The Lord's Covenant People

It is such a beautiful Sunday morning - it has been raining for the past 24 hours, and, let me tell you, I have a thing for rain... There's just something about the sound of it, the way the wet streets shine, and the way it feels when you look up to the sky and feel it on your face. It's lovely.

This weeks lesson in Gospel Principles is Lesson 15, The Lord's Covenant People. When teaching Gospel Principles I am always fearful that since the topics are so basic the class will just chew their arms off in boredom. At least, I almost did when I started teaching this class. "Class, what is the Holy Ghost?...anyone..anyone..Bueler..?" But I have come to love the simple gospel truths the class teaches. I think this is especially important for missionary work, at all times, no matter where you are. One day, someone is going to ask you questions, and while you've been taught this gospel for many years, perhaps your whole life, the clarity and simplicity of these doctrines is essential to understand.

I would like to start this lesson off with asking some overarching questions -

What is our purpose? Think about it, and really answer it in your head.

To return to our Heavenly Parents and become as they are, right?

Next question: How do we do this?

Follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ, of course.

But, how do we do that?

This is a quote by Neal A Maxwell. Fill in what you think the blanks are.

"How can we, as individual members of the church, survive spiritually if we do not _____ ___ ________?"

How about this one:

"To keep the commandments and to _____ ___ ________ - whether one is a cashier at a grocery checkout counter, a neurosurgeon, an automotive mechanic, or a government official - is what matters daily and eternally."

Same phrase in both quotes. Honor our Covenants.

Yeah, yeah. We hear this all the time. We know what it means. But do we really? Tell me what a covenant is, examples of it, and the role it plays in our lives... can you do this concisely and clearly, as if you were telling someone who knew nothing about our church? I know I couldn't before I prepared this lesson.

A covenant is a sacred promise between God and man. Covenants are here so we can know what he expects of us and what blessing we may expect from Him. They allow us to effectively and efficiently carry out his work here on Earth. This gospel is all about order. God doesn't leave us wondering what we might possibly have to do to return to him. He tells us, many times, in many ways. It is very clear. One of the ways he lays out his expectations very clearly is through these covenants.

It is important to note that God reveals the terms of the covenants. We can choose if we obey and follow them. But God ultimately lays out the deal. This is not a negotiation. The following quote explains this...

"Alma knew that the covenant was not like a business deal - you do this for God and God will do this for you - but it was an opportunity for them to become his people. Every covenant with God is an opportunity to draw closer to him. To anyone who reflects for a moment on what they have already felt of the love of God, to have that bond made stronger and that relationship closer is an irresistible offer."

This is why I love this gospel so much. Everything, all our dealings with God go so much deeper than we could even imagine.

The Hebrew word for 'covenant' is B'RITH. There are two meanings of this word. (1) Is to select, mark or choose. (2) Is to bond, as in chain  together.

Through our covenants we are bonded, chained together with our God. In DC 88:63 the Lord says, "Draw near unto me, and I will draw near unto you". What more can we wish for than to be closer to a God? These covenants are not a restrictive contract. They are a blessing and an amazing offer we could never negotiate to our benefit any more than they already are.

So why are the Latter Day Saints called a covenant people...? Well, because we make certain covenants with God when we join his church. But it isn't just us that he made covenants with. There are many examples in the scripture where God made special covenants with particular people/groups. I think it is so fascinating to read these histories, recognize God's patterns, and liken them unto our own lives. Here are a few examples of covenants God made with his people. It is very helpful and enlightening to read these quick verses, and identify (1) God's commandments (2) God's promises.

Adam - Moses 6:52Noah - Genesis 9:9-17Children of Israel - Exodus 19:5-6Lehi - 2 Nephi 1: 7, 20

The Abrahamic Covenant

We've all heard of it. But what is it exactly? And if we know what it is, what exactly does it entail? And why do we even care about it?? How does it apply to us?

Here's the basics: Abraham was a righteous man. Because of this, God made a covenant with him. If he remained righteous, promises included were:

• Jesus Christ would be born through his lineage.
• Abraham's posterity would be numerous, and would be entitled to eternal increase and to hold the Priesthood.
• Abraham would be the father of many nations.
• Certain lands would be inherited by his posterity.
• All nations of the Earth would be blessed by his seed.
• The covenant would be everlasting.

Some of these promises have been fulfilled, some are pending. One scripture I love is 1 Nephi 15:18 - Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying: In they seed shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed. 

This is amazing. This shows that some 600 years before Christ was even born, prophets knew the Abrahamic Covenant would finally be fulfilled in the latter days.

So how do the commandments and promises in Abraham's covenant apply to us? Think about it. The first one that comes to my mind is missionary work. All nations of the world will be blessed because of it. Now more than ever, missionaries are going out to spread this gospel in numbers we have never before seen, to places we never dreamed. This promise is being fulfilled. This covenant is everlasting, meaning we can be assured that our posterity will be able to enjoy these same blessings... at home, at work, in our community...this covenant is always affecting who we are and what we do.

Members of the Church are a Covenant People

You may be thinking "WOAHH slow down!! The promises God made to Abraham are promises to me too??". You betcha. Read in Abraham 2:10 - And I will bless them through they name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after they name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as thy father.

This shows us that the Abrahamic Covenant includes two groups of people: (1) Abraham's righteous blood descendants. (2) Those adopted into the lineage by accepting the Gospel of Christ. Wow.

