The Saints become the sons and daughters of Christ through faith—They are then called by the name of Christ—King Benjamin exhorts them to be steadfast and immovable in good works.
📜 7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
📜 8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.
📜 9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.
📜 10 And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God.
We need baptism and the Church because Mosiah 5:7–10 teaches that covenant belonging, a new identity, and enduring discipleship only happen when we enter Christ’s family and remain under His name together. These verses answer our question directly when we read them as a covenant people walking the same path.
🕊️ 1. We Are Spiritually Begotten Through
Covenant (Mosiah 5:7)
King Benjamin says “this day he hath spiritually begotten you.”
That means:
▪︎ We are not just believers—we become
His sons and daughters.
▪︎ That new birth happens because of the
covenant we make.
▪︎ Baptism is the doorway into that
covenant, the moment we step into
Christ’s family.
Why baptism?
Because without entering the covenant, we remain outside the relationship Mosiah 5 describes. Baptism is how we say, “We belong to Christ, and He may remake us.”
What Mosiah 5:7 Is Claiming About Us
“Because of the covenant which we have made we shall be called the children of Christ.”
This is not a metaphor.
It is a status, a relationship, and a rebirth that only comes through covenant.
Baptism and church matter because they are the way we enter and remain in this relationship.
The cross‑references you chose show that scripture speaks with one voice on this point.
We Become Children Because Our Sins Are Forgiven
📜 12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
John writes:
▪︎ We are called “little children” because
our sins are forgiven through Christ’s
name.
▪︎ Forgiveness is not abstract; it is
covenantal.
▪︎ Baptism is the moment we enter the
forgiveness Christ offers.
▪︎ Church is where we continually receive
cleansing and renewal through
sacrament and repentance.
Why baptism and church?
Because forgiveness is not a feeling—it is a covenant gift, and we stay in that gift together.
We Become His Children Through His Atonement
📜 2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son—
Abinadi teaches that Christ becomes the Father of our salvation because:
▪︎ He takes upon Himself flesh.
▪︎ He redeems us.
▪︎ He spiritually begets us through His
sacrifice.
This is the same language as Mosiah 5:7.
We become His children because He paid the price to claim us.
Why baptism and church?
Because baptism is how we accept His redemption, and church is how we live under the redemption He offers.
We Must Be “Born Again” to Become His Children
📜 24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.
🗝 25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
📜 26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
Alma’s conversion clarifies the process:
▪︎ We must be “born of God.”
▪︎ Our hearts must be changed.
▪︎ We become “new creatures.”
▪︎ This rebirth is tied to repentance,
covenant, and the Holy Ghost.
This is Mosiah 5:7 in narrative form:
Christ spiritually begets us when we enter His covenant and receive His Spirit.
Why baptism and church?
Because baptism is the gate to being born again, and church is where the Spirit continues to change us.
Baptism Is the Moment God Calls Us His Children
📜 66 And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with fire, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the record of the Father, and the Son, from henceforth and forever;
📜 67 And thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.
🗝 68 Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen.
Adam is taught:
▪︎ Baptism by water.
▪︎ Baptism by the Spirit.
▪︎ Being “born again into the kingdom of
heaven.”
▪︎ Being called a “son of God” because of
the ordinance.
This is the clearest parallel to Mosiah 5:7:
Through baptism and the Spirit, God names us His sons and daughters.
Why baptism and church?
Because baptism is the moment God places His name upon us, and church is where we keep that name alive.
What All These Scriptures Say Together
Across the Old Testament, New Testament, The Book of Mormon, and Pearl of Great Price, the pattern is the same:
▪︎ We become children of Christ through
covenant.
▪︎ Covenant begins at baptism.
▪︎ Covenant is sustained in the Church.
▪︎ The Spirit seals the identity in us.
▪︎ Without covenant, we remain spiritually
unclaimed.
Baptism gives us the name.
Church keeps us in the name.
The Spirit writes the name on our hearts.
A Simple, Devotional Synthesis for Us
When Mosiah 5:7 calls us “children of Christ,” it is telling us:
▪︎ We need baptism because we cannot
become His children without entering His
covenant.
▪︎ We need church because children grow in a
family, not alone.
▪︎ We need the Spirit because only He can
change our hearts into something new.
