Keeping Covenants (continued)

In response to a comment left on the previous post “Keeping Covenants” I write the following.

While I was initially writing my talk I thought maybe I should clarify a couple of items but decided that the intended audience would understand, but now I see I need to clarify as I have presented this talk to a much wider audience. I am hesitant to post what I have written as this may make me out to be a religious fanatic or some crazy lunatic, which I might be, but I guess if I believe what I have already stated previously that I must hold up the light which is Christ then stating what I have below is not wrong as my intent is humble and I seek truth and understanding.

In the quote by Sister Ann Dibb she speaks of blessings of being a member of the LDS church. The blessings of which she is speaking include the covenants that members of the LDS church have entered into with God for which she is expressing gratitude, but she is also expressing gratitude for what the covenants enable her to do as an LDS church member. My purpose was to show the significance of covenants in the life of an LDS church member which is why  adding that the blessings are “everything” as stated by President Monson, president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was important.

In general, a covenant is something that exceeds the bounds of this life and our present understanding of time. It is essentially eternal by nature and as such must be viewed from that perspective. Given its nature it is difficult to weigh its importance within the bounds of just this life. Though a covenant in this life may act like an anchor giving one guidance and stability in a world full of disruption and commotion a more important purpose (in my opinion) is that a covenant binds us to eternity or to God.

Entering into a covenant with God means to accept and keep his commandment and in return receive something from him. It is essentially a promise between two individuals but with more meaning and ritual involved. As Sister Dibb remarks, the blessings of being a member of the church are part of the return received from God but the covenant is not complete just because one made a covenant or received a blessing, as a covenant is eternal by nature and does not end there.

Keeping Covenants

I was asked to speak in church today and the following is the main body of my address if you are interested in reading.

I would like to read part of Lehi’s account of his dream of the Tree of Life. This account is one of the most profound yet simple to understand of all analogies concerning God, life, and our existence and cannot be pondered enough. Elder Jeffery R. Holland says it is “a great parable of life, an extended allegory of hope versus fear, of light versus darkness, of salvation versus destruction” (General Conference October 2009).

Lehi states:

“For behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness. And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me. And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him. And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste. And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies. And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field. And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy.” (1Nephi 8:4-12)

This passage helps to explain why as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we do what we do. We have seen a “tree, whose fruit is desirable to make one happy," and we are going forward to partake of it. This is a figurative tree like one you might see in a dream, as Lehi did, but the affect on our resolve and belief is not figurative. We can liken the seeing of a “tree” to what Alma inquires of the people of the church during one of his great discourses asking if they have “experienced a change of heart” or “felt to sing the song of redeeming love” (Alma 5:26). If we have lost sight of this “tree," have weakened our changed heart, or forgotten how to sing the song of redemption then we need to be reminded again and humble ourselves. And as Alma continues: