Shauna asked a great question. “What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord?” We know we pray to the Father in Christ’s name, so other than ending “in the name of Jesus Christ”, what does the phrase mean?
Donald gave a beautiful description, and I invite him to copy it to this post. Please weigh in with your inspired opinions.
What Say You?
UnBlogmysoul 
Brother Pontius,
I think I found an answer to my question on calling upon the name of the Lord. I believe the language is found in dedicatory prayers of the temples given by the first presidency. The prayers are full of beautiful words of worship and different names are used for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I assume they could be considered mighty prayer as they give thanks and invoke blessings in behalf of the temple and those who will attend.
Shauna
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Hi Bro Pontius, I am not sure where to post this question so I thought I would just post it here. Have you written anything about “being in the world but not of the world”? I searched the site but could not find anything.
I work 10 hrs. 4 days each week and when I am at work it is hard to feel the spirit unless I take my mind away from my work. I desire to follow the admonition to pray always in my heart but I don’t know how to do that while I am focused on worldly things.
Look forward to your response.
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Actually, I haven’t unblogged on that topic. Let me put it on my “to Un-Blog” list.
JMP
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John, I wonder if you were thinking of Darrell’s reply to Shauna’s question:
Dear Shauna, I hope you don’t mind me sharing a few things I have learned on this matter and which I cherish. The name of the Lord isn’t just a name, it is all that He is to a person. The more a person learns of Him and His attributes the more they learn His name.
There is a scripture in Isaiah that refers to this. The scripture reads, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”. (Isaiah 9:6).
I thought it interesting that this scripture mentions His name in the singular, and yet it is all these things. I learned that as I learn His name He becomes Wonderful to me, He becomes my Counsellor, my mighty God, the everlasting Father of my salvation, my Prince of Peace, and many many more things.
I learned that the more I learn how to hear His voice through personal revelation, the more I learn who He is to me- the more I learn His name. To me, calling upon His name is calling out with the knowledge of all He is. When I pray to Heavenly Father, and I pray by all that I know of His Son, my prayers gain more and more power.
I hope this helps. Brother D.
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OH! You’re right. I had the wrong Brother D.
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I was reading recently (I believe Bruce R. McKonkie) that Christ restored Adam’s original name of Michael to him, during the meeting at Adam-Ondi-Amon (D&C 170:53-56). When I read that, the thought came to me that Jesus Christ’s original name must also have been restored to Him when He finished His work here on earth, and He is no longer called by the name Jesus Christ, he is Jehovah.
As I understand the scripture, it does not say call upon Jesus Christ, it says call upon “the name” of Jesus Christ which is Jehovah.
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This is to Sharon based on her previous post about wishing there were a 12-step program for general membership. I always appreciate it when others share some of the other books and scriptures that they find meaningful, so I thought I’d share a wonderful book that adapts the 12-step program to everyday usage. AA may not realize it, but the 12-step program uses the process of the atonement to help us overcome and heal through Christ. This book is based on Book of Mormon scriptures, and is very powerful. We used it when one of my brothers was going through an addiction recovery program. If you substitute any natural man behavior for addiction the recovery process is the same. The book is He Did Deliver Me from Bondage by Colleen C. Harrison, published by Windhaven Publishing and Production. I hope this is helpful to someone even though I am posting this here more than a week after the original posting.
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Thanks Lisa! I will get the book.
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Hi John, Here is a scripture that I believe illustrates this doctrine:
2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.
Mosiah 4:2
I believe when King Benjamen’s people pray to Father in Heaven saying, “O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God…” in this they are calling upon the name of Christ. When we pray for the blessings of Christ’s atonement or express gratitude for such blessing then we are calling upon the name of Christ. I’m anxious to see what others here can add to my understanding.
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This seems to me also what this phrase means. I have been one of those who have taken part in the 12 Step Program for the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints for addiction recovery. What it really is,is the 12 Steps of the atonement. Wow! POWERFUL. For any one who has worked the 12 Steps they will know what I am talking about. This is where I have learned the MOST about the atonement and coming to Christ. This is also where I have come to learn what it means, for myself, to truly call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m sure that’s not all there is to this phrase, but grateful for the understanding that I have at this present time.
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There is an article in the January 2012 Ensign about the Church’s 12 Step Program and after I read it, I thought that it would be wonderful if the Church would institute a similar program for the general membership because in one way or another, we are all struggling to overcome an addiction to the “natural man” and would benefit from going through the steps.
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That’s always one that I pause on. You know the brother of Jared was chastened by the Lord for three hours because he ceased to call upon the name of the Lord, but it’s very unlike him to just stop praying, so there must be a deeper meaning to it. I imagine he may have gotten lax in pouring his heart out in prayer, but that’s not Moriancumr-like, either, is it? Jesus instructed us how to pray, and didn’t tell us to use the name of the Father, but we use His name in our sacrament prayers. Maybe there was an ordinance they weren’t performing as they should have been and Mohonri, as prophet, was the one who answered for it? I could speculate for quite some time on this one. I think the key is praying from the heart as directed by the Spirit, keeping in mind Who it is you are praying to.
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In Christ all things are possible! In his name we can create and perform miracles; and we do! “I am the light and the life of the world” By him and through him and in his name we are Co-creators with God. Now go create…… Health ~ Joy ~ Success ~ Loving Relationships ~ and much much more!
In the Name of Jesus Christ… AMEN!
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