I just wonder if there is a modern way within my Mac to save text/imessages. I have seen the older answers pre 2013 but I would have thought there would be an answer from Apple on iTunes by now.
iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 10
Your text messages are included in your iTunes backup, but don't expect to be able to view or change that data—or to be able to sync them. If you really want a viewable backup on your Mac, enable text/iMessage reception on your computer (to sync text messages, open your iPhone and go to Preferences>Messages>Text Message Forwarding and allow the device in question). Then you'll receive all of your messages on your computer (eventually) and you have your backup.
The technique would be the same now as it was five years ago.
How to save Text/iMessages to mac
