‘The importance of making and keeping promises and covenants weighs heavy on my mind. How important is it to you to keep your word? to be trusted? to do what you say you will do? to strive to honor your sacred covenants? to have integrity? By living true to our promises to the Lord and to others, we walk the covenant path back to our Father in Heaven and we feel His love in our lives. ‘
What promises and covenants have we made:
- with our family?
- with our employer/employees?
- with our fellow-members?
- with our Heavenly Father?
‘The Church does have many needs, and one of them is for more people who will just do what they have agreed to do. People who will show up for work and stay all day; who will quietly, patiently, and consistently do what they have agreed to do—for as long as it takes—and who will not stop until they have finished.’ [Elder F Burton Howard, “Commitment,” Ensign, May 1996, 27–28]
How does keeping those promises and covenants help us walk the covenant path? Is it always easy to do?
‘Is your word your bond? Keeping promises is not a habit; it is a characteristic of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. ‘
In what ways is keeping your promises a characteristic of being a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Can you think of examples from the scriptures of people who have kept promises and covenants and what the consequences were?
(Elder Rasband gives the examples of Ammon and the sons of Mosiah, Ruth, the good Samaritan and Zoram)
‘When we keep promises to one another, we are more likely to keep promises to the Lord. Remember the Lord’s words: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” ‘
Why do you think it is true that if we keep promises to each other we are more likely to keep promises to the Lord?
‘The youth theme for this coming year, 2020, speaks of Nephi’s classic promise to “go and do.” He wrote, “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” Although it was uttered long ago, we in the Church stand on that promise today.
To “go and do” means rising above the ways of the world, receiving and acting on personal revelation, living righteously with hope and faith in the future, making and keeping covenants to follow Jesus Christ, and thereby increasing our love for Him, the Savior of the world. ‘
Why is this counsel important to us today?
Are there ways in which you can better ‘go and do’ by:
- rising above the ways of the world?
- receiving and acting on personal revelation?
- living righteously with hope and faith in the future?
- making and keeping covenants to follow Jesus Christ?
‘A covenant is a two-way promise between us and the Lord. As members of the Church, we covenant at baptism to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, to live as He lived. Like those baptized at the Waters of Mormon, we covenant to become His people, “to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; … to mourn with those that mourn; … comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.” Our ministering one to another in the Church reflects our commitment to honor those very promises. ‘
‘As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have made a covenant with God that we “are willing to bear one another’s burdens” and “to mourn with those that mourn.” Mosiah 18:8–9 This may include becoming informed about emotional illnesses, finding resources that can help address these struggles, and ultimately bringing ourselves and others to Christ, who is the Master Healer. ‘ (Sister Reyna I Aburto, General Conference, October 2019).
What does it mean to you to ‘bear one another’s burdens’ and ‘mourn with those that mourn’?
‘My question today is, do we stand by our promises and covenants, or are they sometimes half-hearted commitments, casually made and hence easily broken? When we say to someone, “I will pray for you,” do we? When we commit, “I will be there to help,” will we? When we obligate ourselves to pay a debt, do we? When we raise our hands to sustain a fellow member in a new calling, which means to give support, do we? ‘
Take a moment to ponder Elder Rasband’s questions. Reflect whether there are areas where you need to make changes.
‘President Nelson has taught: “We … increase the Savior’s power in our lives when we make sacred covenants and keep those covenants with precision. Our covenants bind us to Him and give us godly power.” ‘
Have you experienced this increased power in your life as you have kept covenants?
Elder Rasband concluded his talk with an invitation and a promise.
The invitation:
‘I invite you to consider the promises and covenants you make with the Lord, and with others, with great integrity, knowing that your word is your bond. ‘
The promise:
‘I promise you, as you do this, the Lord will establish your words and sanction your deeds as you strive with unwearied diligence to build up your lives, your families, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will be with you, my dear brothers and sisters, and you can, with confidence, look forward to being “received into heaven, that thereby [you] may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness … for the Lord God hath spoken it.” ‘
How do you feel about that promise?
Watch or read: Pastry, Chalk Circles and Other Words to Live By: A Guide to Keeping Commitments by Sarah Westerberg
(NB: Passages in italics are excerpts from Elder Rasband’s address)
Latter-day Bloke 