A friend of mine typed this up and sent it to me last week and I found it valuable to share here. I had actually been studying the covenant path because it was the theme of General Conference. I was so happy he took the time to organize this in the outline below. As mentioned in my upcoming video message, it's so important for us to re-visit the covenants we have made and understand how they help us become like our Savior.
“The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done,” taught Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become."
COVENANTS I HAVE MADE / STAYING ON THE COVENANT PATH
1) Baptism /Confirmation of Holy Ghost
Baptismal Covenant - Mosiah 18:8-10
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—
10 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?
My Part of the Covenant:
- Serve him & keep his commandments
- Desire to come into the fold of God
- Take upon you the name of Christ
- MINISTERING
- Bear one another's burdens
- Mourn with those that Mourn
- Comfort those in need of comfort
- Stand as a witness of God in all places
- Redeem you from your sins
- Numbered you among those of the 1st Resurrection
- Give you Eternal Life
- Pour his spirit out more abundantly upon you
Sacrament Covenant Renewal
- Blessing on the Bread
- 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.
- Blessing on the Water
- O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this water 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.
- Eat the bread / in remembrance of his body and be a witness of Him in all places.
- Take his name upon us, keep his Commandments, and always remember him
- Drink the water or wine in remembrance of the blood that he shed in your behalf.
- We are promised that we will have his Spirit to be with us always if we do the above things.
D&C 84:33-41
33 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.
34 They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.
35 And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
36 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
37 And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
39 And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.
40 Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.
41 But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in the world to come.
My Part of the Covenant:
- Receive the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, emphasis on RECEIVE
- Magnify their calling to the priesthood.
- Receive Christ
- Receive the father
God's Part if the Covenant:
- Sanctified / Body Renewed
- Become sons of Aaron, Moses, Abraham
- Become the church, Kingdom, & Elect of God.
- Receive Christ (Second Comforter)
- Receive the Father (Third Comforter)
- Receive All the Father Has
3) Temple Covenants Made During the Endowment
Sacrifice & Obedience
- We agree to obey God's laws and keep his commandments. ( Harken)
- Early followers of Christ agreed to keep the law of Sacrifice by following the laws that were given in the Old Testament concerning sacrificing of animals and the first fruits unto God by following the Law of Moses.
- Followers of Christ , after his atonement, Covenant to give unto him a broken heart and a contrite spirit, as well as to sacrifice of themselves.
- During the temple endowment we receive instructions and make covenants related to our eternal exaltation.
- The Sermon on the Mount / Sermon at the Temple during Christ's Ministry. The Beatitudes show us a stairway to Christ (see image below).
3 Nephi 12:1-12
1 Therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.
2 And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins.
3 Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.
7 And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8 And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;
12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.
Beatitude Steps
0) Believe in words of God's servants, receive baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, humble themselves = Baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, and remission of sins.
1 Faith & Repentance = Visited by the Holy Ghost, remission of sins.
2 ) Poor in Spirit (acknowledge your need for and reliance on God) = Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
3) Those that Mourn for others and their own sins= Comforted by Holy Ghost.
4) Meekness = Inherit the earth.
5) Hunger and thirst after righteousness = Filled with the Holy Ghost. Baptism of Fire.
6) Merciful = Obtain Mercy from the Lord
7) Pure in heart = See God
Peacemakers = Children of Christ ( Reborn spiritually into his family)
9) Persecuted = Heir of the Kingdom of Heaven.
LIVING THE VIRTUES TAUGHT IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT OR AT THE TEMPLE IN BOUNTIFUL. (Treating others as we would like to be treated)
Charge
- Avoiding Sexual Impurity, Levity & Raucous Living. Avoid speaking evil about the Lord's Elect or Covenant people. Avoiding taking the Lord's name in vain.
Chastity
- Fidelity in marriage and Chastity before marriage. Sexual purity.
Consecration
- Giving all you have to build the kingdom of God.
4) Sealing - New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage
D&C 132:7
7 And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.
- All agreements must be made and sealed by the holy spirit of promise, under priesthood authority delegated by the Prophet.
- All contracts not made in this way have an end when men pass into the spirit world and are not effective after the Ressurection.
