That They Might Know Thee

This talk has been brought to my attention several times over the last six months and the Holy Ghost has been making it very known to me that I needed this one. There were things in this talk by Elder Jonathan S. Schmidt that I really needed to hear on a personal level.

They say that the sweetest word you hear spoken is your name. And I believe that. And I don’t think it is a vain reason that we feel that way – but it shows that we are both SEEN and KNOWN. And isn’t that what our spirits crave? My favorite part, in every story in the scriptures, is when a person’s name is spoken. The Doctrine and Covenants is FULL of this and I love it so much. The first word uttered to Joseph Smith was his name. I can’t imagine what a comforting moment that was for him.

Do you remember the movie The Testaments? I love it so much. And easily my favorite moment in that movie is when the Savior approaches Helam and says his name before He heals him. I cannot wait for the day when my Savior and Father in Heaven speak my name. I hope hearing my name come from their lips will bring me the same comfort that I am sure it brought to Joseph.

It makes me incredibly emotional thinking of this. We all have different titles and names we take on in this life. For me, some of my names are wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, teacher, minister, advocate, etc. And someone might know me very well, and maybe as more than just one title. But no one here knows me personally in all of my different roles. No one, except for my Savior and Heavenly Parents. They see me completely.

And just like our spirits yearn to hear our names and feel that connection with another, so does our Savior. Just like we yearn to feel seen and known by our Savior, so does He. He gave us the best gift because He knows us on a level that is tender and pure and complete. Don’t we want to have that same relationship with Him? To know Him completely.

Elder Schmidt said, “Just as Jesus knows each of us by name, one way we can come to better know Jesus is by learning His many names…Knowing His many names…inspires us to become more like Him – to develop Christlike attributes that bring joy and purpose to our lives.”

He then went on to list five names and titles that have application to each of us:

• GOOD SHEPHERD
• HIGH PRIEST OF GOOD THINGS TO COME
• THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER
• HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL
• FAITHFUL AND TRUE

I want to know my Savior. Relationships need two people to make them work. And there is no relationship I should be investing in more than that of my Savior. I pray that I may get to know Him better as I strive to learn His many names.

<< After I share my highlights from Elder Schmidt’s message, they will be followed by my General Conference round up. I love finishing up my six month study with all of the invitations, promises, and personal applications I have found. >>

Highlights

“I’d like to share with you the blessings and power that come from knowing Jesus Christ by His many names.

Jesus knew and called people by name.

Just as Jesus knows each of us by name, one way we can come to better know Jesus is by learning His many names. Many of Jesus’s names are titles that help us understand His mission, purpose, character, and attributes. As we come to know Jesus’s many names, we will come to better understand His divine mission and His selfless character. Knowing His many names also inspires us to become more like Him – to develop Christlike attributes that bring joy and purpose to our lives.

I would like to share five names and titles that have application to each of us. I invite you to develop your own list as you come to know Jesus by His many names. In doing so, you will find that there are other names – along with their corresponding Christlike attributes – that you will want to take upon yourself as Jesus’s covenant disciple.

First, Jesus is the GOOD SHEPHERD. As such, Jesus knows His sheep, “calleth his own sheep by name,” and, as the Lamb of God, gave His life for His sheep. Similarly, Jesus wants us to be good shepherds, particularly in our families and as ministering brothers and sisters. For those sheep who may be wandering, good shepherds go into the wilderness to find the lost sheep and then stay with them until they return to safety. We should seek to spend more time ministering to people in their homes.

Second, Jesus is the HIGH PRIEST OF GOOD THINGS TO COME. There is a great need for us to preach and practice positivity, optimism, and hope. Despite any challenges in our past, faith always points toward the future, filled with hope, allowing us to fulfill Jesus’s invitation to be of good cheer. Joyfully living the gospel helps us to become disciples of good things to come.

Another of Jesus’s titles is that He is THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER. Consistency is a Christlike attribute. Jesus always did His Father’s will, and His arm is constantly outstretched to save, help, and heal us. As we are more consistent in living the gospel, we will become more like Jesus. Consistent gospel living helps us to be steadfast and immovable during the storms of life. We can also demonstrate consistency by accepting President Nelson’s invitation to “make time for the Lord.” Great spiritual strength comes from small and simple things like developing “holy habits and righteous routines” of daily prayer, repentance, scripture study, and service to others.

Fourth, Jesus is the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. Jesus’s life was a pattern of holiness. As we follow Jesus, we can become a holy one in Israel. We increase in holiness as we regularly visit the temple. Every time we worship in the temple, we leave endowed with greater power to make our homes places of holiness. Time in the temple will increase holiness in our lives.