▪︎ We need the covenant community because
identity is sustained together.
We get baptized and go to church because we want to belong to Christ—not just believe in Him, but belong to Him.
We stay with the same slow, devotional pace. Here we take the next phrase of Mosiah 5:7:
“…for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name…”
One scripture from each volume—Old Testament, New Testament, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price—chosen from the long list topical guide section "Sanctification, Sanctify"—but only the most poignant and fitting for this exact phrase: hearts changed through faith on His name.
Each scripture below answers three things:
1. Why we need baptism and church
2. The principle behind “changed hearts”
3. The meaning for us as a covenant people
Ezekiel 36:23 — “I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”
Why this verse:
It is the clearest Old Testament declaration that God intends to sanctify us from the inside out, and that this sanctification is meant to be visible—a changed heart that others can see.
Why baptism and church:
Because sanctification is not private. God changes us in community, in covenant, in a gathered people. Baptism brings us into that people; church life is where the change becomes visible “before their eyes.”
Principle:
Sanctification is God’s work in us, not our self‑improvement.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because we cannot sanctify ourselves. We need God to do it, and He does it in His covenant family.
John 17:17 — “Sanctify them through thy truth.”
Why this verse:
Jesus Himself prays that we be sanctified—changed—through truth. This is the heart of Mosiah 5:7: faith in His name opens us to truth that transforms us.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is our entrance into the truth of Christ’s covenant. Church is where we are continually washed in truth—scripture, sacrament, teaching, correction, fellowship.
Principle:
Truth is not information; it is a sanctifying power.
Meaning for us:
Our hearts change because we place ourselves where truth can reach us—under covenant, in Christ’s body.
Helaman 3:35 — “Sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.”
Why this verse:
It is the most direct Book of Mormon explanation of how hearts change: we yield, and God sanctifies.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is the first yielding.
Church is the continual yielding.
Both place us in the posture where God can change us.
Principle:
Sanctification is the fruit of surrender.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because our hearts do not change by force—they change by yielding, and yielding happens in covenantal worship, repentance, and community.
D&C 84:23 — “Sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God.”
Why this verse:
It reveals the purpose of sanctification: to prepare us to stand in God’s presence. This is the ultimate meaning of “hearts changed through faith on His name.”
Why baptism and church:
Baptism begins the sanctifying process.
Church sustains it.
Both prepare us for the presence of God.
Principle:
Sanctification is preparation for divine encounter.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because God is preparing us for something far greater than moral improvement—He is preparing us to behold Him.
Moses 6:60 — “By the blood ye are sanctified.”
Why this verse:
It ties sanctification directly to Christ’s atoning blood—the very power behind “faith on His name.”
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is where His blood is applied to us.
Church is where His blood continues to cleanse us through sacrament and the Spirit.
Principle:
Sanctification is always Christ’s work, never ours.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because sanctification is not a human achievement—it is a gift of Christ’s blood, received through covenant and renewed in worship.
🕊️ Bringing It All Together
Mosiah 5:7 says our hearts are changed through faith on His name.
These five scriptures show us how and why:
▪︎ God sanctifies us in community
▪︎ Truth sanctifies us (John 17:17)
▪︎ Yielding sanctifies us (Helaman 3:35)
▪︎ Sanctification prepares us for God’s
presence (D&C 84:23)
▪︎ Christ’s blood sanctifies us (Moses 6:60)
Why do we need baptism and church?
Because baptism is where sanctification begins, and church is where sanctification continues.
Because our hearts cannot change without Christ, and Christ changes hearts through covenant, Spirit, truth, and community.
We stay with the same slow, reverent pace.
This section of Mosiah 5:7 turns on one word:
“…ye are born of him…”
This is not poetic language. It is covenantal identity.
LDS doctrine asks of born for:
▪︎ John 1:12–13 and Mosiah 15:10 as the
introduction
▪︎ Then from the topical guide I'm picking
five scriptures—one from each volume—
chosen from Man, New, Spiritually Reborn
▪︎ Each with why, principle, and meaning
▪︎ All answering the question: Why do we
need to get baptized and go to church?
We’ll move through this like a liturgy: identity ➡️ rebirth ➡️ covenant ➡️ discipleship.
Born of Him: The Scriptural Foundation
📜 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
🗝 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
“As many as received him… were born… of God.”
