Covenants in the House of the Lord

    ( I don't really understand why the last blog I did ended up multi-colored. I am still technologically inept. I'm sorry if it bothers anyone trying to read it.)
     I want to continue some general comments going on from covenants made at baptism and confirmation and renewal at sacrament to covenants made in the Lord's House- in temples. President Hinckley was quite concerned that temples be more available for everyone who desires to make deeper covenants and feel closer to Heavenly Father. There are now over 150 operating temples all over the globe. As a prophet of God, he was determined to do all he could to prepare for the return of the Savior to rule and reign. He said, "These unique and wonderful buildings, and the ordinances administered therein, represent the ultimate in our worship. These ordinances become the most profound expressions of our theology..... Here, under the authority of the Holy Priesthood, will be administered those ordinances which lead not only to salvation, but also to eternal exaltation." Also, "The blessings of the temple for both men and women who are worthy to enter therein... include our washings and anointings that we may be clean before the Lord. They include the instruction service in which we are given an endowment of obligations and blessings that motivate us to behavior compatible with the principles of the gospel. They include the sealing ordinances by which that which is bound on earth is bound in heaven, providing for the continuity of the family."
     This from an LDS Living article written by Kelly Merrill: "This work is a prelude to the work that will consume society during the millenium. This is why it is so vital that we routinely remind ourselves how important temple work is, and how critical the temple covenants are, both to us and to those who have already gone through the veil."
     In church, Sunday meetings as well as other meetings, we teach each other and learn from each other through study and discussion of the words of prophets. We help each other to understand the nature of God, the meaning of the Atonement of our Savior, and principles God wants us to understand and follow in order to more quickly be worthy to stand in His presence. In the temple, the learning we do is more direct. We are given blessings, admonitions, and make covenants that all guide us to follow the Savior. As we repeat ordinances as proxy for deceased extended family, we are available to learn directly from the third member of the Godhead- the Holy Ghost. Anyone can enter a church or meetinghouse and ALL are invited to do so. Entering the Lord's house or temple requires more sincerity in making an effort to repent and to be obedient.
You must possess a current recommend to be admitted to the temple. This recommend must be signed by the bishop of your ward and the president of your stake. In the mission field, of course, the branch president and the mission president have responsibility for issuing temple recommends. Only those who are worthy should go to the temple. The bishop has the responsibility of making inquiries into our personal worthiness. This interview is of great importance to you as a member of the Church, for it is an occasion to explore with an ordained servant of the Lord the pattern of your life. If anything is amiss in your life, the bishop will be able to help you resolve it. Through this procedure, as you counsel with the common judge in Israel, you can declare or can be helped to establish your worthiness to enter the temple with the Lord’s approval. (from LDS.org manual for preparing to enter the temple)
     

Covenants: Preparing to enter the house of the Lord

Whenever the Lord has had a people on the earth who will obey His word, they have been commanded to build temples in which the ordinances of the gospel and other spiritual manifestations that pertain to exaltation and eternal life may be administered. In cases of extreme poverty or emergency, these ordinances may sometimes be done on a mountaintop (see D&C 124:37–55). This may be the case with Mount Sinai and the Mount of Transfiguration. The tabernacle erected by Moses was a type of portable temple, since the Israelites were traveling in the wilderness. (LDS Bible Dictionary)
     And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of congregation and wash them with water, And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him and sanctify him...  (Exodus 40:12-13)
     Since the temple built by Solomon in all its grandeur and glory, there were no Houses of the Lord until the Lord commanded Joseph Smith, in the 1800's, to build a house for Him. The Lord expects anyone entering His presence to be cleansed. No unclean thing can dwell with God. (1 Ne 10:21) Once we have chosen to covenant, as evidenced by being baptized, with God, it is not a "done deal" that no more is expected of us until we die and are resurrected. We have an opportunity to continue to learn and progress and even enter the Lord's presence. 
Temples are literally houses of the Lord. They are holy places of worship where individuals make sacred covenants with God. Because making covenants with God is such a solemn responsibility, individuals cannot enter the temple to receive their endowments or be sealed in marriage for eternity until they have fully prepared themselves and been members of the Church for at least a year. (LDS.Org, topic "Temples")
     All of God's children will continue to progress through eternity and we will retain everything we gain in the way of learning truth and God's principles during our mortal life. Making covenants is a way of showing God our sincere desire to obey His and strive to be like Him and His Son. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father believes in me enough to trust me with the light He wants to share with all of His children as soon as they are willing. I am far from being like my Savior but I believe that His admonitions to follow Him mean that I can. 