One last name of Jesus is that He is FAITHFUL AND TRUE. Just as Jesus was ever faithful and always true, His earnest desire is that we exhibit these qualities in our lives. Don’t ever give up on Jesus – He will never give up on you!

When we are faithful and true, we follow Jesus’s call to “abide in me,” which can also mean “stay with me.”

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus wants for us to know Him because His is the only name under heaven whereby we can be saved. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life – no one can return to the Father except by Him. Jesus is the only way!

With all my heart, I bear witness of Jesus Christ – that He lives, that He loves you, and that He knows you by name. He is the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father. He is our Rock, our Fortress, our Shield, our Refuge, and our Deliverer. He is the Light which Shineth in Darkness. He is our Savior and our Redeemer. He is the Resurrection and the Life. My earnest desire is that you will come to know Jesus by His many names and that you will become like Him as you exemplify His divine attributes in your life.”

FULL text and video of Elder Jonathan S. Schmidt’s talk can be found HERE.

Other messages from the October 2022 General Conference that I have found particularly impactful:

• Overcome the World and Find Rest by President Russell M. Nelson
• Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Youth by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
• The Doctrine of Belonging by Elder D. Todd Christofferson
• Our Earthly Stewardship by Bishop Gerald Causse
• Are You Still Willing? by Elder Kevin W. Pearson

In addition, if you click on the “FAITH” tab you will find all of the messages I have done throughout the years.

Conference Round Up

Studying the words of our prophets, apostles, and leaders of the Church fills my spirit in a beautifully unique way. It has blessed my life abundantly. Sharing my thoughts and testimony, while being out of my comfort zone, has also been soul stretching in a very positive way. I am grateful for this little space where I can share my love for my Savior.

Honorable Mentions

It continues to be such a hard thing to pick only six talks from General Conference to share. So many of them touch my heart and I hope that they touch yours as well. Here are my six honorable mentions that deserve a read, a listen, and a ponder.

Wholehearted

Sister Michelle D. Craig spoke of our discipleship. She spoke of keeping our covenants, even when it isn’t easy. She spoke of acting in faith. And she testified that we can be wholehearted and joyful in our devotion.

The call of our duty is to be: “disciples who dig deep to find the strength to keep pulling when called to walk through the wilderness, disciples with convictions that have been revealed to us by God, followers of Jesus who are joyful and wholehearted in our own personal journey of discipleship.”

follow jesus christ with footsteps of faith

President M. Russell Ballard spoke of faith in adversity. He spoke of the legacy our faith can be to our posterity. He spoke of our Savior as the ultimate pioneer in preparing the way for us. He warned us about not letting Satan dull our commitment. He encouraged us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, keep Him as our focus, and keep our feet firmly planted on the covenant path.

“There is hope and peace in Christ. He can carry us today through difficult times. He did it for the early pioneers, and He will do it now for each one of us.”

drawing closer to the savior

Elder Neil L. Andersen warned that our spiritual survival requires that we more fully nurture, fortify, and strengthen the roots of our faith in Jesus Christ. We do this by immersing ourselves in the life of Jesus, making covenants with the Lord, and safeguarding the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“Having faith in Jesus Christ and being a true disciple is a sacred, ongoing process that grows and expands through the seasons of our lives, continuing until we kneel at His feet.”

happy and forever

Elder Gerrit W. Gong testified that true, enduring joy and eternity with those we love is the very essence of God’s plan of happiness. He highlighted five doctrinal principles: Jesus Christ promises to unite our spirit and body, At-one-ment in Christ comes as we exercise faith and repentance, God knows and loves us perfectly, we become more like the Lord when we perform proxy saving temple ordinances, and that we need to offer others repentance and forgiveness just as we need and desire it.

“God’s work and glory include bringing to pass happy and forever. Eternal life and exaltation are to know God and Jesus Christ so, through godly power, there They are we shall be.”

in partnership with the Lord

Elder Ulisses Soares spoke of relationships – partnerships – especially that of marriage. He shared that full partnership between man and woman exists both in mortality and the eternities. He shared two principles that strengthen the marriage relationship: we are all alike unto God and the Golden Rule. He counseled that nurturing and presiding are interrelated and overlapping responsibilities and we should help one another.

“As we – women and men – work together in a true and equal partnership, we will enjoy the unity taught by the Savior as we fulfill the divine responsibilities in our marriage relationships.”

a framework for personal revelation

Elder Dale G. Renlund taught about revelation. He gave a “framework” for personal revelation: through the scriptures, that personal revelation is individual, it works in harmony with the commandments, and that we need to both recognize old revelation and circumstances as well as be open to new.

