Friends of God

Christ has many names, names that He likes to share with us. He is the Savior because of the vicarious sacrifice He gave which we could not do ourselves; we become little saviors when we perform vicarious temple work for the dead who cannot do it themselves. He is the Creator of heaven and earth; we become creators as we build Zion in our homes and communities. These names are offered to us at the shores of baptism where we have an opportunity to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. 

But some of Christ's names are not used as often. One name in particular stood out to me as I studied the Old Testament story of David and Jonathan. These men were loyal friends. Jonathan even put himself in danger to defend David. As I thought about the depth of this friendship, Christ's words from John 15:13 came to mind: 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Though the word "friend" is not a formal name for Christ, it is an important part of His purpose in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. He laid down His life for His friends. Christ is a Friend, and this name is also one that He wants to share with us. After all, "friend" is typically a reciprocal name. Both parties share it.

In the October 1983 General Conference talk "Friend or Foe," Elder Charles Didier said "the covenant we made through baptism is a contract to become a friend of God." In other words, when we covenant to bear the name of Christ, one of the names we bear is Friend. Think about it: one of your friends is Deity! If you fulfill your contract by keeping your baptismal covenants, you have access to the most powerful ally and cheerleader and straight-talker and defender ever born. In fact, Christ is the best Friend forever.

Yet, His friendship is intended to be reciprocal. Not that we mere mortals can ever do as much for Him as He has done and is doing and will do for us, but we can still be a friend of God. The first step is to make and keep that baptismal covenant. Where David and Jonathan covenanted with one another, we covenant with Christ to speak often of Him and to speak well of Him. We covenant with Christ to bear His name and to bear His love to others. We covenant with Christ to make sacrifices of time, material, and talents so that others may discover beauty and light and hope in Him.

So speak up. Bear His name and His love. Sacrifice for and serve His children. Strong relationships involve a shared purpose. David and Jonathan shared a purpose. A husband and a wife are sealed together in a shared purpose. Likewise, Christ shares His purpose with us, to love and lift the vulnerable, the grief-stricken, the oppressed, the poor. Share that purpose with Him. Be a friend of God.

For the natural man is an enemy to God...unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him... (Mosiah 3:19)