WE ARE A COVENANT MAKING PEOPLE
Covenant
Scripture Chain
Titus 1:2 (preexistence)
Genesis 6:18 (Noah)
Genesis 9:15-17 (Noah)
Genesis 15:18 (Abraham)
2 Chronicles 16:15 (Abraham)
Genesis 49:26 (Joseph of Egypt)
Jeremiah 23:5 (David)
Isaiah 9:6-7 (David)
Exodus 19:5-6 (Moses)
Enos 1:16-18 (Enos)
D&C 14:7 (blessings)
D&C 20:37 (baptism)
Mosiah 18:8-10 (baptism)
D&C 33:15 (Holy Ghost)
4th Article of Faith (first 2 covenants
we make)
3 Nephi 18-5-11 (Sacrament)
D&C 20:77-79 (Sacrament prayers)
D&C 84:33-40 (Priesthood)
D&C 132:19-20 (Temple)
D&C 66:2 (Eternal Life)
How to do a scripture chain: https://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/scripture-study-tips-cross-references-and-scripture-chains/
We are a Covenant making people
We talk often in the church about
keeping and making covenants. So exactly
what is a covenant? In the bible
dictionary it says:
A covenant “sometimes denotes an
agreement between persons nations : more often between God and man; but in this
latter case it is important to notice that the two parties to the agreement do
not stand in the relation of independent and equal contractors. God in His good
pleasure fixes the terms, which man accepts. The same word is sometimes
rendered “testament.”
The gospel is so arranged that
principles and ordinances are received by covenant, placing the recipient under
strong obligation and responsibility to honor the commitment. (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/covenant?lang=eng&letter=c)
God made covenants with his people from the
beginning of time. We think of the first
covenant being made with Adam where the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ
was revealed to him and his immediate family but that was not the first; we
made covenants in the preexistence. In
Titus 1:2 it says:
“In hope
of eternal life,
which God, that cannot lie,
promised
before the world began.”
In the spirit world, before mortality, we were
taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation. Those that accepted and kept that first
covenant now have a chance to come to the earth to obtain a body and make and
keep more covenants.
There are two types of covenants. The first type we will talk about is the
covenant that the Lord made that applied to an individual for a specific
purpose.
Noah
is the first person in the Old Testament that we read about making a covenant
with the Lord. In Genesis 6:18 it says
“But
with thee will I establish my
covenant;
and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy
sons’ wives with thee.”
Noah
made that covenant, built the Ark and did what the Lord asked him to do. We read in Genesis 9:15-17:
“And
I will remember my covenant,
which is between me and you and every living
creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood
to destroy all flesh. And
the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the
everlasting
covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is
upon the earth. And God said unto Noah,
This is the token
of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon
the earth.”
Each time we see a rainbow it is a
reminder of the covenant God made with Noah.
Abraham’s covenant was the land of Canaan for his
posterity:
“In
the same day the Lord made a covenant
with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land,
from the river of
Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”
(Genesis 15:18)
“Saying, Unto
thee will I give the land of
Canaan, the lot of your inheritance.”
(2 Chronicles 16:15)
Joseph of Egypt’s covenant was that his posterity
would flourish in the land of the everlasting hills.
“The blessings
of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost
bound of the everlasting hills:
they shall be on the head of Joseph,
and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.” (Genesis
49:26)
David was told that the Messiah would come through
his line:
“Behold, the days come,
saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David
a righteous Branch,
and a King
shall reign
and prosper, and shall execute judgment
and justice
in the earth.” (Jeremiah 23:5)
“For unto
us a child
is born,
unto us a son
is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The mighty
God,
The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government
and peace there shall be no end,
upon the throne of David,
and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice
from henceforth even forever. The zeal
of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
(Isaiah
9:6-7)
Law of Moses or commonly known as
the ‘old testament’ or ‘old covenant.’
“Now
therefore, if ye will obey
my voice indeed, and keep my covenant,
then ye shall be a peculiar
treasure
unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto
me a kingdom
of priests,
and an holy
nation.
