Last week the Vineyard Utah Springs Park Stake announced (and we sustained) that the name of our ward would change from Geneva Heights 12th to Trailside. It’s tempting to think of this as merely a cosmetic change, but I want to assure you that there is much more to it than that.
What’s in a Name?
More than a few studies have been done over the years that validate the importance of a name to how people view, remember, and even value the people and the things around them. It is not uncommon for celebrities to carefully choose stage names since it has been proven that their name contributes to the degree to which they are accepted and remembered by the public. We place and derive a lot of socially-consequential meaning from names. At a time when women were valued very little for their intellectual contributions to society, Charlotte Bronte originally published Jane Eyre under the more masculine pseudonym Currer Bell for her most celebrated work to be initially accepted by publishers and customers.
Names play a big role in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, too, and one name stands out prominently from all. Prayers, ordinances, and talks are delivered and made effectual through the invocation of the name of Jesus Christ. The name of Christ is so critical to the operations of our faith that we were recently reminded by President Nelson that we must refer to the church by its proper name. In remarks he made as a follow-up to that announcement, President Nelson taught why names, the Savior’s name in this case, is so important. He said:
“To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan. When we discard the Savior’s name, we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us—even His Atonement…. After all He had endured—and after all He had done for humankind—I realize with profound regret that we have unwittingly acquiesced in the Lord’s restored Church being called by other names, each of which expunges the sacred name of Jesus Christ! … When we omit His name from His Church, we are inadvertently removing Him as the central focus of our lives.” (emphasis is from source)
President Russell M. Nelson, The Correct Name of the Church, October 2018 General Conference
Here we learn that the name of Christ represents the entirety of who He is and what He does for us. His Church should not only be directly associated with His name but should keep Him as the central focus. I have noticed a difference in my life since I have made a greater effort to ensure that I refer to the Church by its full and proper name because it has helped me better take upon me the name of Christ and be a witness of Christ at all times, especially when interacting with those not of our faith. I hope you notice that the members of the bishopric deliberately refer to our ward as being part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in every sacrament meeting we conduct. No one told us to do that. It was our choice to honor and stay focused on the Savior, whose Church we are part of.
The Trailside Ward
When the Springs Park Stake was formed, there was immediate discussion around changing the ward names as we were no longer incorporated under the Geneva Heights stake. Following guidance in the General Handbook, we were encouraged to root the name in a landmark or public institution that is associated within or near the ward’s boundaries. I had initially toyed with the name Railside since railroad tracks are a feature shared between the Orem and Vineyard elements of the ward. Ultimately, though, our leaders wisely determined that Trailside, in reference to the new elementary school that occupies the southern end of our ward boundary, would be the better choice.
Now before you conclude that the name change was merely a geographical derivative, I want to share with you a revelatory experience I had relative to the ward’s change of name. Before I do, though, I want to clarify that while the stake presidency did solicit my input on the ward name, it was ultimately their decision and did not require my approval. But, as I prayerfully pondered what new name I would recommend to the stake, I was led in my thoughts to Lehi’s vision as recounted in 1 Nephi 8, particularly to verse 20, which reads in part: “And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood”. Other thoughts about recent references by church leaders to the Covenant Path also started to fill my mind. I remembered then that the purpose of the ward is to bring all people within its boundaries to Christ by helping them progress along the Covenant Path. The wards of the Church sit alongside that straight and narrow trail, like water stations at a marathon, providing help and assurance to those walking it. So, trail side our ward sits and Trailside our ward is now named.
It is my hope that the ward and its members will live up to its name—to watch over, support, nurture, minister to, and walk alongside all those who travel the trail which leads to Christ and Life Eternal. Such is my prayer and my daily efforts.
Faithfully yours,
Bishop Ty Kenworthy
Vineyard's Trailside Ward Community 