“We receive personal revelation within a framework…within that framework, the Holy Ghost can and will reveal everything we need to soar onto and maintain momentum on the covenant path.”

Questions

As in conferences past, there are three things I keep a running list of while I study the messages from General Conference – questions, promises, and invitations. I love these lists.

The weeks leading up to General Conference, I always make a short list of any questions I may be having and seeking answers for. And I have been amazed at how frequently a speaker will ask my questions – or a variation of my question – and then go on to answer it! Reading and pondering these questions has been greatly impactful for me.

Word of Warning: Reading and pondering these questions in one sitting would be like drinking from a fire hose. It has taken me six months to try and go through them and I still probably haven’t given the adequate time. But if you do find a question here that you have been searching for, go to the talk, and find your answer.

• If the Savior were here right now, what would He say to you?
• Where do you find truth?
• Is it wrong to have rules?
• What would the Savior have us see, and where would He have us go?
• What is the source of my testimony?
• Am I only carrying out “outward performances” without allowing those practices connected with God’s laws to “strengthen [my] faith in Christ” or to demonstrate understanding that Jesus Christ is the only source of power in my observances?
• If God has answered a question and the circumstances have not changed, why would we expect the answer to be different?
• Which customs and traditions are normal in our lives?
• Is personal and family study of the scriptures, personal and family prayer, weekly sacrament meeting attendance, and frequent participation in temple and family history work part of our normal lives?
• How can we determine what will be the normal things in our life and in our family?
• Why is love for God the first great commandment?
• How did having an attitude of anti-Satan or anti-temptation serve [the Savior]?
• What were some of the factors that helped the Savior to be prepared for that crucial moment [of temptation]?
• How can we honor and love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ without honoring and loving Their creations?
• Should we not be the gardeners for our fellow men and women?
• Are we not our brother’s keeper?
• Are you still willing?
• How many times have you witnessed unto God that you are willing?
• Is my own spiritual foundation built solidly on Jesus Christ?
• Am I willing to put forth more than a superficial effort into strengthening my faith in Jesus Christ?
• Am I willing to pay the price of discipleship?
• Am I still willing to follow the living prophets?
• What is the level of spiritual oil in my lamp?
• What changes in my personal life would enable me to have the influence of the Holy Ghost more constantly?
• How can we deepen and strengthen our commitment to the savior in the days ahead?
• Can we see why the Lord would direct His prophet to bring the holy temples closer to us and allow us to be in His house more often?
• How many wounded individuals do we have among us?
• How often do we judge others based on their outward appearance and actions, or lack of action, when, if we fully understood, we would instead react with compassion and a desire to help instead of adding to their burdens with our judgment?
• Who among us might have hidden sorrows?
• Are there people in your path who you have felt inclined to judge?
• Do you remember believing, or wanting to believe, in happily ever after?
• What kinds of things can we do to maintain the fire of our convictions?
• Where does the power in gathering together in person come from?
• What can families do at home to build on the momentum created at church activities?
• What can I do to remain strong?
• How can loving God turn into lasting discipleship?
• What does it mean to overcome the world?
• How do we overcome the world?
• How does overcoming the world bless our lives?
• Which of Jesus’s names should I taken upon myself this week?
• Does your soul ache for illumination?
• Are you seeking to cut through all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil so prevalent in the philosophies of our day?
• Do you desire to disperse the clouds of confusion caused by an overabundance of information in order to focus more singularly on the covenant path?
• What is the source of the virtue of the word?
• Do I know and understand what a testimony is?
• Do I know how to bear my testimony?
• What are the obstacles in sharing my testimony?
• How do I keep my testimony?

Promises

There is nothing better than reading the promises given to us if we follow the words of the prophets.

• You will be participating in “the greatest work on earth,” the gathering of Israel, as you are inspired to reach out to those who have been “kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.”
• If anyone should lose their way, we will never be lost to our Savior.
• As we work together in a a true and equal partnership, hearts will be “knit together in unity and in love one towards another,” we will find more joy in our journey to eternal life, and our capacity to serve one another and with one another will multiply significantly.
• The 24 or 18 months of service will pass in the mission field just as they would pass if you stayed home, but the opportunities that await the worthy young men and young women of this Church in the mission field are unique.
• As you allow your love for the Savior and His love for you to sink deep into your heart, I promise you added confidence, peace, and joy in meeting the challenges of your life.
• As we seek for the spiritual gift of eyes to see and ears to hear, I promise that we will be blessed with the capacity and judgment to strengthen our covenant connection with the living Lord.
• As we seek for the spiritual gift of eyes to see and ears to heart, we will receive the power of godliness in our lives – and ultimately be called to and chosen for the Lord’s feast.
• As you let God prevail in your life, I promise you greater peace, confidence, joy, and rest.
• As you more fully understand what a testimony is, and as you share it, you will overcome obstacles of uncertainty and fear, enabling you to nurture and keep this most precious possession, your testimony.
• Increased time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can.