Covenants: weekly renewal

     Near the end of our Savior's mortal ministry, he instituted the ordinance we call "the sacrament" which is partaking of wine/water and bread "in remembrance" of Him. Today it is done in a variety of ways by various religious groups. The main purpose continues to be to remember: remember Jesus Christ, what He did for every single one of the people on this planet and to remember our own covenants that we made when baptized. There are countless scriptures referring to it. I am going to give a couple of quotes from people today which are not available in our canonized scriptures.
     What does the name of Christ and that covenant mean? The most frequent single meaning of the scriptures that refer to the name of the Lord seem to mean the work of the Lord- His work, His atonement, His mission..... Everyone who covenants that they are willing to take upon them the name of  Christ is saying 'I will handle my share of that great mission, and my share is what I am called to do.' (Dallin H. Oaks, currently serving as one of the Twelve Apostles)
     "In many denominations, it would be thought odd that the sacrament of the Lord's supper is offered every week. Yet the Latter Day Saints know that imperfect beings must regularly reaffirm their personal goal of perfection, being justified in the meaning by the atonement of Christ. Accordingly, each week we come before the Lord as we prepare for the sacrament and say essentially, 'Heavenly Father, I wasn't perfect again this week, but I repent of my sins and reaffirm my commitment to keep all the commandments. I promise to go back and try again with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I still want and need the cleansing that comes through faith, repentance, and baptism. Please extend my contract, my covenant of baptism, and grant me the continued blessings of the Atonement and the companionship of the Holy Ghost.' " (Stephen E. Robinson)
     I wish it weren't as easy as it is to forget something so important as a covenant with God.... but it is. Despite our best efforts, we get caught up in the world we can see, touch, hear, and feel with our mortal senses. I am grateful for a weekly reminder of who I am, what I have promised, where I am going from here, and who is at the other end.

Covenants: Baptism by water and fire

     Making a covenant, or serious agreement or contract, involves input and expectations from all parties. If we consider only what we want from God without being willing to listen to His expectations for us, it isn't really a covenant; it's only a demand that we make to receive something we want from Him. Is it really fair to expect such one-sidedness? So, we pursue baptism because that is one of God's stipulations:  And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. (2 Ne 31:11) In the LDS Bible Dictionary is this clarification: Baptism is not optional if one wishes the fullness of salvation. Jesus said a person must be born of water and of the Spirit (John 3:3-5). When he sent the twelve apostles forth to teach the gospel he told them that whosoever believed and was baptized would be saved; and whosoever did not believe would be damned. (Mark 16:16)..... Baptism symbolizes death, burial, and resurrection, and can only be done by immersion. Many Christians have been troubled by the lack of opportunity millions of people have suffered when not being given the option of being baptized then dying without it. There have been various attempts to explain how God can love ALL of His children and be fair and just, but condemn the unbaptized. Paul (in the New Testament) in his first letter to the Corinthians refers to how this is resolved: Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? (1 Cor. 15:29) Baptisms and confirmations (gift of the Holy Ghost) for those who fit this category are done in LDS temples all over the world. Those in the spirit world are not required to accept proxy ordinances but, if they desire it, the ordinance is performed when they can no longer do it because they no longer have a physical body and won't have until after resurrection. It's likely, due to the vast number of earth-inhabiting children of God, there will be some who need to be baptized after they have received their resurrected body. (That will occur during the Millenium.) In temples today, we are only trying to assist in this work by searching out our own kindred dead and performing ordinances that allow them to make covenants required by God.
     Matthew recorded John the Baptist: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire (Matt. 3:11) In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 31:12 is recorded: And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me and do the things which ye have seen me do. Again I refer to the Bible Dictionary for the clearest explanation of the identity of the Holy Ghost: The third member of the Godhead and, as the name implies, a personage of Spirit, not possessing a body of flesh and bones. The Holy Ghost has been manifest in every dispensation of the gospel since the beginning, being first made known to Adam. The Holy Ghost is manifested to men on the earth both as the power of the Holy Ghost and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon one before baptism, and is the convincing witness that the gospel is true.... The gift can come only after proper and authorized baptism, and is conferred by the laying on of hands. It came upon a large group of early followers of Christ on what is known as the "Day of Pentecost". Even after having been given it as a gift by one having authority to do so, the receiver must remain worthy of Its presence. The Lord (or His representative) dwelleth not in unholy temples. (Mosiah 2:37) If we are given a gift and choose not to use it or treat it with respect, there is no purpose in our having that gift. That works just like any contract, when one party breaks the agreement, the contract is null and void.

