Draft of my church talk

Good morning brothers and sisters,

My name is amy redmond, I'm 16, and I've recently moved into this ward a month ago from New Zealand, and i used to attend as a kid back in 2018 for those who may recognize the shorter version of me.

Being in the philippines is still new to me, but I really love being here. And lately, there's been lots of new introductions. Meeting new people, new friends, and I know there's also still lots of you who I haven't met yet but I'm getting there :)

And thanks to bishop really, who I met last week, because instantly asking me to give a talk is an interesting first impression for when you move into a ward.

But I've been asked to speak on something that is actually very close to what I've been thinking about throughout meeting new people. And before I get into that, I want you to take a moment, to think about the name you use identify to yourself.

Maybe it's not just your given name, at home it's mom or dad, or at work you have a different job title. For me, I think of my name Amy, my chinese name Kang mei, and a sister to my siblings and a daughter my parents.

Because over your lifetime, the names you identify yourself with can change though when you get married, become a parent, a grandparent, but today I'm going to share a few thoughts on one name that never changes, which is the divine identity of being a beloved son or daughter of God and what I believe it means to take Christs name upon myself.

And I just want to repeat that part because it can be easy to miss, "Taking Jesus Christ's name upon yourself", it's a principle that when truly lived, can be quite prevalent in our lives.

From personal experience, choosing to represent and live like God would want me to, is an active choice. Most of my last year was having to actively choose to go to church and live the church, because coming alone by yourself is tough sometimes.

It makes you question what you believe in since it's not the normal anymore, it's not the default option that your parents are dragging you to church anymore. So to me, when it comes down to it, taking upon myself the name of christ is choosing to represent him in all aspects of my life choices, the way I talk, the way I dress, the way I try and treat the people around me.

Sometimes we have all the right answers, we know to say in class, we know what's right, but actively putting the principles in our life is the biggest choice.

King benjiman taught the importance of this principle to his people a hundred years before christ even came. He says in Mosiah 5:9

I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts ... that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you ... for ye shall be called by the name of Christ.

I love that phrase "written always in your hearts." To me, it suggests that this isn't just a nametag we wear on the outside, but something that changes who we are on the inside. So when you meet people, you'll still say your name is bob, or jerry, but I hope this is at least a good reminder of how God sees you, and the name he will call us one day when we return to him.

Before I go, I want to leave you with a question Alma asks his people in Alma 5:14, I ask of you, have ye spiritually been born of god? and have ye received his image in your countenances?

I used to find this question very intimidating, because I know I'm not perfect, I know none of us are. But now I see it as a goal, and it's a reminder for me to ask myself, can people feel at least a small kindness or peace that the savior would show them?

My testimony to you today is that god lives, and Jesus lives, we can show his image in our countenance by our example. I know that He has made a way for us to come back to him, if we follow his plan for us, and live up to the eternal name of being his divine son or daughter.

I know that families can be together forever, and I'm very grateful to be here.

I leave these things in the name of jesus christ, amen.