Why do we need Covenants?
- Strengthened Relationship with God: Covenants help us develop a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father. By making and keeping covenants, we show our commitment to Him, and He, in turn, promises specific blessings.
- Guidance and Focus: Covenants provide us with guidelines and commitments that can help keep us on the straight and narrow path. They act as spiritual anchors that can guide us through life's challenges and trials.
- Spiritual Growth and Progression: Covenants are stepping stones towards spiritual growth. They help us take the necessary steps to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ, and prepare us for eternal life.
- Access to Divine Help: When we make covenants, we invite divine help into our lives. The Holy Ghost is often felt stronger in the lives of those who strive to honor their covenants, providing guidance, comfort, and revelation.
- Blessings and Promises: God binds Himself to us through covenants, promising us blessings now and in eternity if we keep our part. As mentioned in Doctrine and Covenants 82:10, the Lord assures us that He is bound to His promises when we do what He has asked.
- Sense of Belonging: By entering into covenants, we become part of a community of people who share the same commitments and goals. In the Church, members support each other in their covenant journey.
Mosiah 18 -
8 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;
9 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—Covenants help us grow, both personally and as a community, connecting us to God and each other.
The Bottom line of keeping the covenant was, God will save us and we are to do our part.
Doctrine and Covenants 82:10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.
Imagine a man interviewing for a job. The interviewer asks about his diligence, willingness to work for the company, and contract terms. The company outlines a potential career path: after a year as a store supervisor, he could become a general supervisor or manager, then an area director, and so on, provided he meets certain conditions. However, failure to meet these conditions could result in job loss. This scenario illustrates the principles of merit and mercy, where success is tied to performance and adherence to contractual obligations.
2 Nephi 2:8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
I choose some selected principles that might be of help for us to understand our part in strengthening our covenant bond.
Or, after the sacrament program, how many of us stay for Sunday School or for gospel study? Some of us— and no offense intended—simply go home and attend to our daily chores as normal ordinary day. That's true and I myself was guilty on it.
Isaiah 58 -
13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Study the Scriptures: We often lose focus on this important aspect. It is sometimes easier to scroll through social media posts and read comments than to spend a short time reading the scriptures. This should not be the case. As Latter-day Saints, we believe the scriptures to be the word of God; therefore, they are inherently important. Take time to read the scriptures; it is not necessary to read an entire chapter or book each day. Christ simply instructed us to "search the scriptures (John 5:39)"—he did not specify reading an entire chapter daily. Reading even one, two or three verses and making it a habit can make a significant difference, by and by it will help you understand it's importance.
Importance of Prayer: I remember one time while on my mission somewhere in Bataan, when we used to ride a bus for some district meetings. I notice a bus poster that says "7 days without Prayer makes one WEAK" I don't know who made that quote or for some attention, but it's true that a person might weaken his spiritual strength without the guidance, and the very reason why we need to talk to our Father in Heaven for a guidance. Christ instructed us to — Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed. (3 Nephi 18:21). And part of the Priesthood Covenant is to Upholding Duties of Priesthood, to Provide Blessings and to Serve. So if you want spiritual strength or to strengthen your covenant bond, use your knees, you can always find strength on binded knees.
Learn to Forgive someone who offended us: One of the Seven Deadly Sins, was the sin of Anger or Wrath. God would never allow His Spirit or the Holy Ghost to dwell in us if we are full of hatred, anger or couldn't control our temper. Remember what Christ said during his sermon was in Matthew 6:14-15: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
As we plead for mercy, we need to show mercy to others. The injury people do us may appear at the moment to be very great. Yet, just as time heals the wounds of the body, so time also heals the wounds of the soul. As we apply disinfectants to aid in healing the wounds of the body, we need to apply love and understanding in disinfecting the wounds of the soul. To the extent we give forgiveness to others, we can expect to receive forgiveness for ourselves. It is all part of the process of repentance. - Theodore M. Burton gave a talk titled "To Forgive Is Divine,"
Learn the importance of Repentance: We all have shortcomings, we made mistakes, or failure. But our lives isn't predictable, we would never knew what happen ahead of time. That's why the scripture said not to procrastinate the day of repentance (Alma 34:32-34). We must remember that the only thing that could break our covenants is simply Sin.
One of the most serious human defects in all ages is procrastination, an unwillingness to accept personal responsibilities now. … Many have allowed themselves to be diverted and have become … addicts to mental and spiritual indolence and to the pursuit of worldly pleasure” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 4–5).
If you believe you have made mistakes, repent. If your sins feel too heavy, seek help from your bishop or branch president to guide your repentance. The challenge lies in summoning the courage to repent. Don't let shame leads you to procrastination. If you sustain your leaders, trust them to help lighten your burden.
Help our Generation Understand the Importance of Keeping the Covenant: One of the lessons we could learn in the Book of Enos was his conversion through the example of those people who once he knew.
Enos 1:1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man—for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for it —
This actually reminds me while at my younger age, I remember how my grandfather prays after singing a hymns every morning. I could see how his eyes were wide open while talking to someone asking for a guidance for the day. I couldn't forget that, it is clear in my eyes and those few moments or experienced touches my heart and understanding, that I could see how proud I was to have beautiful God-fearing Family. We're not perfect, but we are doing our best for the sake of our God and salvation.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
God's promise is sure and true.
- Jerry Nuñez Bustillo