John teaches that becoming God’s children is not biological, cultural, or inherited.
It is a birth that comes from receiving Christ—a covenantal act of faith.
Why it matters for Mosiah 5:7:
Mosiah says we are “born of Him” because of the covenant we have made.
John says we are “born of God” because we receive Christ.
These are the same event: covenant reception of Christ creates new birth.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is how we receive Christ.
Church is how we remain in Him.
📜10 And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?
“Whosoever has heard the words of the prophets… and believed… these are his seed.”
Abinadi teaches that Christ’s “seed”—His children—are those who:
▪︎ Hear His word
▪︎ Believe His redemption
▪︎ Enter His covenant
This is Mosiah 5:7 in doctrinal form:
We become His children by covenantal faith in His atonement.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is where we become His seed.
Church is where His seed grows, nourished by His Spirit and His body.
Born of Him: Man, New, Spiritually Reborn
Now we choose the most poignant and fitting scriptures from the list—one from each book—each illuminating what it means to be “born of Him.”
Ezekiel 36:26 (18:31) — “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.”
Why this verse:
It is the clearest Old Testament prophecy of spiritual rebirth.
God Himself gives the new heart; we do not manufacture it.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is where God begins this work.
Church is where He continues it through the Spirit, sacrament, and community.
Principle:
Rebirth is God’s act of replacing the old heart with a new one.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because only God can give us a new heart—and He does it in covenant.
John 3:3 — “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Why this verse:
Jesus Himself declares that rebirth is not optional.
It is the condition for seeing and entering God’s kingdom.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is the gate of being “born of water and of the Spirit.”
Church is the life of the kingdom we are born into.
Principle:
Rebirth is the doorway to spiritual sight.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because without rebirth, we cannot perceive or participate in God’s kingdom.
Mosiah 27:25 — “All mankind… must be born again; yea, born of God.”
Why this verse:
It is the most direct Book of Mormon statement on rebirth.
It ties rebirth to repentance, covenant, and the Spirit.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is the covenantal moment of being “born of God.”
Church is where the Spirit continues the transformation.
Principle:
Rebirth is universal—no one is exempt.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because rebirth is not for the spiritually elite; it is for all of us.
D&C 5:16 — “They shall be born of me, even of water and of the Spirit.”
Why this verse:
It explicitly links rebirth to the two baptisms: water and Spirit.
This is Mosiah 5:7 in restored‑gospel clarity.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism by water is the covenant.
Baptism by the Spirit is the change.
Church is where both are renewed and deepened.
Principle:
Rebirth requires both ordinances.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because rebirth is not symbolic—it is sacramental.
Moses 6:59 — “Ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven.”
Why this verse:
It ties rebirth to entering the kingdom—echoing John 3—and shows that Adam’s baptism was the pattern for all.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is the birth into the kingdom.
Church is the life of the kingdom.
Principle:
Rebirth is entrance into a new realm of belonging.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because rebirth is not just personal renewal—it is adoption into God’s kingdom family.
Bringing It All Together: Why We Need Baptism and Church
Mosiah 5:7 says:
“…ye are born of Him…”
These scriptures reveal what that means:
▪︎ God gives us a new heart
▪︎ We must be born again to see the kingdom
(John 3:3)
▪︎ All must be born of God
▪︎ Rebirth comes by water and Spirit
(D&C 5:16)
▪︎ Rebirth is entrance into the kingdom
Why baptism?
Because baptism is the moment we are born of water and enter the covenant.
Why church?
Because church is the household where the newly born grow, are nourished, and remain in the kingdom.
Principle:
Rebirth is covenantal, sacramental, and communal.
Meaning:
We need baptism and church because being “born of Him” is not a feeling—it is a covenant identity formed by Christ, sealed by the Spirit, and sustained in His body.
We can hold this excerpt very tight and very focused—Matthew 12:49–50, D&C 11:30, and Mosiah 5:7, all answering the single question:
Why do we need to get baptized and go to church?
Becoming His Sons and Daughters
Mosiah 5:7 declares that through the covenant we “have become his sons and his daughters.”
This is not symbolic language. It is covenant identity—belonging, adoption, and family.
Baptism is the moment we enter that covenant.
