Sharing Time:

Always Remember Jesus Christ

By Ann Jamison

They are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him (D&C 20:77).

What is your name? Everyone has at least one name, but can you imagine having two hundred names? In the scriptures, we can find two hundred different names for Jesus Christ. Each of them can help us to remember Him in special ways. Jesus Christ’s many names can help us to understand what He has done for us, and they will help us to always remember Him.

One name of Jesus Christ is the Creator. Under the direction of Heavenly Father, Jesus created our beautiful earth and all of the things in it. We can think of Him when we see a golden sunset, beautiful flowers, wide rivers, and tiny streams. We can think of Him when we hear birds singing or the wind whispering through the trees, when we touch a fuzzy caterpillar or pet our favorite kitten. We can remember that Jesus Christ created all of them for us to enjoy. (See Mosiah 3:8.)

Another of His names is the Good Shepherd. A shepherd watches over his sheep. He keeps them safe in a place where nothing can harm them. He takes them to pastures where there is good food and water. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice and follow him. A good shepherd would give his life to protect his sheep from danger; he leads them to safety. Jesus is the Good Shepherd because He watches over us and shows us the way to go. We hear His voice as we study His words in the scriptures and as we follow His chosen leaders. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has given His life for us, and He will lead us safely back to Heavenly Father. We are like His sheep when we listen to His voice, follow Him, and remember Him.

Jesus is also called the Bread of Life. After He had fed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fishes, the people followed Him for a while—for the wrong reason. They wanted Him to provide food for them again and again. Jesus told them that they should seek for spiritual food that would give them eternal life. He said that they should believe in Him and follow Him. “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life.” (See John 6:45–48.) When we partake of the sacrament, we can remember that Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life.

Jesus Himself said that He was the Light of the World and that “he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). When we see the sun rise each day to give light to our world, we can remember Jesus Christ’s shining example. He always chose the right. Jesus taught, “Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.” (3 Ne. 18:24.) When we follow the example of Jesus and choose the right, we are following His light and we remember Him.

Jesus is the Savior. Jesus loves us so much that He suffered and died for us. On the third day after His body was laid in the tomb, He arose—was resurrected. He said, “I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved” (3 Ne. 9:22). We come unto Him when we remember Him and keep His commandments. Because He made it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins and be resurrected and return to live with Heavenly Father, Jesus is our Savior (see D&C 43:34).

Instructions

Cut out the sacred names of Jesus Christ on page 36. Mount the remainder of the page on heavy paper. Cut out each picture. Glue the correct name beneath each picture. Punch out the holes where indicated. Using string or yarn, assemble the pictures to make a book to help you remember Him. This might be a fun activity to do with your family. Read and discuss the scripture references about each name. As you learn more of Jesus Christ’s names, you can make more pictures to add to your book.

Creator (Mosiah 3:8)	Vine (John 15:5)
Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 27)	Savior (D&C 43:34)
Bread of Life (John 6:47–48)	Rock (Hel. 5:12)
Light of the World (John 8:12)	Beloved Son (JS—H 1:17)

Sharing Time Ideas

(Note: CS = Children’s Songbook; GAK = Gospel Art Kit)

1. Using the Topical Guide, have the children look up some of the names of Jesus. Each class could be assigned a different name (“Jesus Christ, Savior”; “Jesus Christ, King”; “Jesus Christ, Exemplar”; etc.). Have each class member find a different scripture under their topic and read it to the other class members, then discuss as a class what these scriptures reveal about the other names of Jesus Christ. Then have each class report and explain why Jesus Christ is called by that name and how that name can help them remember Him and keep His commandments.

2. Sing songs about Jesus Christ and ask the children to listen for other names He has in each one. List the names they identify on a chalkboard. Possible songs from the CS: “Sleep, Little Jesus,” p. 47 (Lord, Savior, King); “Little Lambs So White and Fair,” p. 58 (Shepherd); “Jesus Is Our Loving Friend,” p. 58 (Loving Friend); “Beautiful Savior,” pp. 62–63 (Savior, Lord, Son of God, Son of Man); “He Died That We Might Live Again,” p. 65 (Lord, Redeemer, Savior, King); “Hosanna,” pp. 66–67 (King); “Easter Hosanna,” pp. 68–69 (Lord, Most High God, Savior, King); “This Is My Beloved Son,” p. 76 (Beloved Son, Savior, Holy One). Use pictures from the GAK to illustrate each song. Give the children a list of the songs to take home so that they can share this activity with their families.

3. Copy the letter square in the middle of the page for each child, or write the letters on the chalkboard. Have the children find as many of the names of Jesus Christ as they can by reading forward, backward, down, up, and diagonally. (There are 21 names: Bread [of Life], Christ, Creator, Deliverer, Exemplar, Firstborn, Good Shepherd, Holy One, Jehovah, Jesus, Judge, King, Lamb, Light, Mediator, Messiah, Redeemer, Rock, Savior, Son, Word [John 1:1, 14]). Then, using the Topical Guide, help them locate a scriptural reference for each name. If names are not listed under the word itself, look under “Jesus Christ” and the word. Have them also find two more names of Jesus and an important warning in D&C 63:60–62. Sing “Sacred Names of Jesus” (Friend, Apr. 1998, p. 35). The younger children could learn and sing the first verse; the older children, the second verse.

R	A	L	P	M	E	X	E	T	K	H	C
L	S	A	V	I	O	R	F	F	C	M	R
P	D	J	E	S	U	S	I	F	O	O	E
M	N	E	P	S	W	O	R	D	R	Q	A
E	S	H	L	K	C	N	S	L	E	J	T
S	S	O	K	I	N	G	T	I	D	U	O
S	T	V	N	R	V	R	B	G	E	D	R
I	L	A	M	B	N	E	O	H	E	G	B
A	C	H	R	I	S	T	R	T	M	E	R
H	O	L	Y	O	N	E	N	E	E	M	E
W	C	M	E	D	I	A	T	O	R	J	A
G	O	O	D	S	H	E	P	H	E	R	D

4. For younger children: Talk about their names. Perhaps some parents could be asked to share how their child’s name was chosen. Is it a family name? Does it have a special meaning? Tell the children that Jesus Christ has many names, and these names will help us to remember Him and to understand what He has done for all of us. Show pictures from the GAK or other Church resources (such as p. 36 of this issue of the Friend) that illustrate His names. Possibilities: The Good Shepherd (Friend, Apr. 1998, p. 34), The Babe of Bethlehem (GAK #201), Beloved Son (GAK #403), The Teacher (GAK #212 or #219), The Healer (GAK #213 or #215). Talk with the children about each picture. Sing songs that illustrate each one (see Idea #2; also “As Though I Had Been There” [Teacher], Friend, May 1998, p. 12, and “When I Hear the Scriptures” [Healer], Friend, Jan. 1998, pp. 34–35).

5. Additional Friend resources: “The Sacred Names of Jesus,” Apr. 1998, p. 35; “I Just Remember Jesus,” Apr. 1995, p. 19; “Lizzie Remembers Jesus,” Apr. 1995, pp. 30–31; and “A Name to Live Up To,” Apr. 1988, pp. 2–4. See also “I Am He,” Ensign, Apr. 1999, pp. 6–12; “The Third Commandment,” Ensign, Apr. 1999, pp. 13–15; and “Always Remember Him,” Ensign, May 1995, pp. 25–26.