Receiving Your New Name: Being Chosen and Called in the Spirit

Have you ever stood before the Lord, feeling weighed down by the stories you’ve carried—the mistakes, the hurts, the things that have defined you? It’s easy to feel like the labels the world, or even we ourselves, have placed on us are the only labels that fit. But if you’ve spent any time in the field, or if you’ve walked through the crucible of the MTC, you know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is about radical transformation. It’s about being remade.

I was thinking this week about a message that really struck a chord with me, one that speaks directly to the heart of discipleship: the idea of receiving a new name. It’s more than just a ceremony; it’s a spiritual declaration that our old selves—the selves defined by struggle, by shame, or by what we *were*—are being exchanged for the glorious identity Christ has prepared for us.

It’s a powerful reminder that in the gospel, our identity is rooted in our covenants, not our circumstances. When we accept the Savior, we accept a new name—a name that says, “Beloved Daughter of God,” or “Chosen Friend.”

The Power of Renunciation

This concept of shedding the old self and embracing the new is something we wrestle with constantly as Latter-day Saints. We are constantly being called to *be Christlike*. It requires us to look at the 'old labels'—the habits, the fears, the self-perceptions—and willingly let them go. It’s a spiritual shedding that parallels the Atonement.

As we prepare for our own service, or as we simply live as disciples in our daily lives, we are constantly engaged in this process. We are learning to see ourselves through the eyes of the Savior, not through the lens of our own imperfect memory. This is the work of the Spirit at its finest!

I encourage you to think about what 'old name' you are ready to renounce this week. Is it the name of anxiety? The name of comparison? The name of self-doubt? Write it down. Then, write the replacement—the name Christ gives you.

A Challenge for the Rogue Disciples

If you feel the Spirit nudging you toward this deeper understanding of identity, I highly recommend checking out the material shared in the video linked below. It outlines a journey that mirrors this profound spiritual rebranding.

It’s a beautiful testament to the fact that this journey is never done alone. When we feel the pull to connect with others who are on the same path—whether it's through a Book Club studying the Book of Mormon, or even just diving into the scripture_insight feed in LivingBook—we realize we are part of a massive, global effort. We are all potential internet missionaries, all disciples wherever we are.

Mission Prep Skill: Seeing the Potential

Here’s a small skill I want to pass along today for our missionary preparation efforts: When you are in a missionary discussion, or even just talking with an investigator, don't just answer their question. Instead, pause, and ask, “What does that question reveal about what they *fear* or what they *hope* for?” Understanding the underlying emotion is often more powerful than having the perfect doctrinal answer. It allows you to meet them where they are, right in their current identity.

Remember, we are called to help others discover the glorious name God has for them. We are called to be conduits of that divine revelation.

If this message resonated with your heart, please consider joining us for our next virtual gathering. It’s a chance to share testimonies and lift each other up as we continue to learn how to live as disciples in this modern age. Keep building your testimony, keep following the Spirit, and know that the Lord sees you differently than you see yourself. He has already chosen and called you.