Church is the household where that covenant identity is lived, nourished, and kept.
Matthew 12 and D&C 11 show us exactly how this works.
Jesus Redefines Family Around Covenant Obedience
📜 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
📜 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Jesus stretches out His hand toward His disciples and says:
“Behold my mother and my brethren...
whosoever shall do the will of my Father… the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
In other words:
▪︎ Family is not biological.
▪︎ Family is covenantal.
▪︎ Family is formed by doing the Father’s
will.
This is the same truth Mosiah 5:7 teaches:
We become His sons and daughters when we enter His covenant and live His will.
Why baptism?
Because baptism is the act of stepping into the Father’s will and receiving Christ’s name.
Why church?
Because church is where we learn, practice, and persevere in the Father’s will together—where we actually live as Christ’s brothers and sisters.
The Father’s Kingdom Is a Family
📜 30 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name. Amen.
"As many as receive me... I will give power to... the sons of God... them that believe on my name."
This reveals the goal of covenant identity:
▪︎ Come unto Christ
▪︎ Receive power through covenant baptism
▪︎ Fellowship in His name and no other in
church
This is Mosiah 5:7 in eternal perspective:
Becoming His sons and daughters is preparation for living in the Father’s kingdom.
Why baptism?
Because baptism is the doorway into the Father’s family.
Why church?
Because church is the training ground of the Father’s kingdom—where sons and daughters learn to live the life of the family they have joined.
Bringing It Together
Mosiah 5:7 says we “have become His sons and His daughters.”
Matthew 12 shows that Christ’s family is made of those who do the Father’s will.
D&C 11 shows that the Father’s kingdom is a family we are meant to join.
Baptism is how we enter that family.
Church is how we remain in that family and grow into our identity.
We need baptism and church because:
▪︎ We cannot become His children without
entering His covenant.
▪︎ We cannot remain His children without
living in His household.
▪︎ We cannot learn the Father’s will alone.
▪︎ We cannot grow into sons and
daughters outside the family Christ
gathers.
This phrase—His sons and His daughters—is the heart of the covenant.
It is why we come to the water.
It is why we gather at the table.
Children of the Covenant, Born Into His Family Mosiah 5:7 — Closing Summary
Mosiah 5:7 gathers four covenant words—children, changed, born, and spiritually begotten(sons and daughters)—and binds them into a single identity. Each word answers the question Why do we need to get baptized and go to church? by showing what covenant belonging actually does to us.
Children means we are not merely believers—we enter Christ’s family. Matthew 12:49–50 shows that His family is made of those who do the Father’s will, and baptism is how we step into that will. Church is where we learn to live it together.
Changed means our hearts are reshaped by Christ’s truth, His Spirit, His blood, and His community. Baptism begins that sanctifying work; church sustains it through worship, repentance, and covenant fellowship.
Born means we receive a new identity, a new heart, and a new life. John 1:12–13 and Mosiah 15:10 show that this birth comes through receiving Christ and entering His covenant. Baptism is the birth; church is the household where the newly born grow.
Spiritually begotten (sons & daughters) means Christ claims us as His own through covenant, not sentiment. Baptism is the moment we step into that relationship, and church is where that relationship is nourished and kept alive.
Taken together, Mosiah 5:7 teaches that baptism is how we enter Christ’s covenant family, and church is how we remain in it, grow in it, and become like Him within it. We need both because covenant identity is not a moment—it is a life.
✚ 2. Taking His Name: Why Church Matters (Mosiah 5:8)
Let's break this scripture verse down, except by excerpt, one cross-reference word and phrase at a time.
“under this head ye are made free.”
Mosiah 5:8 teaches that when we take upon us the name of Christ, “under this head ye are made free.”
The cross‑reference word is free, and the scriptures selected—Romans 6:18 (14-22); 1 Corinthians 7:22; Galatians 5:1; D&C 88:86—show how covenant freedom works and why baptism and church are essential to it.
This freedom is not independence. It is not self‑rule. It is not doing whatever we want.
It is the freedom that comes only when we come under Christ, under His name, under His covenant, under His headship.
