The Power of Covenants

My thoughts on Elder Christofferson's talk "The Power of Covenants"

I'm sort of glad I'm not putting my thoughts down on this one until today--my anniversary to my wonderful husband. My thoughts are drawn back to the Seattle Temple some 20 years ago when I was befuddled and twitter pated. I also think of how much my knowledge of the power of those covenants has grown since that day. I'm amazed.

I'm still in awe that our Heavenly Father said 8 was the age to make the first covenant with him. I'm in awe that he grants the rights of the priesthood to 12 year old boys. I have my fourth boy turn 12 in a month and two days (just ask him, he'll tell you how long) and I think of the awesome responsibilities these rights and covenants carry with them and stand in awe that our God would allow us humans, full of well humanness! And then to think me at 19 was granted the right to enter the temple to make eternal covenants with another human and the Lord--SHOCKING! My oldest son is 17 and there is no way he is ready. I can't believe I was ready. Probably wasn't but as the Lord has said over and over, "Line upon line." That is exactly what happens in our knowledge of these great covenants and responsibilities.

Elder Christofferson's thought bring me back to what really matters with the covenants I have made through my life.

"We need strong Christians who can persevere against hardship, who can sustain hope through tragedy, who can life others by their example and their compassion, and who can consistently overcome temptations. We need strong Christians who can make important things happen by their faith and who can defend the truth of Jesus Christ against moral relativism and militant atheism."

Am I that person? Are my children those Christians? Is my family an example? What have I done to show that I am a Christian lately to those I know and love? Are my words and actions speaking my heart? And if not how can I change? Oh, wait Elder Christofferson give the answer.

"The source is God. Our access to that power is through our covenants with Him. A covenant is an agreement between God and man, an accord whose terms are set by God. In these divine agreements, God binds Himself to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us in return for our commitment to serve Him and keep His commandments."

It amazes me still that it is truly that easy. We obey and he blesses us. We love him, serve him and he blesses us. Making it easier for us to stay on the straight and narrow and continue to do those things worth of his sustaining vote of us and our actions. A cycle that spirals upward! (better that than the one that goes downwards ~smile~). **He comes back to this thought later in his talk**

"It is done individually, by name."

I highlighted this one and it has caused me to pause and think of all the covenants I've entered into and the billions that have been entered in by those who have walked this earth since the beginning of time. We all do it by our own names. The covenants we enter into are done by our OWN NAME. It isn't a blanket, "everyone here" type of thing. We do it in our own name. And he knows us by our name. How wonderful! What a great comfort and thought. I should hold to that thought more often.

Now back to the blessings of covenants.
By gifts and blessings.
Sometimes we don't recognize the blessings of obedience. We take our lives for granted. But there are many blessings to obedience to this words. We are free from addiction. We are free from the bounds of sin. We are blessed with safety and health. We are blessed in "our capacity to deal with these challenges." I can't begin to count how many times I've heard people say, "I don't know how you do it." I do it because I know who to turn to and he blesses me because of my obedience to his laws. He blesses me with insights to problems, concerns and trials. He doesn't bless me that they won't happen (I know that way too well) but I have the ability, the strength and the courage to face them and know where to turn to when I feel alone, confused or in need of advice.

By increased faith.
"...they produce the faith necessary to persevere and to do all things that are expedient in the Lord."
..."but as we honor our covenants, that faith expands. In the first place, the promised fruits of obedience become evident, which confirms our faith. Secondly, the Spirit communicates God's pleasure, and we feel secure in His continued blessing and help. Thirdly, come what may, we can face life with hope and equanimity, knowing that we will succeed in the end because we have God's promise to us individually, by name, and we know He cannot lie. "
This follows closely to what I said in the above paragraph. Obeying and seeing the blessings increases my faith.
"...our faith becomes unbounded, having the assurance that God will in due time turn every affliction to our gain."
The hard part is the "in due time" part. But if we are faithful we can see the blessings of our faith. I think of Job, Abraham, Israel, Joseph Smith Jr., my own mother and many others. Their blessings are there and the faithful can even call on their blessings. Our blessings are there and as we exercise faith we can call upon the blessings too.
"The Apostle Paul understood that one who has entered into a covenant with God is both given the faith to face trials and gains even greater faith through those trials."
That is a promise I hold on to!!

Through the power of Godliness.
The bestowal of divine power.
"Our covenant commitment to Him permits our Heavenly Father to let His divine influence, "the power of godliness", flow into our lives."
WOW!!
"Our participation in those ordinances also demonstrates that we are prepared to accept the additional responsibility that comes with added light and spiritual power."
Double WOW!
I'm thrilled to have this much responsibility and stewardship. I can't believe a Father would do that for his wicked children. But wow!
"When we have entered into divine covenants, the Holy Ghost is our comforter, our guide, and our companion."
I guess that is how we do it. Through the power of the Holy Ghost. A member of the Godhead--our Divine power of Godliness! I can't imagine us doing it any other way. How cool is that?

And in parting he says, "In times of distress, let your covenants be paramount and let your obedience be exact."

If only I can live up to that last statement and teach my children to do so likewise.