Gospel Principles
Unit 5: The Church of Jesus Christ
Chapter 15: The Lord's Covenant People
Comments and Resources

'President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: 
"Each ordinance and requirement given to man for the purpose of bringing to pass his Salvation and exaltation is a covenant....
"Keeping the Sabbath day holy is a covenant.... All of the Ten Commandments are everlasting covenants.  The law of tithing is a form of an everlasting covenant....
"Marriage is an everlasting covenant."  (Doctrines of Salvation 1:152-53)

"A gospel covenant is a holy contract. 'God in his good pleasure fixes the terms, which man accepts' (Bible Dictionary, LDS ed., 'Covenants')....Man covenants to do certain things or meet certain conditions; God cites promises the he will give in return" (Carlos E. Asay, "The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood," Ensign, Nov. 1985 p. 43). 

"The Lord identified the gospel as the great and all-embracing covenant...Man of the Lord's commandments are in the form of covenants promising specific blessings...Observing the gospel covenants we make with the Lord justifies us to enter the temple and there receive the ordinances and covenants essential to exaltation" (Marion G. Romney, "Gospel Covenants," Ensign, May 1981, pp. 43-44).

During the study of this topic, we will learn what covenants the Lord has made with his children anciently, what covenants he has made today, why the Lord has given us covenants, why the Lord has given us covenants, and the result of keeping our covenants.'

Resources
Gospel Principles, chapter 15

Scriptures :
2 Nephi 29:1, 14
  1 But behold, there shall be many at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel; 
      "  "  "
  14 And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever. 
 

Alma 24:17-19; 56:1-8
Alma 24:17-19
  17 And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man's blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth. 
  18 And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man's blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands. 
  19 And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace. 
 
Alma 56:1-8
  1 And now it came to pass in the *commencement of the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges, on the second day in the first month, Moroni received an epistle from Helaman, stating the affairs of the people in that quarter of the land. 
  2 And these are the words which he wrote, saying: My dearly beloved brother, Moroni, as well in the Lord as in the tribulations of our warfare; behold, my beloved brother, I have somewhat to tell you concerning our warfare in this part of the land. 
  3 Behold, two thousand of the sons of those men whom Ammon brought down out of the land of Nephi now ye have known that these were descendants of Laman, who was the eldest son of our father Lehi; 
  4 Now I need not rehearse unto you concerning their traditions or their unbelief, for thou knowest concerning all these things 
  5 Therefore it sufficeth me that I tell you that two thousand of these young men have taken their weapons of war, and would that I should be their leader; and we have come forth to defend our country. 
  6 And now ye also know concerning the covenant which their fathers made, that they would not take up their weapons of war against their brethren to shed blood. 
  7 But in the twenty and sixth year, when they saw our afflictions and our tribulations for them, they were about to break the covenant which they had made and take up their weapons of war in our defence. 
  8 But I would not suffer them that they should break this covenant which they had made, supposing that God would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of the fulfilling the oath which they had taken. 


Genesis 9:8-17 (Compare JST, Genesis 9:16-17); 17:1-14
Genesis 9:8-17 God Covenants with Noah "... 11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth."   """  " 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. ..."

<http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/jst/3> GENESIS 9:21-25  JST
The rainbow was set in heaven as a reminder of God's covenant to Enoch and to Noah. In the last days the general assembly of the church of the Firstborn the Zion of the Lord in Enoch's time; see Moses 7 will join the righteous on earth. (compare Genesis 9:16-17) 
  21 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men shall keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself. 
  22 And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy; 
  23 And the general assembly of the church of the first-born shall come down out of heaven, and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come. And this is mine everlasting covenant, which I made with thy father Enoch. 
  24 And the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will establish my covenant unto thee, which I have made between me and thee, for every living creature of all flesh that shall be upon the earth. 
  25 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and thee; for all flesh that shall be upon the earth. 


Genesis 17:1-14  God makes a covenant with Abraham

Deuteronomy 7:6-9; 26:12-19  
Deuteronomy 7:6-9
  6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 
  7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 
  8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 
  9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; 

Deuteronomy 26:12-19
 12  When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; 
  13 Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them: 
  14 I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me. 
  15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey. 
  16  This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. 
  17 Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice: 
  18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; 
  19 And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken. 



Joshua 24:12-15; 24:21-27

Joshua 24:12-15
  12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow. 
  13 And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat. 
  14  Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 
  15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 

      "  "  "
Joshua 24:21-27
  21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD. 
  22 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. 
  23 Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel. 
  24 And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. 
  25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 
  26  And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. 
  27 And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God. 
 

Hebrews 8:6-13
  6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 
  7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 
  8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 
  9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 
  10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 
  11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 
  12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 
  13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. 