Covenants: faith and repentance

     "Covenants with God are serious and solemn...A covenant becomes a pledge of self... When a man makes a covenant, he is holding himself, like water, in his cupped hands. And if he opens his fingers he need not hope to find himself again. A covenant-breaker no longer has a self to commit or a guarantee to offer." (Dale Renlund Sept. 2017 Ensign, conference issue)
     The 4th Article of Faith of the LDS Church states, "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."
     As I consider the covenants we make with God, I will start with the very first step, which is faith. Faith is a belief in something you cannot necessarily see or touch or sense with your physical faculties. It is a belief, strong enough, to cause a change in you- not just a temporary awe due to witnessing a "miracle", not just a temporary desperation caused by a need to call upon a higher power when you are in a difficult situation and have no one else to turn to, and not just a declaration that you believe God and Jesus Christ exist. Faith is a decision to take a specific path in your goals, actions, and desires. Faith, like any decision we may make, can waver at times. We can have doubts and fears that cause us to think maybe God isn't really there or He doesn't really care about us. Faith at its best gives us what Jesus calls, "a peace which passeth all understanding"- basically meaning that we don't feel anxiety because we deeply believe God is aware of us and cares and will work things out whatever way He determines is best- even know in the same way you know the sun will rise in the morning because you have witnessed it before or in the same way you know that someone loves you even when they may be angry at you or disappointed in you for the moment. We can choose to scoff at the idea that , just because the sun was there yesterday, doesn't mean it will be back in the sky again. Or we can decide we don't believe in the love of another or that they have lost whatever love they had in the past. So, FAITH is a decision to believe, wholeheartedly with no intention of turning back. Some words from the LDS Bible Dictionary on faith: faith is a principle of action and of power..... by faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God. All true faith must be based upon correct knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results..... Although faith is a gift, it must be cultured and sought after until it grows..." I could go on endlessly quoting scriptures and wise words about the essence of faith, but it's basically a choice to strongly believe.
     The second principle as we pursue covenants with God is repentance. Repentance is NOT just feeling sorry. Worldly sorrow is when you get caught or punished and you don't really feel bad for what you did or thought, you just wish things were different. Godly sorrow is when you fully recognize your own faults and weaknesses,recognize your own responsibility to do something about it and have a deep desire to CHANGE so you won't be likely to continue making the same errors (sins). Repentance can be seen as difficult because it's really a big step to honestly assess yourself and be willing to admit flaws. It's also difficult to decide to be different than you are currently. But true repentance is actually healing; it's re-forming yourself into an improved version. It's the ultimate success to become better. God, as any loving parent, wants to see us grow up and be better. He is more than willing to help us if we sincerely desire to improve. He can't just do it for us any more than a good parent can take a math test for their child so they get a good grade. He can encourage us- through words of prophets and the tender voice of the Holy Ghost. He can help us- through promptings and sometimes putting a person or article or remembrance in our path. He can comfort us when the trying wearies us. He gave His Only Begotten Son to be ridiculed, hated, scorned, spit on, tortured, and crucified so that we can be eligible to meet the demands of eternal justice and healed from our pains and sorrows. Growing, learning, and improving is mostly uncomfortable when we don't sincerely want to do it, but are only doing it to compete with others or impress others or feel it a duty.
     To be who we truly want to be is to decide for ourselves that we want to pursue an ideal. If God or Jesus Christ stood in front of you and told you exactly what to do and say and think every second, would that be YOU?? They want us to be like Them- "perfect"- but only by our choice and growth.