Invitations

And finally, invitations. This becomes my list for change.

• Embrace the For the Strength of Youth as my own and share it with others.
• Have the confidence to claim personal revelation for yourself, understanding what God has revealed, consistent with the scriptures and the commandments He has given through His appointed prophets and within your own purview and agency.
• This day, to give a Book of Mormon.
• To flood the earth with the Book of Mormon.
• Study the many aids on the Church website regarding abuse.
• Be alert to anyone who might be in danger of being abused and act promptly to protect them.
• Make notes of thoughts that catch your attention and those that come into your mind and stay in your heart throughout conference.
• Prayerfully ask the Lord to confirm that what you have heard during conference is true.
• Participate in the work of creation.
• Make and keep covenants to have increased access to the power of Jesus Christ.
• Take charge of my own testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel.
• Find rest from the intensity, uncertainty, and anguish of this world by overcoming the world through my covenants with God.
• Let God know through my prayers and my actions that I am serious about overcoming the world.
• Ask God to enlighten my mind and send the help I need.
• Each day, record the thoughts that come to me as I pray; then follow through diligently.
• Spend more time in the temple, and seek to understand how the temple teaches me to rise above this fallen world.
• Become a “righteous people”.
• Cherish and honor my covenants above all other commitments.
• Come unto Christ.
• Develop my own list of names and titles as I come to know Jesus by His many names.
• Try the virtue of the word of God.
• Seek opportunities to bear my testimony in word and in deed.
• Record your impressions and follow through with them.
• Increase your efforts to seek Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s help.
• Grow closer to God and Jesus Christ every day.

Personal Application

This list is for me. Everyone should leave conference with their own personal thoughts and impressions of where they need to direct their lives. These are mine.

• Be more aware of service opportunities – there is ALWAYS a way to serve!
• Read and study For the Strength of Youth and have a family council talking about it.
• Fix my sight on the Savior and understand my whys to what I do in the gospel.
• Seek for more personal revelation in my life – invite Him in – and be more confident in my ability to receive revelation.
• Make daily family prayer our “normal” in our home.
• Have more personal and deeper ministering experiences.
• To share the Book of Mormon and my testimony.
• If doubts or questions come, turn to the Lord and ask Him to confirm truth.
• Carry on! Face challenges with faith and hope that the Savior walks with me.
• Let whatever healing that needs to occur be taken to the Lord and let go of hurt feelings.
• Let the Lord work miracles in me, to change and to perfect me, as I come to Him in faith.
• Walk hand in hand with Mark as we strive to raise our family and return to our Father in Heaven.
• Share my testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Do the work needed to strengthen my testimony of fasting.
• Strengthen my relationship with my Savior and build that trust in belonging with Him.
• Do my part to beautify the earth and love and honor each individual as a creation of my Father in Heaven.
• Change who I am as a disciple of Jesus Christ – be more firm in my convictions, rely on my Savior, have faith, seek the Spirit, be joyful, and trust Him.
• BE WILLING – be determined and consistent in centering my life on Jesus Christ.
• Have the courage to both share and live the truth.
• Immerse myself in the life of Jesus.
• More empathetic and attentive to the burdens being carried by others.
• Live in a higher and holier way – HIS WAY, where I can lead with love and compassion to help those with hidden sorrows.
• Come unto the Savior and focus less on myself.
• Love others, holding back nothing.
• Support and encourage my children in their discipleship.
• Evaluate my priorities and what may be holding me back from blessings; seek for the spiritual gift of eyes to see and ears to hear.
• Seek to understand my covenants better, begin a prayer journal and follow through with promptings, and spend more time in the temple.
• Be an encouraging example and a loving friend.
• Remember: the answer is always JESUS.
• Make my own study and list of names and titles of Jesus.
• Hold fast to the word of God.
• Seek out opportunities to bear my testimony.
• Cheerfully respond to difficult circumstances and see them as growth opportunities.
• Strengthen my personal testimony of Jesus Christ and His role in my life.
• Increase my time in the temple.

Final Thoughts

I love this space. I hope it is an uplifting one for anyone who stumbles upon it. It is a place to share our family’s story, but also I hope it even a small way, it uplifts and draws your thoughts to our Father in Heaven and our Savior, Jesus Christ. They are my everything. Sending love to all as we prepare to hear from our Prophet this weekend.