What covenants do we make when we join his church? Well, there's a few. Baptism, Sacrament, temple, repentance, receiving the Holy Ghost, receiving our endowments, the covenant of marriage, and to follow Christ.

This is called The New and Everlasting Covenant. Why? The Lord appeared in these latter days to renew that Abrahamic Covenant. Every time the Lord renews it, new people are receiving int. It is everlasting because it will never change.

In exchange for making this New and Everlasting Covenant, what does God promise us? The answer to this is powerfully stated in DC 132:20-24.

 20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from ^aeverlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be ^bgods, because they have ^call power, and the angels are subject unto them. 21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my ^alaw ye cannot attain to this glory. 22 For ^astrait is the gate, and narrow the ^bway that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the ^clives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me. 23 But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that ^awhere I am ye shall be also. 24 This is ^aeternal lives—to ^bknow the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath ^csent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law.

Along with receiving these blessings, being the Lord's Covenant people requires great responsibility. I am really trying to resist bringing up Spiderman right now... What are some of these responsibilities we have? Missionary work is an important one, whether you serve a full time mission or not. Every member is a missionary, and because we have been blessed with not only this Gospel, but also the blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant, we must do our duty, and spread His Gospel.

Patriarchal Blessings keep coming to my mind. In these special blessings, we are informed of our divine lineage and responsibilities. This can help us to realize the duties we have, and personal blessings the Lord offers us. It blows my mind.

Baptismal Covenant

The first covenant we make with the Lord when we join his church is the Baptismal Covenant. But after you are baptized, this doesn't just go away. We are constantly reminded of this ongoing covenant we made with the Lord. I can even think of a time, many years after I was baptized when I actually looked up what this covenant entailed, to remind myself of what exactly the commandments and promises were. It is always important to be reminded of these.

Commandments:

• Taking upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ - Mosiah 5:8-10
• Keeping the Commandments - Mosiah 18:9
• Serving the Lord - Mosiah 18:8-9

Promised Blessings:

• The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost
• Remission of sins - Moroni 8:25
• Being Born Again - John 3:5, Romans 6:4

I strongly recommend you whip out the True to the Faith booklet and look up these pages - 23 - 25. This expands on all these bullets, and it is so enlightening to read. After recognizing these commandments and blessings it is also important to note that we must endure to the end, especially with this very important first covenant. There is a chapter in the Book of Mormon I am absolutely obsessed with that talks about this very topic with such power. You NEED to read it, or read it again. It is 2 Nephi 31. This chapter outlines the Blueprint for our Salvation. Ohhh I can't even tell you what an awesome chapter this is. Two verses that go right along with what we were discussing are verses 13 and 20...

13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall ^afollowthe Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no ^bhypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real ^cintent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are ^dwilling to take upon you the ^ename of Christ, by ^fbaptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the^gbaptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the ^htongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.
 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a ^asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of ^bhope, and a ^clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and ^dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have ^eeternal life.

So amazing. This is so important to learn about. But there is also another part of this chapter I would like to point out. Verse 17.

17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and ^abaptism by water; and then cometh a ^bremissionof your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. 

Note the word gate. Now tie that verse along with this quote:

" Sometimes someone will say: "Well, I have been baptized into the Church; I am a member of the Church; I am a member of the Church; I'll just go along and live an ordinary sort of life; I won't commit any great crimes; I'll live a reasonably good Christian life; and eventually I will gain the kingdom of God.'
I don't understand it that way, I think that baptism is a gate. It is a gate which puts us on a path; and the name of the path is the straight and narrow path. The straight and narrow path leads upward from the gate of baptism and to the celestial kingdom of heaven. After a person has entered the gate of baptism, he has to press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, as Nephi expresses it, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men; and if he endures to the end, then he gains the promised reward."

Ordinances

Although the lesson didn't include this, I find it difficult to talk so much of Covenants without so much as mentioning Ordinances.

An Ordinance is a sacred act performed by the authority of the Priesthood. There are certain saving ordinances that are essential to our salvation. These include: Baptism, Confirmation, temple endowment, Melchizedek Priesthood, and marriage sealing.

You may notice that some of these ordinances overlap with some of the covenants mentioned above. You're right. Covenant and Ordinances are inseparably intertwined. I never realized this before researching this lesson.

* All saving Ordinances are accompanied by a Covenant. The Ordinance is an outward expression of the inward Covenant we are making. *

"External works, our outward ordinances are inseparably connected with inward works, such as faith and repentance. The Savior says, "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?". These saying of our Savior require men to perform external works in order to receive their salvation." - Lorenzo Snow

Understanding the symbol of the the ordinance ( the act)  is a powerful key to better understanding the inward covenant. For example, with the Baptismal Covenant we looked at, Immersion completely into the water represents the death of a person's sinful life, and a rebirth into a spiritual life. The Sacrament is another great example, with the bread and water being representative of the flesh and blood Christ sacrificed for us, and the pain he endured. Once you make the connection between the ordinance and the covenant, some of the "weird" things we do in our church suddenly make perfect sense, and become meaningful symbol of the things we believe. It's beautiful.

I am so unbelievably grateful for the covenant I have been able to make, and the ones I will soon make to my Lord and God. I know he knows me. I trust him with all my heart. The ordinances mean so much to me, and allow me to be humbled and remember what He has done for me. I am eternally grateful.