Throughout the course of this semester, I have gained a
greater understanding of Christ’s Atonement and how to apply it in my own life.
I have also learned a great deal more about the covenants I have made through
baptism and sacrament ordinances, and am now preparing to make in the temple.
The purpose of this paper is to further explore the meaning of “covenants” as
stated in Mosiah 18:8-10, and how I
can continue to prepare to make eternal promises with our Heavenly Father.
The first covenant I would like to discuss is the first
essential covenant we make to enter into the kingdom of God: that is, baptism. Mosiah
18:8-10 states:
“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 resurrections, 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.”
There are several main points in this passage of scripture
that I’d like to address: First of all, it is made clear that those who make
covenants with God must be desirous
and willing. I recently attended the
baptism of Simon, who lives in my YSA ward here in Provo. He has been
attending BYU as a non-LDS student and after investigating the Church, chose to
be baptized. At the end of the meeting, our bishop said something that struck
me. He addressed Simon, and told him that many people have served him over the last years and months to be
prepared to enter into the waters of baptism; but now, as a member of the
Church and a disciple of Christ, it is his responsibility to serve others. It is very evident that Simon
understood the covenant that he just made with God, as spelled out in D&C
20:37:
“All those who humble themselves before God
and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hears 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…”
Simon is an example to me because he is clearly full of desire to join the ranks with Jesus
Christ through the covenant of baptism. I imagine that it would be a difficult
decision as an 18 year-old young man, 2000 miles away from home and family to
change his entire lifestyle. However, it is not that hard to envision in my own
life, because throughout this semester, I have learned that I make that same
commitment each week when I take the sacrament. Partaking of the bread and
water is a literal renewal of all of
the covenants I have made.
I have already covenanted with my Heavenly Father by being
baptized at age eight and partaking of the sacrament each week. I keep my end
of this two-way promise by humbly repenting of my sins and all of the
aforementioned things. In return, I can be worthy to have the Spirit of God
accompany me through out my life, as long as I am living worthily. Honoring baptismal
covenants is an important part of making all of the covenants on the path to
eternal life. As I honor my baptismal covenants, I am also preparing to make
other covenants. The next covenant is the endowment.
I have not yet received my endowment, but attending a temple
preparation class helped me to better understand what covenants I will be
making when I do. These instructions and covenants will prepare me for the
blessings of eternal life as long as I am faithful to my end of the promise. In
my temple preparation class, I learned that contrary to previous policy, I do
not have to wait to receive my endowment until I am about to leave on a mission
or be married. My instructor told me that a new statement given by the Brethren
of the First Presidency has encouraged bishops and stake presidents to be aware
of this policy change. Knowing this has changed my outlook on preparing to make
covenants with God. I want to let my endowment—a personal experience about my
own eternal progression—be a separate experience from my wedding or impending
mission, so that I will not be distracted from the importance of my covenants.
I hope that this will let my endowment experience be very personal and
meaningful. Because I now know that I can prepare to enter the temple before I
go on a mission or get married, my desire and motivation to do so has increased
exponentially. I have been studying the Plan of Salvation and trying to improve
many areas of my life in preparation to make covenants in the temple, alongside
keeping my baptismal covenants. I also learned this semester that partaking of
the sacrament not only renews baptismal covenants, but all promises and
covenants made with our Heavenly Father.
Going back to the theme of this paper as found in Mosiah 18,
one of my promises to Heavenly Father necessary to keep my covenants with him
is to “stand as a witness of God at all times, and in all things, and in all
places,” which is also included in the Young Women Theme. I have been reciting
this convicting statement ever since I was twelve years old. This means to me
that I will act in accordance with His will across all situations and against
all opposition. I consider myself lucky that I have not encountered many
opposing forces to my faith, however, by reading and understanding this
scripture I have learned that the request to stand as a witness of God did not
end when I graduated out of the Young Women’s program.
D&C 66:2 says:
“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.”
God is so good. He provides me with opportunities to
exercise faith and trust by allowing me to make covenants with Him. Even though
I already experience many benefits from these covenants, He continues to pour
out blessings of the fullness of the gospel and offers unfathomable glory in
the kingdoms to come. Throughout this semester—by taking a Book of Mormon class
and attending temple preparation, by learning more about the sacrament and
studying the Plan of Salvation—I have developed my relationship with my
Heavenly Father exponentially. I have a better understanding of Christ’s
atonement and how it is applicable in my life, and I strive to understand the
importance of making and keeping my covenants with God. As stated in the July
2012 Ensign article, “keeping our covenants is a commitment to become like the
Savior” (Understanding Our Covenants with God). I am committed to become more
like my Savior, Jesus Christ, and thus will strive for the rest of my life to
keep the covenants that are made possible through Him.
