The Old Covenant and The New and Everlasting Covenant

I love the Gospel, or “Good News” of Jesus Christ and the simplicity of it. As I have begun teaching from the Doctrine and Covenants this year I have found how simply beautiful the doctrine and principles of His Gospel are for each of us to understand and embrace.

I am thankful for the past year of study I have had solely in the first five books of Moses in the Old Testament. It has given me a greater understanding of the covenant relationship we have with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. With that foundational understanding I have been allowed to see the relationship the “Old Covenant” has with the “New and Everlasting Covenant” of today.

What exactly is the “Old Covenant” I am referring to?

Many people term the “Old Covenant” as the Abrahamic Covenant. That has been somewhat confusing to me at times, because the covenant was originally made with Adam, renewed with Enoch, Noah, and so forth throughout all the dispensation heads. I have often wondered why it was not labeled the Adamic Covenant, since it truly began with Adam, but I guess that is food for thought for another post, right?

My intended purpose for writing this post is to express my thoughts of WHAT the covenant, or as we call it, Abrahamic Covenant, really is. For simplicity I have broken it down in this way:

A covenant is a two way promise between God and man, with God setting the terms. Applied to that promise are blessings or consequences for how well you live up to your end of the “contract”. God always lives up to His end of the deal that is why He is God.

The actual promise is really very simple. God has stated that “If you will make me your God, then I will make you my people, therefore walk with me.”

Leviticus 26:3-12

3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;

4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.

7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.

8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.

10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.

11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.

12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

IF we make Him our God we must learn to “walk with Him”. What exactly does that entail really? I have spent much time pondering that question, and have found that it is really as simple as learning to be obedient and being willing to sacrifice. This life is given to us so that we may learn to walk. How easy that learning process is, is our own choice, but ultimately we will all learn to walk.

If we choose not to “walk the walk” patterned after His walk then there are consequences as well:

Leviticus 26: 27-28

27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;

28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

Even if we do not choose the easy path, He still allows us to learn to walk. We are simply given a different, or most times harder, path to walk until we learn to walk WITH Him. Through His chastisement or the difficult path we are given, we WILL learn. This difficult path is for our own growth, for “whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth.”

The covenant we make is simply this: to make Him our God and walk in His ways. He in turn will make us His people. I think, in that deal we are getting more than we are giving really, but isn’t that how it always is with our Father in Heaven?

Forgiveness - The Greatest Gift

According to the renown LDS scholar, Hugh Nibley, there are really only two things we need to learn to do in this life, they are to repent and forgive. This is the true gospel. Share these gifts freely with all you know.

Merry Christmas to all!

Prop 8 Proponents Speak Out Against Attacks

I absolutely loved this video... please enjoy it!

Yes on Prop 8

The debate rages on... will same sex marriage be taught in our schools if "No on Prop 8" prevails?

I have posted a whole article on this on my Hubpages account addressing this very question. Go to this link and check it out.
http://hubpages.com/hub/My-Questions-About-Prop-8-In-California

I think you might find the comments especially interesting, make sure to read what Lisa Murphy wrote with permission from Mike Spence. Mike Spence is a School Board member in Covina School District. He has some interesting things to say on this very issue.

Proposition 8 and the Call to Action

Just today California has been joined by Connecticut in the battle to save traditional marriage. One of the best reasons for the definition, other than that of being ordained by God was given today, in my opinion, by one of the opposing Judges in the Supreme Court decision in that state. He said, "The ancient definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman has its basis in biology, not bigotry." I loved that!

The state of Connecticut following the state of California in their decision to challenge traditional marriage is exactly what was expected would happen, only it happened a little earlier than I thought. Our Church leaders have warned that the world has their eyes on this monumental decision that is being fought here in California, that of preserving traditional marriage. What happens here will be a standard for things to come.

Our LDS leaders in a broadcast from Salt Lake have encouraged us, as an LDS people, to come out boldly and speak of our commitment to traditional marriage and of our values and teachings. Now is the time to act and be courageous.

I have spent the last two days on the Internet watching as Young Adults throughout the stake have boldly defended the truths they believe. They have posted blog posts and posted videos supporting Prop 8 on their Facebook pages. There have been some that have had the courage to take the discussion to the open forums and engage in conversation there. Many have met with opposition to this action that they have taken, still they press on.

One of the most eye opening things I have seen is two loving brothers who, have conflicting opinions, stand true to their opposite sides, each unbending in his ideals engaging in persuasive conversation, desperately trying to make the other see his point of view. It was a stark realization of what the war in Heaven must have been like. This war is not one of violent actions but of opposing views, a war over truth versus deception.

These bold, noble, youth have been more courageous than others half their age, in defending what they know to be true. Being called "narrow minded" and labeled as prejudiced they have endured the battle front over the last couple of days, valiantly. The words to the Hymn, True to the Faith, have come to have new and emotional meaning to me.

