Honoring Our Covenants

A covenant is a sacred and enduring promise between God and His children.

Making covenants—meaning to commit, to promise, to pledge, to vow, to agree, or to contract.

Keeping covenants is an expression of our discipleship as we serve and strengthen one another. “When we realize that we are children of the covenant, we know who we are and what God expects of us,” said Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “His law is written in our hearts. He is our God and we are His people.”

 “As we make and keep sacred covenants, we become instruments in the hands of God; we will be able to articulate our beliefs and strengthen each other’s faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ” (VT Message, October 2012).

From the Scriptures

1 Nephi 14:14; And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

Mosiah 5:7; And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.

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Baptismal Covenant—Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins is a covenant to keep the commandments of God and take upon us the name of Christ. (Quote) “Those of us who have entered into the waters of baptism and received the gift of the Holy Ghost have covenanted that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and keep His commandments.”

Sacramental Covenant—This ordinance was introduced so that we can renew our covenants to serve Him, to obey Him, and to always remember Him.  (Quote) “The sacrament is the ordinance that replaced the blood sacrifices and burnt offerings of the Mosaic law, and with it came the Savior’s promise: ‘And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost’” (3 Nephi 9:20).

Oath and Covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood—When a man receives the Melchizedek Priesthood, he enters into the oath and covenant of the priesthood. He covenants to be faithful, magnify his calling, “give diligent heed to the words of eternal life,” and “live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.” Those who keep this covenant will be sanctified by the Spirit and receive “all that [the] Father hath.” (See D&C 84:33-44.)

Endowment Covenant—The endowment is an ordinance performed in our temples. It consists of two parts: first, a series of instructions, and second, promises or covenants that the person receiving the endowment makes—promises to live righteously and comply with the requirements of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Celestial Marriage Covenant—Another temple ordinance is that of celestial marriage, where wife is sealed to husband and husband sealed to wife for eternity.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, General Conference, October 2012—Of Regrets and Resolutions

"Declaring our testimony of the gospel is good, but being a living example of the restored gospel is better.

Wishing to be more faithful to our covenants is good; actually being faithful to sacred covenants—including living a virtuous life, paying our tithes and offerings, keeping the Word of Wisdom, and serving those in need—is much better.

Announcing that we will dedicate more time for family prayer, scripture study, and wholesome family activities is good; but actually doing all these things steadily will bring heavenly blessings to our lives."