Scripture Squiggle: Helaman 3:21; 5:5-7

"And it came to pass that he had two sons. He gave unto the eldest the name of Nephi, and unto the youngest, the name of Lehi. And they began to grow up unto the Lord."

"For they remembered the words which their father Helaman spake unto them. And these are the words which he spake: Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that is is said, and also written, that they were good. Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them."

Helaman chose his sons' names carefully. He wanted them to remember the examples of Nephi and Lehi and try to pattern their lives after these valiant men. As I read these verses I thought of my own children and the names my husband and I chose for each of them. Each name has meaning to us and we have tried to share these special meanings with our children, as Helaman shared with his sons. But I was also reminded of another name, not a name that we are given, but a name that we earn through the waters of baptism--the name of Christ.

Nephi and Lehi, Helaman's sons, were wonderful representatives of their Savior's name. Helaman 11:18-19 tell us that the people "did esteem [Nephi] as a great prophet, and a man of God, having great power and authroity given unto him from God. And behold, Lehi, his brother, was not a whit behind him as to things pertaining to righteousness." Through their faithfullness, the people were brought back to the Lord and peace was established in the land.

We don't have to be prophets to represent Christ. Jesus allows all of us who join his Church to be called after his name, to be an example to others and show the way unto him. Yet how often do we remember that we have this responsibility?

Fictional Story: 1 Nephi: 17:41

Lehi walked slowly down to the seashore. He was anxious to see how far the boat building had come, but he was also worried about his sons--not Nephi with his obedience and quiet strength, but his older brothers, Laman and Lemuel. Those two were quick to disbelieve, with a gift for pointing out the weaknesses in others. As if on cue, Lehi heard his two older sons' raised voices carried on the breeze off the water. Their tones were taunting.

"Thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart..." The gust died out and took the rest of Laman's and Lemuel's ridicule with it. Lehi shook his head; his heart felt tight with familiar disappointment. He loved his two stubborn sons, but so far he had found no way to reach them, at least not permanently.

When he finally reached the edge of the trees, Lehi stopped. Laman and Lemuel were sitting on logs, dragging sticks through the sand as the casually listened to Nephi lecture them. Although he could feel the Spirit of the Lord in his son's words, Lehi could tell that Laman and Lemuel did not.

"For they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished."

How right, Nephi is. Lehi thought to himself. They have hardened their hearts. Looking to the Lord and putting our trust in him and his gospel is such a simple task, but they refuse to raise their eyes that they might not perish. Instead they allow themselves to be bitten by the temptations of that serpent, Satan.

Lehi turned away from the scene before him: Laman and Lemuel's angry faces as Nephi continued to teach them, the beginnings of the boat the Lord had commanded Nephi to build, and the soft lapping of the water against the sand. Maybe, if we, like the water pulling on the sand, never stop trying to turn them to the Lord, they will one day Look.