As missionaries we bear the name of Jesus Christ.  Literally. We always wear a black name tag that bears our name and his.

D&C 18

21  Take upon you the name of Christ.

22  And as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.

23  Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved;

24  Wherefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day

I have been studying and pondering on the use of the word “name” in the scriptures and the phrases “in the name” and “in his name.”  When something is pointed out to you, you develop a cognitive bias and begin to notice it everywhere.  It is not more prevalent than it was before.  It’s just that you notice it in a way you had not previously done.  So it is with me and the use of the word “name” in the scriptures.  I see it everywhere. I have found that the name of Christ can mean many things.

It can signify power and authority:  Acts 3:6 – Peter says to the lame man: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

It can describe our identity:  Mos 5:9  Whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.

It can be symbolic of a covenant:  Mos 5: 8   I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant.

It can be a reminder to be obedient:  Mor 4:3  [We] witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that [we] are willing to take upon [us] the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments.

It can signify obedience:  Mos 5: 8   I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.

It represents His presence: Matt 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

It can be a connection to the Father:  Mor 4:3   O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ.

It is essential to the plan of exaltation: Alma 5:48  And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.

It signifies His greatness:  Exodus 3:13-14  What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

It represents His eternal nature: D&C 38:1 – Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great I Am, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

His name represents that He is above all and within all. The statement “I Am” has profound theological implications: It represents God’s transcendence and immanence.

As missionaries, we are pleased and humbled to bear His name both literally and spiritually.  We bear witness of Him, in His name, amen.

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We start with a picture of us in our new office. This is where we spend Monday through Friday. It is not as glamourous as the pictures of our side trips which we show below. But, this is where we spend almost all of our time serving.

We took a trip to Switzerland. It is the most beautiful place we have ever been.

We took a trip to Bavaria and visited Munich during Oktoberfest, Salzburg, Austria, and Neuschwanstein (Cinderella castle).

Each year, the Europe Central Area produces a Christmas video. This year one of the features was a choir with soloists in the concert hall in Wiesbaden. Deborah and three other senior sisters tried out and made the choir.

Last weekend Geoff led a day trip across the border to Haguenau, France where we engaged in a boulangerie/patisserie crawl. We hit four shops (one of them twice). We also went to a large supermarket to load up on delicious French specialties. We then visited shops in a small town that is the pottery capital of the Alsace region.