"Shall the youth of Zion falter in defending truth and right? While the enemy assaileth, shall we shrink or shun the fight? NO! True to the faith that our parents have cherished, true to the truth for which martyrs have perished, To God's command, Soul, heart, and hand, Faithful and true we will ever stand."

I have witnessed this in action and have renewed hope for the future.

We must all support these Young Adults as they battle this battle, or have it counted against us! I know this is true. Make sure you do "all that you can do to support Proposition 8" as our leaders have asked and have it counted unto you as righteousness. I love these young people!

The Family: A Proclamation To The World and Propostion 8 In California

Last Sunday in our Young Adult Branch we had a combined Priesthood and Relief Society lesson on the document, The Family: A Proclamation to the World. I suppose the reason for the lesson with an emphasis on that document may have been brought about because of the recent discussion of Proposition 8 in California, where once again we, as voters, are being asked to redefine the bounds of marriage.

Although I have studied the proclamation in depth, and even been responsible for giving instruction on it in Seminary, I was once again amazed at the magnitude of such a piece of counsel that it is. We proceeded in class to study it paragraph by paragraph to unlock the council that is given inside.

May I first say that I noticed that it is very bold and to the point. Perhaps in past times of study I had not noticed this fact. But, with the divided discussion even amongst members of the church, pertaining to these bold truths, simply because of the recent political involvement, I had a tendency to squirm in my seat. I felt for the kind instructor who was attempting to teach these truths to a group of youth who may be somewhat "foggy" about them.

The Proclamation to the World does not pull any punches. It boldly states that “marriage is between a man and a woman”. It also states that “gender is an essential characteristic of individual pre-mortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.” One of the kids raised their hand and asked, “Then do we believe that it is possible for someone to be born in the wrong body?” Isn’t it amazing that years before this question would be asked; a prophet of God gave the answer in a clear and unmistakable way?

I guess the most important thing I discovered by looking at the document once again is that our church is lead by men authorized by the Lord to speak for him. This document is proof of living prophets who could see beyond their day and look into the future, counseling us on what eternal truths are. At the time that the proclamation was issued, these truths were not being challenged as they are today.

Four words stood out to me the most, as I looked though the actual document. They are “declare”, “warn”, and “call upon”. Our dear sweet prophets who saw our day, declared boldly the truth about marriage and family, knowing those truths would be attacked. They then proceeded to “warn” us as a society about the consequences that would be brought about if these truths were to be violated. Then finally they “call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as a fundamental unit of society.”

This last part where they specifically “call upon” us is so prophetic. That has been fulfilled today right before your eyes. We have been asked by our current prophet Thomas S. Monson, to support our previous prophet and more importantly the decisions of the Lord, in a statement which reads,

“We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage.”

The fulfillment of this prophecy is so exact. The wording in the proclamation asks to “promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.” Proposition 8 is exactly one of those measures.

I have observed something that concerns me far greater than even this pressing one of redefining marriage. For those of you who are unaware, there has become a division in the church over this issue. Many express a concern that “the church” has no place in politics and should remain silent on this issue. Many feel that by supporting Proposition 8 we as a church are showing a lack of tolerance and love for Heavenly Fathers children. Many of these arguments and other issues have arisen that have caused a division amongst the saints.

The major issue, as I see it, is a matter of obedience concerning the saints in the church today. It is one involving the foundational principle of testimony. It is testing the saints to the core, to see if in fact they do believe that this Church of Jesus Christ is being led by Him through modern day prophets. It is requiring a proof of that testimony by showing obedience and action. When a prophet of God requests something, we as a church should be unflinching in our resolve to adhere. Can you see the implications of this request going far beyond that of marriage and the family? It is a refining process for the saints as well.

“And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” Matthew 25:32-33

“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matthew 13:30

“Therefore, I must gather together my people, according to the parable of the wheat and the tares, that the wheat may be secured in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial glory when I shall come in the kingdom of my Father to reward every man according as his work shall be;” Doctrine and Covenants 101:65

There is far more at stake here than families, it is the individual.

Are Mormons Christian?

I know that I have posted a video in my last post but I just came across another one that I think is amazing. It was just released on YouTube yesterday so I think you might not have seen it yet. It answers the question that is seldom asked, are Mormons Christian?

As incredible as this sounds, there are still many people in this world who do not understand that a Mormon is a Christian. The true name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I believe that by understanding the real name of the church, the above question should be answered completely to the affirmative, but it is not. Our latter day prophets and apostles have testified unceasingly about the fact that we do believe in Jesus Christ, and that He is our Savior and Redeemer. Here is a great example of one of those testimonies. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and yes... Mormons are Christian!