What's In A Name?

Names are important to me. Whenever someone has a baby, that's what I wait for--the name! When I was a child, every week I would sit in church and just write the full names of everyone in my family I could remember. There is something about a name that is just meaningful to me. Kyle agreed--names were important. 

In the scriptures, Helaman told his sons: "Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good. Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them." (Helaman 5:6-7)

We wanted our sweet baby to have a name that was meaningful. A name that connected him to something greater than himself. We wanted him to be able to remember those who went before him and "remember their works....that they were good..that [he]should do that which is good." 

DIME: My father's name. Hope you don't mind that being on the internet, Dad. Dime originated from a book my grandpa wrote, and my grandma just liked the name--so they used it. The main character of my grandpa's novel was named Dime Silvers. (There is a story behind WHY my grandpa wanted to use Dime that I would gladly tell you if you ask me.) When my brother was born, they named him, the first born son (and only born son) Dime Zackary. When my sisters began having children, much to my father's chagrin, the tradition continued--first born sons were named Dime. All go by their middle name, including my father Jeff and my brother Zack. 

I love my father. He is truly one of the greats. He is stalwart. He is the definition of what it means to be a true man. I want Ezra to know his name ties him to someone he can look to. The name also ties him to a family tradition that is special to me. I hope it is special to him. 

EZRA: Ezra is originally a biblical name and a name I happened to love. When I first presented Ezra as an idea Kyle said: "Areeee you giving birth to a 100-year-old man?" haha. But, the more we talked about it, the more we both grew to love it. The more it seemed to fit our babe. When he was born and as we have gotten to know him over the past couple weeks, it fits him even better.

The idea for Ezra comes from Ezra Taft Benson--the president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985-1994. Ezra Taft Benson, if you are allowed to have favorite prophets, is one of my favorites. His most memorable teachings include the importance of the Book of Mormon, upholding the Constitution, and his landmark address "Beware of Pride" (still probably one of the most oft used talks ever given). Kyle and I both love the Book the Mormon and recognize the significant role it has played in our life. I've never known a person who loved the Book of Mormon the way Kyle does! President Benson is the 'Book of Mormon prophet'! His legacy in connection with who WE are as parents just fit. If we wanted a name to connect our Ezra to role models, by our estimation, President Benson was a pretty great one. 

Little Ezra came out with the wrinkliest hands and feet I have ever seen. In combination with his calm and rather pensive nature, he is fulfilling his old-man-name role quite nicely.

[Additionally, Ezra is our Cornell baby. Coincidentally, Cornell is named after Ezra Cornell. It is not why we named him Ezra, but a funny happenstance nonetheless.]

It is our hope that Ezra is able to find significance and depth from his name. We hope it gives him some extra deep roots. I am biased as his mother, but I also have no doubt that he is going to do great things. "I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them." --and beyond, Ez!