These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
In
the Book of Mormon we have the covenant God made with Enos that the Lamanites
would be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ in the future:
“And I had
faith, and I did cry unto God that he would preserve
the records;
and he covenanted with me that he would bring
them
forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time.
And I, Enos, knew
it would be according to the covenant which he had made; wherefore my soul did
rest. And the Lord said unto me: Thy fathers have also required of me this
thing; and it shall be done unto them according to their faith; for their faith
was like unto thine.” (Enos
1:16-18)
These are examples of covenants God made with a
particular person for a particular reason for a specific time. All of them are kind of the same in the sense
that he asks them to remember Him, or keep His commandments and in turn they will
receive certain blessings. Usually
blessing that will affect not just them but their posterity.
We are now going to talk about a covenant that each
of us have the opportunity to make. This
is a covenant that is the same for each and every person. We are asked to keep His commandments and in
turn we gain Eternal Life. It can be
called “Gospel Covenant” or “The New Testament” or “Plan of Salvation.” This covenant has to do with our personal
salvation.
“When we receive these
saving ordinances and keep the associated covenants, the Atonement of Jesus
Christ becomes effective in our lives, and we can receive the greatest blessing
God can give us—eternal life”. https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/07/understanding-our-covenants-with-god?lang=eng
“And,
if you keep
my commandments and endure
to the end you shall have eternal life,
which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God. (D&C 14:7)
The first covenant we make is baptism.
“When we were baptized,
we entered into a covenant with God. We promised to take upon ourselves the
name of Jesus Christ, always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve Him
to the end. We renew this covenant each time we partake of the sacrament.”
https://www.lds.org/youth/learn/yw/ordinances-covenants/baptism?lang=eng
“And again, by way of commandment to
the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble
themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken
hearts and contrite
spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented
of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name
of Jesus Christ, having a determination
to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works
that they have received of the Spirit of
Christ unto the remission
of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church. “D&C 20:37”
“And it came to pass that he said
unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called)
and now, as ye are desirous
to come into the fold
of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s
burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing
to mourn with those that mourn;
yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses
of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in,
even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of
the first
resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— Now I say unto you, if
this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized
in the name
of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant
with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour
out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?”
(Mosiah 18: 8-10)
Immediately thereafter is confirmation or the
receiving of the Holy Ghost. Another covenant with great blessings.
“After we are baptized,
we receive the ordinance of confirmation. As part of this ordinance, we are
told to “receive the Holy Ghost.” This means the Holy Ghost can be our constant
companion if we desire and invite His presence in our lives and faithfully keep
the commandments.” https://www.lds.org/youth/learn/yw/ordinances-covenants/gift?lang=eng
D&C 33:15 “And whoso having faith you shall confirm
in my church, by the laying on of the hands,
and I will bestow the gift
of the Holy Ghost upon them.”
Our fourth article of faith tells us that baptism
and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost are the first ordinances
of the Gospel with faith and repentance being principles. We must practice these principles of faith
and repentance as we prepare to take on the covenant of baptism and
confirmation.
“We believe that the
first principles and ordinances
of the Gospel are: first, Faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance;
third, Baptism
by immersion
for the remission
of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands
for the gift
of the Holy Ghost.” https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng
The Sacrament is another ordinance that we
participate in weekly to renew the covenants we made at baptism.
“Those who have
received the saving ordinances of baptism and confirmation partake of the
sacrament each week to renew those covenants. While partaking of the bread and
water, we remember the sacrifice the Savior made for us. In addition, we ponder
the covenants we have made to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, always
remember Him, and keep His commandments. In turn, God extends the promise that
His Spirit may be with us always.”https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/07/understanding-our-covenants-with-god?lang=eng
3 Nephi 18:5-11 ---
"And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the
disciples: Behold there shall one be ordained
among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break
bread
and bless it and give it unto the people of my church,
unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name. And this shall ye always observe to do,
even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it
unto you. And this shall ye do in remembrance
of my body,
which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that
ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my
Spirit to be with you. And it came to
pass that when he said these words, he commanded his disciples that they should
take of the wine
of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude
that they might drink of it. And it came to pass that they did so, and did
drink of it and were filled; and they gave unto the multitude, and they did
drink, and they were filled. And when
the disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them: Blessed are ye for this
thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth
witness unto the Father that ye are willing
to do that which I have commanded you. And this shall ye always do to those who
repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance
of my blood,
which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do
always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to
be with you."