Topical Guide: <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/tg/contents> 
                         Abrahamic Covenants
                         Covenants
                         Oath
                         Promise
                         Stewardship, Steward
                         Swearing, Swear, Sware, Sworn
                         Vow

Bible Dictionary:  <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/contents>
                         Abraham, Covenant of; 
                         Corban
                         Covenant
                         Rainbow
                         Vows

Concept 1: Introduction

'From the beginning the Lord has made covenants with his children on earth.  When his people make covenants (or promises) with him, they know what he expects of them and what blessings they may expect from him.  They can better carry out his work on earth.  The people who covenant with the Lord and with whom the Lord makes covenants are know as the Lord's "covenant people".  Members of the Church are part of the Lord's covenant people.

Discussion

Deuteronomy 26:18 And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments.

What does the Lord mean when he calls his people a "peculiar people"?
Why are Latter-day Saints called a covenant People?


Concept 2: What is a Covenant?

'Within the gospel, a covenant means a sacred agreement or mutual promise between God and a person or a group of people.  In making a covenant, God promises a blessing for obedience to particular commandments.  He sets the terms of his covenants, and reveals these terms to his prophets.  If we choose to obey the terms of the covenant, we receive promised blessings.  If we choose not to obey, he withholds the blessings, and in some instances a penalty also is given.

For example, when we join the Church we make several covenants with God (See chapter 20, "Baptism").  We covenant with the Savior at baptism to take upon ourselves his name.  He promises that "as many as... are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved." (D&C 18:22).  We covenant with the Lord as we partake of the sacrament.  We promise to remember him and to obey his commandments.  We are promised that the Holy Spirit will be with us.  (D&C 20:77,79 "  77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. 
      "  "  "
  79 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.").  
   As members of the Church, we also covenant to obey the law of chastity, to keep the Sabbath day holy, and to be honest.  When we enter into the eternal marriage covenant, we make other sacred promises and are promised exaltation for faithful obedience (see D&C 132; Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded July 12, 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant, as also plurality of wives. HC 5: 501 507. Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, it is evident from the historical records that the doctrines and principles involved in this revelation had been known by the Prophet since 1831. 
1-6, Exaltation is gained through the new and everlasting covenant; 7-14, The terms and conditions of that covenant are set forth; 15-20, Celestial marriage and a continuation of the family unit enable men to become gods; 21-25, The strait and narrow way that leads to eternal lives; 26-27, law given relative to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost; 28-39, Promises of eternal increase and exaltation made to prophets and saints in all ages; 40-47, Joseph Smith is given the power to bind and seal on earth and in heaven; 48-50, The Lord seals upon him his exaltation; 51-57, Emma Smith is counseled to be faithful and true; 58-66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set forth. 
 Also Chapter 47 in Gospel Principles ).

God has also made special covenants with particular persons or groups.  He made special covenants with Adam, Enoch, Noah, the children of Israel, and Lehi  Moses 6:52; "And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you."

Moses 6:31-36; "  31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant? 
  32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good. 
  33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you. 
  34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me. 
  35 And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so. 
  36 And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people."

Genesis 9:9-17; " 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 
  10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 
  11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 
  12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 
  13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 
  14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 
  15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 
  16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 
  17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. "

Exodus 19:5-6; " 5 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: 
  6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel."

2 Nephi 1 whole chapter. <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/2_ne/1>
An account of the death of Lehi. Nephi's brethren rebel against him. The Lord warns Nephi to depart into the wilderness. His journeyings in the wilderness, and so forth. 
Lehi prophesies of a land of liberty His seed shall be scattered and smitten if they reject the Holy One of Israel He exhorts his sons to put on the armor of righteousness. Between 588 and 570 B.C. 

He made a special covenant with Abraham and his descendants that blesses members of the Church today.

Discussion

What is a covenant?
What kinds of covenants have we made with God?
What blessings has he promised us for keeping certain covenants?'




Concept 3: God's Covenant with Abraham and His Descendants

'Abraham, an Old Testament prophet, was a very righteous man.  He refused to worship his father's idols.  He kept all of the Lords commandments.  Because of Abraham's righteousness, the Lord made a covenant with him and his Descendants.

The Lord promised Abraham that he would have numberless descendants.  He promise that all of them would be entitled to receive the gospel, the blessings of the priesthood, and all of the ordinances of exaltation.  These descendants, through the power of the priesthood, would carry the gospel to all nations.  Through them, all the families of the earth would be blessed (Abraham 2:11 "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee {that is, in thy Priesthood} and in thy seed {that is, thy Priesthood}, for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee {that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body} shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.).  God further promised that if they were righteous he would establish his covenant with all generations of Abraham's children (Genesis 17:4-8  "4. As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be an father of many nations.  
5. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, by thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.  
6. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.  
7. 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.  
8. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."). 

God made the same covenant with Abraham's son Isaac and again with Isaac's son Jacob.  God changed Jacob's name to Israel.  Since that time, the descendants of Jacob, called Israelites, have been known as God's covenant people.

Discussion

Abraham 2:9-11. "9. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure, and make thy name great among all nations, and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations;  
10. And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father;  
11. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee {that is, in thy Priesthood} and in thy seed {that is, thy Priesthood}, for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee {that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body} shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal."

