a new name.

I've thought about this a few times before, but it was brought again to my attention while reading in Alma.

Often times when a group of people, or person makes a covenant with God, or experiences a change of heart they want a new name.

They feel that they are a new person, that who they were before they repented is no longer who they are now. So why not have a new name?

Or God has made a covenant with them and with that covenant they are given a new name. I feel it's symbolic of a new person as well. It shows a rededication or a change. Through the Atonement we can be reborn in Christ. We become a new person, a person distinct from who we were before. This happens every time we repent.

Anyway, some examples of "new names" that I can think of are:



Abram and Sarai becoming Abraham and Sarah after God covenants with Abraham.


The Lamanites who were converted by Ammon, Aaron, Omni and Himni want to have a new name to distinguish themselves from the unrighteous traditions of their fathers. They take on the name Anti-nephi-lehis.


Jacob is renamed Israel by God before he fathers the twelve tribes of Israel.


Saul is given the new name Paul after his conversion to Christ.



Just some food for thought.