📜 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
📜 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
📜 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
📜 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
🗝 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
📜 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
📜 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
📜 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
📜 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Why this matters for Mosiah 5:8:
Paul teaches that freedom in Christ is not freedom from all masters—it is freedom from sin so we can serve righteousness. Mosiah says we are made free under Christ’s head, meaning His rule liberates us from every other rule.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism breaks the old allegiance and binds us to Christ.
Church is where we learn to live as servants of righteousness instead of servants of sin.
Principle:
Freedom in Christ is an exchange of masters—sin loses its claim, Christ becomes our head.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because freedom is not self‑made; it is covenantal liberation into a new way of living.
📜 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
“He that is called in the Lord… is the Lord’s freeman.”
Why this matters for Mosiah 5:8:
Paul says that when we are “called in the Lord,” we become the Lord’s freemen—people liberated by belonging to Him. Mosiah teaches the same: under His head we are made free.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is the calling into the Lord’s household.
Church is where we live as His freemen—people who belong to Christ and therefore are not owned by anything else.
Principle:
True freedom is belonging to the right Master.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because freedom is found in covenant belonging, not in isolation.
📜 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
“Stand fast… in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.”
Why this matters for Mosiah 5:8:
Paul warns that freedom must be maintained. Christ makes us free, but we must “stand fast” in that liberty. Mosiah says the same: we must be “obedient unto the end” to remain under Christ’s freeing headship.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism begins liberty.
Church sustains liberty—through sacrament, repentance, teaching, and community.
Principle:
Freedom in Christ is a covenant path, not a moment.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because freedom fades when we walk alone; it endures when we walk with Christ’s people.
📜 86 Abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free; entangle not yourselves in sin, but let your hands be clean, until the Lord comes.
“Abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free.”
Why this matters for Mosiah 5:8:
The Lord commands us to abide—to remain, to dwell, to stay—in the liberty He gives. Mosiah teaches that this abiding happens “under this head,” meaning under Christ’s name and covenant.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism places us in Christ’s liberty.
Church is where we abide in it—where we stay under His headship and keep His name alive in us.
Principle:
Freedom must be abided in; it is sustained through covenant faithfulness.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because liberty in Christ is not self‑sustaining; it is renewed in covenant worship and discipleship.
A Single, Clear Synthesis
Mosiah 5:8 teaches that freedom comes only under Christ’s head.
Romans says we are freed from sin.
Corinthians says we become the Lord’s freemen.
Galatians says we must stand fast in liberty.
D&C says we must abide in it.
Why baptism?
Because baptism is how we come under Christ’s head—how we enter the covenant that frees us.
Why church?
Because church is where we remain under His head—where freedom is renewed, strengthened, and lived.
Principle:
Freedom in Christ is covenantal, relational, and sustained in community.
Meaning:
We need baptism and church because true freedom is not the absence of a master—it is belonging to the One whose rule liberates us from every other chain.
“No other head...”
Mosiah 5:8 teaches that “there is no other head whereby ye can be made free.”
The cross‑reference word is no, and the scriptures selected—Acts 4:12; Mosiah 4:8; Alma 21:9—all testify that salvation, freedom, and covenant belonging come through one name, one Lord, one head: Jesus Christ.
This excerpt answers the question Why do we need to get baptized and go to church? by showing that covenant life has only one source, one authority, and one power that can save us.
📜 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
“Neither is there salvation in any other… there is none other name under heaven… whereby we must be saved.”
Why this matters for Mosiah 5:8:
Peter declares that salvation is exclusive to Christ. There is no other name, no other source, no other spiritual authority that can redeem, cleanse, or transform us. Mosiah echoes this: there is no other head that can make us free.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is how we formally take upon us the only name that saves.
Church is where we renew that name weekly and remain under the only head who can free us.
Principle:
Salvation is not found in many paths—it is found in one covenant with one Christ.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because only Christ’s name has saving power, and only His covenant people live under that saving headship.
📜 8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.
“There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh.”
Why this matters for Mosiah 5:8:
King Benjamin reinforces the same truth: salvation is tied to Christ’s name alone. Mosiah 5:8 builds on this by teaching that freedom is tied to Christ’s headship alone. The two passages form a single doctrine: no other name, no other head, no other salvation.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is the covenant act of taking His name.
Church is the covenant life of keeping His name.
Principle:
Covenant identity is exclusive—Christ alone saves, so Christ alone claims us.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because salvation is not generic; it is covenantal, and the covenant is tied to one name.
