Each week, members partake of the sacrament and covenant and promise that they are willing to take upon them the name of Christ.
"Someday, each one of us will have to account to our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, for what we have done with His name," said Elder Mervyn B. Arnold of the Seventy.
The Bible speaks of the importance of having a good name: "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1).
Elder Arnold said such a scripture causes him to reflect on the good name and legacy his parents left him and his siblings. The Arnolds were not wealthy and raised their large family in a small, modest home. When they passed away, their list of worldly possessions was very short. Still, their children were grateful for the many "riches" they left behind.
"Together we wept openly, giving thanks, knowing they had left us something much more precious than silver or gold," said Elder Arnold. "They had given use their love and their time. They had often born testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel, which we can now read in their precious journals."
The Arnolds also taught their children the importance of hard work, honesty, education, missionary work, temple marriage and enduring to the end. "Truly they left us the legacy of a good name for which we shall ever be grateful."
Elder Arnold recounted an important lesson that his wife, Sister Devonna Arnold, learned when she was a teenage girl working on the family ranch. One summer day, a cow broke out of a fence encircling a pasture where it could safely graze. Once outside the fence, the cow then began to graze on growing wheat, which caused it to bloat and die. Sister Arnold understood that the fence was a protection, just as the Lord's commandments are a protection.
"Sister Arnold learned that our kind, wise and loving Heavenly Father has given us commandments — not to restrict us, as the adversary would have us believe — but to bless our lives and to protect our good name and our legacy for our future generations."
Elder Arnold expressed his gratitude for the Atonement, which allows for repentance and forgiveness.
"In that glorious day when we stand before our beloved Savior to report what we have done with His name, may we be able to declare, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.'" (2 Timothy 4:7).
