Photo supplied, Intellectual Reserve

Covenants are agreements between two parties. To many spiritual people, including members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a covenant is a sacred agreement between God and His children.

“A covenant is a binding spiritual contract, a solemn promise to God our Father that we will live and think and act in a certain way — the way of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In return, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost promise us the full splendor of eternal life,” said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, member of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in a January 2012 talk from a missionary satellite broadcast.

There are many references to sacred covenants in ancient scripture. In Genesis of the Old Testament, Chapter 17, Verse 7, it reads, “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” In Exodus, Chapter 19, Verse 5, it reads, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.”

Anette J. Dennis, Relief Society General Presidency first counselor, said during the April 2024 general conference, “We have the privilege and blessing of being invited into a covenant relationship with God, in which our own lives can become a symbol of that covenant. Covenants create the kind of relationship that allows God to mold and change us over time and lift us to become more like the savior, drawing us closer and closer to him and our Father and eventually preparing us to enter their presence.”

Dennis said that the covenant path — making and keeping covenants throughout life’s journey — is all about a relationship with God. “Our Father wants a deeper relationship with all his sons and daughters, but it is our choice. As we choose to draw nearer to him through a covenant relationship, it allows him to draw nearer to us and more fully bless us,” she said.

Photo supplied, Intellectual Reserve

One of those covenants is baptism. During the October 2000 general conference, Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said, “At baptism we make a covenant with our Heavenly Father that we are willing to come into his kingdom and keep his commandments from that time forward, even though we still live in the world.” Hales said Jesus was baptized to fulfill his Father’s commandment that sons and daughters of God should be baptized.

According to lds.org, “Those who are baptized enter into a covenant with God to take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ, keep His commandments and serve Him to the end. Those who keep the covenant they made at baptism are blessed by the Lord for their faithfulness.”

Each Sunday, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have the opportunity to renew the covenants that they made when baptized through the taking of the sacrament. “At baptism and when we partake of the sacrament, we witness that we are willing to take on ourselves the name of Jesus Christ,” said Elder Dale G. Renlund, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, at the April 2023 general conference. “Our covenants give us power to stay on the covenant path because our relationship with Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father is changed. We are connected to them by a covenantal bond.”

Renlund also spoke about covenants that are made in the temples of the church, which are sacred places of worship. “By making and keeping temple covenants, we learn more about the Lord’s purposes and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost. We receive direction for our lives. We mature in our discipleship so that we do not remain perpetual, unknowing children. Rather, we live with an eternal perspective and are more motivated to serve God and others. We receive increased capacity to fulfill our purposes in mortality. We are protected from evil, and we gain greater power to resist temptation and to repent when we stumble. When we falter, the memory of our covenants with God helps us return to the path,” he said.

During the October 2008 general conference, then-Relief Society General Presidency First Counselor Silvia H. Allred spoke about the importance of the covenants made in the temple. “Temple covenants and ordinances are a powerful symbol of Christ and his atonement. We all receive the same instruction, but our understanding of the meaning of the ordinances and covenants will increase as we return to the temple often with the attitude of learning and contemplating the eternal truths taught,” she said.

In October 2013, then-Relief Society General President Linda K. Burton listed some reasons for keeping covenants. First, she said, “covenant keeping strengthens, empowers and protects. As we keep our covenants, we also receive courage and strength to help us bear one another’s burdens.” The second reason she gave for keeping covenants is to experience true happiness. Third, keeping covenants demonstrates love for the savior and Father in heaven.

President of the church Russell M. Nelson has spoken often throughout the years about the importance of covenants. In an October 2011 talk, he spoke about how God has made covenants with his children through the ages. “His covenants occur throughout the entire plan of salvation and are therefore part of the fulness of his gospel. For example, God promised to send a savior for his children, asking in turn for their obedience to his law.”

In an October 2022 talk titled, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” he spoke about how making and keeping covenants actually makes life easier. “Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples — and keeps them — has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ. Please ponder that stunning truth!”

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints strive to keep covenants as a way of staying close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, receiving guidance throughout their lives, working to serve and love others and, in time, returning to live with Heavenly Father.

“The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power — power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations and heartaches better,” Nelson said. “This power eases our way. Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to his higher power. Thus, covenant keepers are entitled to a special kind of rest that comes to them through their covenantal relationship with God.”