Week 2, Day 6: What's in a name?

I have been thinking a lot today and over the past few weeks about this classic question posed by Juliet herself in Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet." It has been on my mind because my brother and his wife named their son today after just over a month of being nameless on this earth. We had all started to develop strong preferences towards nicknames just because it was challenging to bond with my sweet, nameless nephew until a name was given. Today he was blessed in church and given a name... and the name is....

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BODEN GREENLEAF LLOYD

Interesting, huh? He will be called "Bode", which is said Bodie, like the skiier Bode Miller. My bro and his wife really love unique names with deep meaning. Boden is Scandanavian and means something like "to provide shelter, a covering", and Greenleaf is the last name of my sister-in-law's ancestor, John Greenleaf, who helped Emma and family head from Missouri to Illinois while her husband, Joseph Smith, was incarcerated. Isn't that a very cool heritage? I am just so glad that my sweet little nephew-man has a name.

It made me think of the instruction that Helaman gave to his sons, Nephi and Lehi, who were named for their forebearers, the first Nephi and Lehi in the Book of Mormon. As I read the chapter, I loved how the chapter heading stated Helaman's invitation. It says:

Their names invite them to pattern their lives after their forebears

I know my brother and sister-in-law feel the same. They want their young son to grow up in the honor and integrity of such a name, and seek to pattern his life as John Greenleaf's life and legacy.

Speaking of names, we take upon us the name of Christ in the act of baptism. We honor his name by promising to pattern our lives after the example Christ gave in his mortal ministry. While I am so very far from perfect at this, it is my goal. I carry His name, and do so very willingly.

Names are wonderful and so very important. Welcome to the world, and so glad to know your name, sweet Bode!