As a young man growing up, my father would often remind me that I had been given a good name and that I should never do anything that would tarnish it. This was good advice coming from a man I truly loved and respected. I, like Nephi of old, was born of goodly parents, and I never wanted to do anything that would cause anyone to think badly about my parents or the Dayton name. Yet, I wasn’t perfect, and like all of us, I made mistakes and sometimes acted inappropriately.
I remember one time in college when I was playing tennis with a good friend that I threw my racket into the net while simultaneously letting out a loud scream when I had missed a relatively easy volley. What I didn’t realize was at that time there were four men, a couple of courts away, who were just finishing up their doubles match and were walking towards us and had seen and heard me do this. One of the men, Dr. Sadler, was a professor at the university and a close colleague of my father. As he walked by me, he said words to the effect, “Hi, Joel. I’m meeting with your dad later today, and I’ll be sure to tell him I saw you.”
Needless to say, I was more than a bit embarrassed and was earnestly hoping he would not share some of the “details” of our brief encounter with my father later that day. Fortunately, he did not. As I have reflected on this incident from time to time, I realize this was just Dr. Sadler’s way of reminding me what I already knew – that I had been blessed with a good father and a good name and I should not act in a way that would tarnish it.
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we too have been blessed with a good name that we have willingly taken upon ourselves – the name of Jesus Christ. Christians. At baptism and at the sacrament table each Sunday, we covenant with the Lord to “always remember him, and keep his commandments which he has given [us]” (Moroni 4:3).
Do we realize how blessed we are to be able to take upon ourselves the name of God’s Only Begotten Son? The Savior’s name is the only name under heaven by which mankind may be saved (2 Nephi 31:21).
Perhaps that is why just last month President Nelson indicated to the members of the Church that the Lord has impressed upon his mind the importance of identifying the Church by its full, revealed, God-given name – “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” (D&C 115:4) – not the Mormon Church or the LDS Church. President Nelson has reminded us that the correct use of the Church’s name needs to start with us if we ever hope the media and others will follow suit.
Brothers and sisters, may we ever be proud members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taking upon ourselves the name of Christ and honoring His great name in word, action, and deed is my humble prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Joel Dayton, 1st Counselor, Akron Ohio Stake
Akron Ohio Stake News 