And these are the sacrament prayers:
D&C 20:77 “O God, the
Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and
sanctify this bread
to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance
of the body of thy Son, and witness
unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them
the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments
which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit
to be with them. Amen.”
D&C
20:79 “O God, the Eternal Father,
we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine
to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance
of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto
thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they
may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”
Priesthood is another covenant made along our path
D&C 84:33-40
--- For whoso is faithful
unto the obtaining these two priesthoods
of which I have spoken, and the magnifying
their calling, are sanctified
by the Spirit unto the renewing
of their bodies. They become the sons of Moses
and of Aaron and the seed
of Abraham,
and the church and kingdom, and the elect
of God. And also all they who receive this priesthood receive
me, saith the Lord; For he that receiveth my servants receiveth
me; And he that receiveth
me receiveth my Father; And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom;
therefore all
that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
And this is according to the oath and
covenant which belongeth to the priesthood. Therefore, all
those who receive the priesthood,
receive this oath and
covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be
moved.
Joseph Fielding Smith said:
“When we
receive the Melchizedek Priesthood we do so by covenant. We solemnly promise to
receive the priesthood, to magnify our callings in it, and to live by every
word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. The Lord on his part promises
us that if we keep the covenant, we shall receive all that the Father hath,
which is life eternal. Can any of us conceive of a greater or more glorious
agreement than this?” (Conference Report, Oct.
1970, 91). https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel-student-manual/chapter-26-the-oath-and-covenant-of-priesthood?lang=eng
When we are ready we make covenants
in the temple of the Lord. The first one
is the “Temple Endowment.”
“The temple
endowment is a gift that provides perspective and power. During the temple
endowment we receive instructions and make covenants related to our eternal
exaltation. Associated with the endowment are the ordinances of washing and
anointing and being clothed in temple garments as a reminder of sacred
covenants. Temple ordinances
and covenants are so sacred that they are not discussed in detail outside of
the temple. Because of that, President Boyd K. Packer, President of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, advised, “It is important that you listen
carefully as these ordinances are administered and that you try to remember the
blessings promised and the conditions upon which they will be realized.” https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/07/understanding-our-covenants-with-god?lang=eng
Another
is the “Sealing Power”
“The
temple ordinance referred to as “temple marriage” or “being sealed” creates an
eternal relationship between husband and wife that can last beyond death if the
spouses are faithful. Parent and child relationships can also be perpetuated
beyond mortality, linking generations together in eternal family relationships.” When an individual enters into the covenant of
marriage in the temple, he or she makes covenants with both God and with his or
her spouse. Spouses promise faithfulness to each other and to God. They are
promised exaltation and that their family relationships can continue throughout
eternity. Children born to a couple who
were sealed in the temple or children who are later sealed to their parents
have the right to be part of an eternal family.” https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/07/understanding-our-covenants-with-god?lang=eng
D&C
132:19-20 --- And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry
a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and
everlasting covenant, and it is sealed
unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise,
by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys
of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the
first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next
resurrection; and shall inherit thrones,
kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then
shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life,
that he shall commit no murder
whereby to shed innocent blood,
and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent
blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put
upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when
they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods,
which are set there, to their exaltation
and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory
shall be a fullness and a continuation of the seeds
forever and ever. Then shall they be
gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting
to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because
all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods,
because they have all power,
and the angels are subject unto them.
By entering into these covenants we
become partakers of the new and everlasting covenant which is all gospel
covenants and obligations we make. If we
keep our end of the covenant we will result in the blessing of Eternal Life
which is all that the Father has.
D&C 66:2 – “Verily I say unto
you, blessed are you for receiving mine everlasting
covenant, even the fullness of my gospel, sent forth unto the
children of men, that they might have life
and be made partakers
of the glories
which are to be revealed in the last days, as it was written by the prophets
and apostles in days of old.”
