divinely appointed to that role for one. Now also, Jesus Christ is PERFECT (aka- NO MISTAKES EVER). I don't know about you, but I've made a mistake or two in my life. Thus, it is only through Him and His Atonement that we can even approach the Father.

Jesus Christ descended beneath everything so that he can rise above. He suffered on behalf of every one of us for our pains, sicknesses, trials, tribulations and sins. That's a lot. Also, he gave up his life and took it up again so that we too could have life once more.

The moral of the story: Jesus Christ is more than just a slur in our hurried lives. He is more than just a concluding statement to a set of remarks. He is our Lord and Savior. He is our mediator with the Father, the only way to God the Father.

My hope is that we can treat His name with respect and when we invoke His name, say the things that He, Himself would say.

I testify and know for myself that Jesus Christ did indeed suffer and die so that I may obtain eternal life. I know this because of the way the Spirit of God has entered into my heart to let me know of this truth.

I likewise know of the truth of the Book of Mormon, latter day prophets, and the restoration of the priesthood to the earth in our day. I know it because of the Spirit of God.

I testify of these in the name of the Savior Jesus Christ, amen.