A profound power that is much needed in our day and that will become increasingly crucial in days ahead. We need strong Christians who can persevere against hardship, who can sustain hope through tragedy, who can lift 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.
Elder Christofferson talks about what is needed today and what we need to be. I think his choice of 'subjects' is interesting. He doesn't say that, "we need church members . . .", he says that, "we need Christians." To me that means that we need to be true Christians (followers of Christ) as we do these things and become these people.
Some of his thoughts as to how we get the strength to become these people:
. . . the source of such moral and spiritual power . . . 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. (my bold) God binds Himself to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us in return for our commitment to serve Him and keep his commandments. We enter into covenants by priesthood ordinances, sacred rituals that God has ordained for us to manifest our commitment. First is baptism. Other sacred ordinances are performed in temples. The new and everlasting covenant . . . is the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, the doctrines and commandments of the gospel constitute the substance of an everlasting covenant between God and man that is newly restored in each dispensation.
The guiding question for this talk (and the 4th Sunday priesthood lesson that I taught from it) is What is it about making and keeping covenants with God that gives us the power to smile through hardships, to convert tribulation into triumph, to "be anxiously engaged in a good cause, . . . and bring to pass much righteousness." That is what making and keeping covenants does.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
MOM here:'Covenants are done individually, by name.By this ordinance, we become part of the covenant people of the Lord and heirs of the celestial kingdom of God.' What a blessing the endowment is in my life. It is a further testimony to me of the love of the Lord for each of us. All may receive their endowment, not just certain people. All that is required is a recommend and a desire to keep the covenants we make.
ReplyDelete'It is the Holy Ghost that reveals how you may clear the next seemingly insurmountable hurdle..by the Holy Ghost in you that others may feel the pure love of Christ and receive strength to press forward.' Keeping our covenants blesses our lives with strength, but also gives strength to others around us.
"We need strong Christians who can persevere against hardship, who can sustain hope through tragedy, who can lift others by their example and their compassion, and who can consistently overcome temptations."
ReplyDeleteWe will be blessed by fulfilling our covenants. We will have strength to overcome our trials and to serve others. Through hard times peace may be our blessing. We need to always rely on the Lord, loving and serving Him.