What blessings are you enjoying because of honoring the names you have been given? What blessings are you enjoying because of honoring the sacred name of the Savior?
"6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.
7 Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them." (Helaman 5: 6-7)
"3 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen." (Moroni 4: 3)
And here's the commentary entitled: "I can honor the Savior’s name." :
"Reading Helaman 5:6–7 may inspire you to consider the names you have been given, including family names. What do these names mean to you? How can you honor them? Even more important, consider what it means to bear the Savior’s name (see Moroni 4:3). How do you honor that sacred name?"
I'm so grateful for my family names. Having them since I was born means I belong to my family. And I also look exactly like my own father and I have a resemblance with my siblings and other family members with the same family names. There is no question of my belongingness as a family member. On the other hand, there is a number of children who would find out as they were growing up that they were adopted or they were growing up without a father or a mother. It's a great challenge for them to search for their biological parents. My own biological parents raised me and I'm so grateful they did because I turned out to be the kind of person that I am today. And I'm doing what I can to honor the names I've been given because I want my family members especially my own parents to be really proud of me.
I'm grateful for the privilege to grow up being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This has given me the opportunity to take upon myself the sacred name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am doing what I can to honor my Savior's name as well because I want Him and my Heavenly Father to be proud of me just as I want my own parents to be really proud of me. I'm striving to become my better version as much as I possibly can because my better me is more like my Savior. As I become more like my Savior, I am following the covenant path, I am more peaceful and joyful because I know I am pleasing the Lord and making Him proud of me.
How has your faith in Christ been filling your soul with joy?
"24 And it came to pass that in this same year there was exceedingly great prosperity in the church, insomuch that there were thousands who didjointhemselves unto thechurch and were baptized unto repentance.
25 And so great was the prosperity of the church, and so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.
26 And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many souls, yea, even tens of thousands.
27 Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.
28 Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.
29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—
30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.
31 And in this year there was continual rejoicing in the land of Zarahemla, and in all the regions round about, even in all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.
32 And it came to pass that there was peace and exceedingly great joy in the remainder of the forty and ninth year; yea, and also there was continual peace and great joy in the fiftieth year of the reign of the judges." (Helaman 3: 24-32)
"33 And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the judges there was peace also, save it were the pride which began to enter into the church—not into the church of God, but into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God—
34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction.
35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." (Helaman 3: 33-35)
And here's the commentary entitled: "Faith in Christ fills my soul with joy." :
"In Helaman 3, Mormon described a time of rejoicing when the Church was so blessed that even the leaders were surprised. Based on what you read in verses 24–32, what do you think led to that joyful state? Not all members continued in the joy, though. Note the differences between the people described in verses 33–35. What do you learn from their example?"
What led to that joyful state when the Church was so blessed was the people's faithfulness in the Lord and God's blessing to them especially the prosperity in the work of the Lord. Many souls, even ten thousand joined the church. Bringing even one soul to God's kingdom already leads to so much joy. How much more bringing ten thousand souls! That's bringing never-ending joy or infinite rejoicing!
On the other hand, such joy did not continue for those who were lifted up in pride and persecuted and caused so much affliction to many of their brethren, the more humble part of the people.
I would always want to have peace and joy and so I choose to follow the example of those who stayed faithful in the Lord and were bringing ten thousand souls to the Church.
What difference would it make in your life if you're doing what you can to avoid becoming prideful and striving to be humble more than ever before?
"33 And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the judges there was peace also, save it were the pride which began to enter into the church—not into the church of God, but into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God—
34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction." (Helaman 3: 33-34)
"11 Now this great loss of the Nephites, and the great slaughter which was among them, would not have happened had it not been for their wickedness and their abomination which was among them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the church of God.
12 And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred, denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering, plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, rising up in great contentions, and deserting away into the land of Nephi, among the Lamanites—
13 And because of this their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands." (Helaman 4: 11-13)
"23 And because of their iniquity the church had begun to dwindle; and they began to disbelieve in the spirit of prophecy and in the spirit of revelation; and the judgments of God did stare them in the face.
24 And they saw that they had become weak, like unto their brethren, the Lamanites, and that the Spirit of the Lord did no more preserve them; yea, it had withdrawn from them because the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholytemples—
25 Therefore the Lord did cease to preserve them by his miraculous and matchless power, for they had fallen into a state of unbelief and awful wickedness; and they saw that the Lamanites were exceedingly more numerous than they, and except they should cleave unto the Lord their God they must unavoidably perish.
26 For behold, they saw that the strength of the Lamanites was as great as their strength, even man for man. And thus had they fallen into this great transgression; yea, thus had they become weak, because of their transgression, in the space of not many years." (Helaman 4: 23-26)
"27 Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.
28 Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.
29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—
30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.
35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." (Helaman 3: 27-30, 35)
"14 But behold, Moronihah did preach many things unto the people because of their iniquity, and also Nephi and Lehi, who were the sons of Helaman, did preach many things unto the people, yea, and did prophesy many things unto them concerning their iniquities, and what should come unto them if they did not repent of their sins.
15 And it came to pass that they did repent, and inasmuch as they did repent they did begin to prosper.
16 For when Moronihah saw that they did repent he did venture to lead them forth from place to place, and from city to city, even until they had regained the one-half of their property and the one-half of all their lands." (Helaman 4: 14-16)
"4 And it came to pass that Nephi had become weary because of their iniquity; and he yielded up the judgment-seat, and took it upon him to preach the word of God all the remainder of his days, and his brother Lehi also, all the remainder of his days;
5 For they remembered the words which their father Helaman spake unto them. And these are the words which he spake:
6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.
7 Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.
8 And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers.
9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.
10 And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.
11 And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.
12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5: 4-12)
And here's the ending part of the commentary entitled: "Pride separates me from the Spirit and strength of God." :
"Look for examples of this cycle as you read Helaman 1–6. Here are some questions to help you understand this pattern:
What evidence of pride do you see among the Nephites? (see, for example, Helaman 3:33–34; 4:11–13). Do you see similar evidence of pride in yourself?
Remembering the truths which Helaman wanted his sons to remember would help me avoid becoming prideful by being able to always acknowledge God in everything. When I do this, I'll always be feeling grateful for everything God is blessing me with and recognize morefully that everything is indeed God's blessing. I am nothing without God. Always remembering this will keep me from becoming prideful because I understand that I need God to support me because all my strength actually comes from Him. So, I cannot boast of my own strength, rely solely on my own strength, and forget the source of my strength because I understand that everything I have comes from God. I'm a steward. God has entrusted me with everything He's been giving me. I am receiving what He gave me and what He's still giving me and I am receiving them gratefully and always remembering that He's the source of everything.
