Speaking Intentionally of Jesus Christ

Brothers and Sisters,

Today we live in a society of nicknames and shortcuts, and as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we’re not much different—from BOM, D&C, and JST to FHE, FSY, and CFM. While some acronyms and shorthand may be appropriate to use in the Church of Jesus Christ, there are some things that shouldn’t be shortened, because when they are used fully and properly, they bring us closer to the Savior.

Elder David A. Bednar encouraged us to think and speak intentionally about Jesus Christ. He said, “As often as you can, refer to the ‘House of the Lord’ instead of ‘temple.’ There’s nothing wrong with the word ‘temple.’ It’s just better to talk about the ‘House of the Lord’ because it focuses on Him.” Likewise, President Nelson taught us that “it is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as ‘the Atonement.’ There is no amorphous entity called ‘the Atonement’ upon which we may call for succor, healing, forgiveness, or power. Jesus Christ is the source. Sacred terms such as Atonement and Resurrection describe what the Savior did.” (April 2017 General Conference)

So, brothers and sisters, I invite each one of us to more intentionally “talk of Christ … that [we] may know to what source [we] can look for a remission of [our] sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).

Brother Thad Larson

High Councilor