In My Name
“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” - John 16:24
There is a term used throughout the scriptures that remains a mystery to man. The term is, “in the name of Jesus Christ.”
“Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it.” – Enos 1:5
“12. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
13. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” – John 14:12-13
Not understanding, some have supposed that by simply saying the words, “in the name of Jesus Christ” there is a magical power evoked such that a wicked person could gain God’s support while they enact their evil desires because they did it saying the words “in the name of Jesus Christ.”
This is not the case at all. The name of Christ is a phrase the indicates “with the consent of Christ”.
When we sign a contract, we sign our name making it binding on us. We make the contract in our name indicating that we have agreed to it.
To do something in Christ’s name, we need His signature or approval. Without his name on it, it will not be done.
The name of Christ is given through the witness of the Holy Ghost.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” - John 14:26
“28. And it shall come to pass that he that asketh in Spirit shall receive in Spirit;
…
30. He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh.
31. And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit;
32. And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.” - D&C 46:28, 29-32
God is not bound to do anything unless it is done in the name of His son which means by the power of the Holy Ghost. Men cannot bind God to anything that God has not agreed to. God agrees and signs His name by the witness of the Holy Ghost. That witness comes with the power to act for God, as God.
Some of the terms that indicate this same principle are:
- In my name
- By me
- By my word
- By my law
- Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise
Each of these terms indicates that the Holy Ghost which is the voice and word of the Lord has moved us to act for God, on God’s behalf or to more specifically to act in God’s name.
God’s house is a house of order. That order does not allow man to bind God to anything without God’s approval. Neither Priesthood nor position can bind God or heaven to something not sanctioned by God or else God’s house would be confusion and God would be bound to honor that which He did not decree or accept.
If we are not acting in God’s name, by the power of the Holy Ghost, then it will not be done.
“7. And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, …are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.
8. Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.
9. Will I accept of an offering, saith the Lord, that is not made in my name?
10. Or will I receive at your hands that which I have not appointed?
11. And will I appoint unto you, saith the Lord, except it be by law, even as I and my Father ordained unto you, before the world was?
12. I am the Lord thy God; and I give unto you this commandment—that no man shall come unto the Father but by me or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord.
13. And everything that is in the world, whether it be ordained of men, by thrones, or principalities, or powers, or things of name, whatsoever they may be, that are not by me or by my word, saith the Lord, shall be thrown down, and shall not remain after men are dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the Lord your God.
14. For whatsoever things remain are by me; and whatsoever things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed.” – D&C 132:7-14
Whatsoever you ask the Father, in the name of Christ, or with the power of the spirit of Christ, it shall be done even as you ask.
This sweeping promise applies to all who know how to ask in Christ’s name.