📜 9 Now Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood.
“There is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ.”
Why this matters for Mosiah 5:8:
Ammon teaches that salvation is not only tied to Christ’s name—it is tied to Christ’s way. There is no other way, no other means, no other path. Mosiah says there is no other head. Together they teach that salvation is not only about believing in Christ—it is about coming under His covenant rule.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is how we enter Christ’s way.
Church is how we stay in Christ’s way.
Principle:
The covenant path is singular because the Savior is singular.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because salvation is not found by wandering; it is found by walking the one path Christ has established.
A Single, Clear Synthesis
Mosiah 5:8 teaches that there is no other head who can free us.
Acts says no other name can save us.
Mosiah 4 says no other name brings salvation.
Alma says no other way or means exists.
Together they form one doctrine:
Christ alone saves.
Christ alone frees.
Christ alone leads.
Christ alone covenants.
Why baptism?
Because baptism is how we come under the only head who can save us.
Why church?
Because church is where we remain under that head—renewing His name, walking His way, and living in the freedom He gives.
Principle:
Covenant loyalty to Christ is exclusive because His saving power is exclusive.
Meaning:
We need baptism and church because there is no other head, no other name, and no other way that leads to salvation, freedom, and eternal life.
“no other name given...”
Mosiah 5:8 teaches that “there is no other name given whereby salvation cometh.”
The cross‑reference word is name, and the three scriptures selected are—Galatians 3:27; Mosiah 1:11; Mosiah 26:18—show how covenant identity is tied to Christ’s name alone. Together they answer the question Why do we need to get baptized and go to church? by showing that salvation, belonging, and identity come only through taking and keeping His name.
📜 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
“As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Why this matters for Mosiah 5:8:
Paul teaches that baptism is the moment we “put on” Christ—His name, His identity, His covering. Mosiah teaches that salvation comes only through His name. These two truths meet in baptism: we take His name upon us because there is no other name that saves.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is where we put on Christ’s name. Church is where we keep wearing it—through sacrament, repentance, worship, and discipleship.
Principle:
To take Christ’s name is to take His identity as our own.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because salvation is tied to Christ’s name, and His name is taken and kept through covenant life.
📜 11 And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord.
“I shall give this people a name… that never shall be blotted out, except it be through transgression.”
Why this matters for Mosiah 5:8:
King Benjamin teaches that God gives His people a covenant name—a name meant to endure. Mosiah 5:8 explains that this name is Christ’s name, and that salvation comes only through it. The warning is clear: the name can be lost only through covenant abandonment.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is where God gives us the name.
Church is where we keep the name from being “blotted out.”
Principle:
Covenant names are gifts from God, but they must be preserved through faithfulness.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because identity in Christ is not self‑maintaining; it is renewed and protected in the covenant community.
📜 18 Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in my name shall they be called; and they are mine.
"Blessed is... people who... bear my name... they are mine."
Why this matters for Mosiah 5:8:
Christ Himself declares that those who enter His covenant are called by His name—His sons and daughters. Mosiah 5:8 ties salvation to this name. To be called by Christ’s name is to belong to Him, to be claimed by Him, and to be redeemed by Him.
Why baptism and church:
Baptism is where we are named His children.
Church is where we live as His children—together, under His care and His commandments.
Principle:
Christ’s name is not a label; it is a relationship.
Meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because becoming His sons and daughters requires entering and remaining in His covenant family.
A Single, Clear Synthesis
Mosiah 5:8 teaches that salvation comes only through Christ’s name.
Galatians says we “put on” that name at baptism.
Mosiah 1 says God gives us that name as a covenant gift.
Mosiah 26 says that name makes us His children.
Why baptism?
Because baptism is the moment we take Christ’s name upon us—the only name that saves.
Why church?
Because church is where we keep, renew, and live that name as a covenant family.
Principle:
Christ’s name is the covenant identity that saves, and it is taken and kept through covenant life.
Meaning:
We need baptism and church because there is no other name, no other identity, and no other covenant that brings salvation, belonging, and eternal life.
“take upon you the name of Christ"
Mosiah 5:8 teaches that “take upon you the name of Christ… be obedient unto the end.”