Why covenants?

     Several times in my life I have wanted to lose weight. I was usually reluctant to tell anyone that I was trying because I figured then I would be more accountable and would just cause disappointment in them and myself when they asked how it was going and I hadn't succeeded.
     More and more often, couples are delaying marriage and choosing to simply live together. They figure they feel a commitment to each other and that's enough. On the other hand, if either or both decide it's just not working out, it's a lot easier to separate.
     Sometimes business deals are just made orally and maybe closed with a handshake. Depending on the features of the deal, that can be a fairly tenuous agreement. If there is no formal record of the deal, it's easy to back out or just "forget". Even between close friends or family members, some form of formal document makes everyone feel more secure and holds all parties more accountable.
     Many people consider themselves "religious" but choose not to align themselves with any particular formal church. They simply believe a higher power of some sort exists even if they don't really understand what that power is. Many Christians go a step further and acknowledge the reality of Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten Son of God who lived as a mortal a couple thousand years ago, was crucified, died on the cross, and was resurrected. They believe He atoned for their sins which allows them to be "saved" and eligible to live with God after death. They also believe that simply saying they believe in God and Christ and admitting Jesus is their Savior is sufficient. God doesn't seem to feel quite that informal about His relationship with us. A summary from the LDS Bible Dictionary states:
Between God and man...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. Thus the severe consequences to Ananias and Sapphira, who deliberately broke their covenant and lied unto God. (Acts 5:1-11)
     I have been thinking about the purpose, variety, and significance of covenants made between man and God. I plan to explore each covenant we have the opportunity to make and what they mean to us as we live out our mortal lives.

Pride is destructive, so is envy

     I know that pride can cause harm in so many ways. A person who is proud is easily offended which disrupts relationships with others. A proud person also tends to undervalue and be ungrateful for others because they are focused on comparing or competing. Somebody has to lose. If the proud person perceives themselves as the victor, they look down on their "competitor". If the proud person perceives themselves as the loser, they feel bad about themselves or they resent their "opponent" and renew their determination to beat them. Either way, both people lose.
     Envy is also destructive. I really dislike hearing comments like, "Oh, I hate her because she's so thin/pretty/talented." Or "He's not so great. I have seen/heard better." Those comments are really borne of envy and resentment. Rather than appreciating someone's ability/hard work/ talent, there is a primal response to wish them harm or failure. For the person doing the envying, this is like poison to their soul and only makes them bitter. It causes them to look at the other with hateful vision which ends up making both feel bad. For the person being envied, no matter how hard that person may have worked to achieve the level they have achieved, they feel like they have done something wrong. Rather than having others join in their celebration for the accomplishment, they feel like they have failed. When anyone strives to do well, they are hoping for validation of their worth. That can be detrimental if it goes to the point of being prideful. But if someone tries to keep a neat yard or home, struggles to be worthy of a promotion or award, or fights laziness/obesity/shyness or whatever, their achievement deserves respect or appreciation, not derision. We can either help each other, or destroy each other.