The significance of these symbolic steps, these first principles and ordinances of the gospel was developed by King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon in his counsel that one must put "off the natural man and becometh a saint through the Atonement of Christ the Lord." As that fallen, dead, unregenerate man is "an enemy to God," so one overcomes that enmity by being reborn, a new birth that transcends spiritual death. This spiritual rebirth is symbolized by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, all followed by the faithful living of other gospel requirements thereafter. The elements of death, burial, and resurrection, symbolically represented by immersion in and emergence from the waters of baptism, signify the new birth by which we declare ourselves for Christ and lay claim to the gift of eternal life that comes through the Atonement.
When King Benjamin concluded his masterful sermon on the life and mission of the Savior, his people were profoundly moved by that message and desired to claim the blessings of the gospel. They saw themselves as yet being "natural" and unregenerated, viewing themselves "in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth." With one voice these people cried, "O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men."
Inspired by the resolve of his people, King Benjamin replied: "I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the moral body -- I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world. And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are their any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you."
With a great shout from the people and their unanimous desire to enter into a covenant that would enable them to escape the effects of the physical and spiritual deaths awaiting them, King Benjamin taught the blessings of rebirth -- birth into eternal life through Christ -- including taking upon themselves his name as evidence of their new life, their new covenant, their new identity.
"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and daughters. And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives. And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ."
[Source: Holland, J. R. (2006). Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book.]
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