This is covenant identity. It answers the “Why church?” question by showing that taking His name is not a moment—it is a life.
▪︎ We take His name at baptism.
▪︎ We keep His name through worship,
sacrament, repentance, and
discipleship.
▪︎ Church is where we renew the covenant
weekly and stay aligned with Him.
Two cross‑reference scriptures deepen this truth.
📜 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
“The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
Why this matters:
The very first Christians were identified by their gathering, their discipleship, and their shared covenant life. They did not carry Christ’s name in isolation; they carried it together as a community shaped by His teachings.
Why church:
Because the name Christian is lived in a body, not alone.
Church is where we learn Christ’s way, practice His teachings, and become recognizable as His people.
Principle:
Taking His name is a communal identity, not a private label.
Meaning for us:
We need church because the world sees Christ’s name on us most clearly when we live it together.
📜 15 And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
“They were called Christians… because of their belief in Christ.”
Why this matters:
Alma’s people were called Christians because they entered a covenant to follow Christ with full purpose of heart. Their identity was rooted in belief expressed through covenant loyalty.
Why church:
Because covenant loyalty is strengthened, remembered, and renewed in the gathered body of Christ.
Church is where belief becomes discipleship, and discipleship becomes identity.
Principle:
We keep Christ’s name by living the covenant we made with Him.
Meaning for us:
We need church because belief matures into identity only when we walk the covenant path with others who carry the same name.
Why Church? A Single, Clear Answer
Covenant identity is not a one‑time moment—it is a life we maintain together.
Baptism places Christ’s name upon us.
Church keeps that name alive in us.
In Acts, disciples became Christians by gathering and living Christ’s teachings.
In Alma, believers became Christians by covenant loyalty.
In Mosiah, we take His name and remain obedient to the end.
Church is where we remember who we are and whose name we carry.
🛡️ 3. We Are Known and Claimed by Christ
Mosiah 5:9 promises that those who keep the covenant “shall be found at the right hand of God… he shall know the name by which he is called.”
This is covenant identity at its most intimate. Christ knows us—not generally, but personally—because we have entered His covenant and taken His name upon us.
▪︎ Christ recognizes us because we have
yoked ourselves to Him through
covenant.
▪︎ We stand at His right hand because we
remained faithful to the path we
entered.
▪︎ Church life keeps us nourished,
corrected, and strengthened so we can
endure in that covenant and remain
under His care.
"The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah."
Elder David A. Bednar taught in “Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease” (April 2021) that Christ’s yoke—His doctrine, His covenants, His ordinances, His church—is what binds us to Him in a deeply personal way. When we take His yoke upon us, we are not merely following Him; we are connected to Him, strengthened by Him, and known by Him. His yoke is the covenant relationship that enables Him to say, “You are mine.”
This is exactly what Mosiah 5:9 describes: we are known and claimed by Christ because we have taken His name and remained in His covenant.
Why both baptism and church?
Because baptism begins the covenant that binds us to Christ, and church life sustains that covenant—week after week—until the day He can look upon us with perfect recognition and say: “I know you—you are mine.”
⚠️ 4. Without the Covenant, We Are Called by “Some Other Name ...”
Mosiah 5:10 warns that if we do not take upon us the name of Christ, we will be known by “some other name.”
This is the sobering half of covenant identity. Scripture is clear: identity is never neutral. If we do not belong to Christ, we inevitably belong to something else.
▪︎ If we do not take Christ’s name,
we inevitably take another.
▪︎ Identity is always being shaped—by
Christ or by the world.
▪︎ Without covenant belonging, we drift
into “some other name,” some other
loyalty, some other master.
📜 38 Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.
🗝 39 And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil.
📜 40 For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil.
📜 41 Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him.
📜 42 And whosoever doeth this must receive his wages of him; therefore, for his wages he receiveth death, as to things pertaining unto righteousness, being dead unto all good works.
📜 43 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should hear me, for I speak in the energy of my soul; for behold, I have spoken unto you plainly that ye cannot err, or have spoken according to the commandments of God.
“If ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye?… The devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold.”
There are only two spiritual identities—Christ’s fold or another fold. There is no middle ground, no spiritual anonymity, no neutral name.
Alma’s question is Mosiah’s warning:
If we do not take Christ’s name, we will be known by another.