List the promises that God has made to his covenant people.'



Concept 4: Members of the Church are a Covenant People
'The blood descendants of Abraham are not the only people whom God calls his covenant people.  In speaking to Abraham, God said, "And I will bless them through thy name; for as  many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father;" (Abraham 2:10).  Thus, two groups of people are included in the covenant made with Abraham: (1) Abraham's righteous blood descendants and (2) those adopted into his lineage by accepting and living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When we are baptized into the Church, we are adopted into Abraham's family and have part in the covenant the Lord made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Galatians 3:26-29 "  26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 
  27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 
  28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 
  29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.").  If we are obedient, we inherit the blessings of that covenant.  We have the right to receive help and guidance from the Holy Ghost.  We have the right to hold the priesthood.  We can gain eternal life in the celestial kingdom.  There are no greater blessings than these.

Along with the blessings we receive as the Lord's covenant people, we have great responsibilities.  The Lord promised Abraham that through his descendants the gospel would be taken to all the earth.  We are fulfilling this responsibility through the full-time missionary program of the Church and the missionary work done by the members.  This opportunity to preach the gospel to all the world belongs only to the Lord's Church and his covenant people.

As the Lord's covenant people, we must keep his commandments.  The Lord said, "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." (D&C 82:10).  If we reject our covenant after accepting the gospel, the covenant becomes void and we will stand condemned before God (D&C 132:4-5 "  4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory. 
  5 For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world.").  He has said: " 2 Nevertheless, there are those among you who have sinned exceedingly; yea, even all of you have sinned; but verily I say unto you, beware from henceforth, and refrain from sin, lest sore judgments fall upon your heads. 
  3 For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation." (D&C 82:2-3). 

Discussion

Matthew 5:14-16  " 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 
  15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 
  16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."


What responsibility do we have as members of the Church to be a light (example) unto the world?
What does this have to do with how we dress, act, and keep the commandments of God?
What happens when we break a covenant we have made?'


Concept 5: The New and Everlasting Covenant

'The fulness of the gospel is called the new and everlasting covenant.  It includes the covenants made at baptism, during the sacrament, in the temple, and at any other time.  The Lord calls it "everlasting" because it is ordained by an everlasting God and because the covenant will never be changed.  He gave this same covenant to Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and other prophets.  In this sense it is not new.  The Lord calls it "new" because each time the gospel is restored after being taken from the earth, it is new to the people who receive it (Jeremiah 31:31-34  "31. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:  
32. Not according the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:  
33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.  
34. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.";  
Ezekiel 37:26  "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.").

When we accept the new and everlasting covenant, we agree to repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, receive our endowments, receive the covenant of marriage in the temple, and follow and obey Christ to the end of our lives.  As we keep our covenants, our Heavenly Father promises us that we will receive exaltation in the celestial kingdom (D&C 132:20-24  "20. Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them.  Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angles are subject unto them.  
21. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain this glory.  
22. For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leaded unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.  
23. But if you receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be also. 
24. This is eternal lives--to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent.  I am He, receive ye, therefore, my law."; see also chapter 47 of the Gospel Principles manual).

How blessed we are to be God's covenant people.  To the faithful Saint, the Lord has promised, "All that my Father hath shall be given unto him". (D&C 84:38).  The greatest of that promise is hard for mortals to understand.  The commandments he gives are for our benefit, and as we are faithful we may forever share the blessings and beauties of heaven and earth.  We may live in his presence and partake of his love, compassion, power, greatness, knowledge, wisdom, glory, and dominions.

Discussion

What do we agree to do when we enter the new and everlasting covenant?

Additional Scriptures 

1 Nephi 13:23-26  (covenants recorded in the Bible)
 23 And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles. 
  24 And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God. 
  25 Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God. 
  26 And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. 

1 Peter 2:9-10  (peculiar people)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 
  10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

D&C 54:4-6  (effects of covenants kept and broken)
4 And as the covenant which they made unto me has been broken, even so it has become void and of none effect. 
  5 And wo to him by whom this offense cometh, for it had been better for him that he had been drowned in the depth of the sea. 
  6 But blessed are they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy. 

D&C 132:7  (covenants made by proper authority)
7 And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.

D&C 133:57-60  (purpose of covenants)
 57 And for this cause, that men might be made partakers of the glories which were to be revealed, the Lord sent forth the fulness of his gospel, his everlasting covenant, reasoning in plainness and simplicity 
  58 To prepare the weak for those things which are coming on the earth, and for the Lord's errand in the day when the weak shall confound the wise, and the little one become a strong nation, and two shall put their tens of thousands to flight. 
  59 And by the weak things of the earth the Lord shall thrash the nations by the power of his Spirit. 
  60 And for this cause these commandments were given; they were commanded to be kept from the world in the day that they were given, but now are to go forth unto all flesh 

D&C 35:24  (promises for obedience to covenants)
24 Keep all the commandments and covenants by which ye are bound; and I will cause the heavens to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble and Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish;'


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Moroni 10:4-5
"4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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