Mosiah 5:10 continues with the consequence:
“…he findeth himself on the left hand of God.”
The cross‑reference word is left, and Jesus uses the same imagery in:
📜 33 He shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
To be on the left is to stand outside the covenant, outside the Shepherd’s fold, outside the name that saves.
It is not punishment—it is the natural result of refusing the only name and the only Shepherd who can claim us.
Why baptism and church?:
Because baptism anchors us to Christ’s name, and church life keeps us in His fold. Without these covenant ties, we are spiritually unclaimed—left to be shaped by sin, pride, the world, or our own wandering hearts.
Baptism places us at His right hand; church keeps us there.
The principle:
Covenant identity is exclusive.
We cannot belong to Christ accidentally. We take His name intentionally through covenant, and we keep His name through discipleship in His church.
Without that covenant, we drift—into other names, other loyalties, other masters, and ultimately to the left hand of God.
The meaning for us:
We need baptism and church because they bind us to Christ so we are not claimed by anything lesser.
They keep us in His fold, under His care, and known by His name—so that when He calls His people, we are not found standing under “some other name,” nor on the left hand, but firmly at His right.
Called by His Name or “Some Other Name”
Mosiah 5:10 draws a clear line: if we do not take Christ’s name, we will be known by another. Alma 5:39 echoes the same truth—every soul belongs to a shepherd, either the Good Shepherd or another. And Mosiah adds the sobering outcome: those who reject Christ’s name “find themselves on the left hand of God,” matching the Savior’s own words in Matthew 25:33.
Covenant identity is never neutral. We are always being shaped, claimed, and guided by something—Christ or the world, the Shepherd or another master. Baptism anchors us to Christ’s name; church life keeps us in His fold. Without these covenant ties, we drift into other names, other loyalties, and ultimately toward the left hand rather than the right.
We need baptism and church because they bind us to Christ, keep us under His care, and ensure that when He gathers His people, we are found standing at His right hand—known by His name, claimed as His own.
🌿 Summary: Why We Need Baptism and
Church (From Mosiah 5:7–10)
Baptism
▪︎ Brings us into Christ’s family
▪︎ Gives us a new spiritual identity
▪︎ Places His name upon us
▪︎ Begins our covenant life
Church
▪︎ Nourishes and renews that covenant
▪︎ Keeps us under His name
▪︎ Strengthens us to endure to the end
▪︎ Forms us into a people, not isolated
individuals
Together, baptism and church answer the deepest human need: to belong to Christ, to be changed by Him, and to remain His.
Children of Christ Through Covenant
I testify that the doctrine in Mosiah 5 is true: through covenant, Christ makes us His sons and daughters. He gives us a new name, a new heart, and a new identity. Baptism is the doorway into that covenant, and the Church is the household where that identity is nourished, corrected, and sustained. I know that when we take His name upon us and remain faithful to it, He knows us, claims us, and stands with us. He frees us from every lesser master and gathers us to His right hand. I know that no other name saves, no other head frees, and no other path leads home but the covenant path marked by His name. Amen.
Covenant Belonging: Why Baptism and Church Matter
Mosiah 5:7–10 answers the question Why do I need to get baptized and go to church? with clarity and power. Baptism is where we enter Christ’s family; church is where we remain in it. Baptism gives us His name; church keeps that name alive in us. Baptism begins our freedom; church preserves it. Baptism starts our transformation; church deepens it. Without covenant belonging, we drift into “some other name,” some other fold, some other loyalty. With covenant belonging, we are spiritually begotten, changed, born again, made free, known, and claimed by Christ. This chapter is not merely doctrine—it is identity, destiny, and discipleship.
The Name We Take, the Path We Walk
Mosiah 5 teaches that covenant belonging is the heart of discipleship. We become Christ’s sons and daughters through covenant, we are changed through His name, we are born of Him through water and Spirit, we are made free under His head, and we are known and claimed by Him as we endure. Baptism is how we enter this covenant family; church is how we remain in it and grow into the name we have taken. Without the covenant, we drift into “some other name” and toward the left hand of God. With the covenant, we stand at His right hand, recognized, redeemed, and remembered. This is why we come to the water. This is why we gather at the table.
Wealth Won't Save Your Soul
By Hank Williams
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