Covenant

I used to think of a covenant in a very legalistic way and, frankly, I got that from a scripture:
D&C 82:10 "I, the Lord, and bound when you do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."

So what I read in that scripture when I first learned it, was that by making a covenant with God and fulfilling my part of that covenant, I was promised certain blessings. God was bound by may actions. I was actually in control of God!

I lived the word of wisdom so I would have great health.

I paid my tithing so I would always have financial success. I had heard enough testimonies of this. I knew this was true, etc. etc.

But then God disappointed me. I did my part but He didn't do His.

I have had to struggle with this reality: Every time I do something good, I am not rewarded.  My faith has not moved mountains.  Prayers are not always answered.  God is not at my beck and call. So I have had to come up with my own explanation of what it means to me - to be a"woman of covenant."

I don't like the explanation given in the Bible dictionary -". . .principles and ordinances are received by covenant placing the recipient under strong obligation and responsibility to honor the commitment. Thus the severe consequences to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11. They each collapsed and died when their deceit was discovered."

The God I know and love doesn't go around punishing people for making mistakes. He allows consequences to teach us and there is a consequence to every action.

So what does a covenant mean to me?

When I make a covenant it means I have reached a momentous decision in my life. I have committed to live in a certain way and become a certain type of person. I don't make a covenant for praise or reward. There is a reward though and that is the good consequences that come into our life when we live "correct principles."

Perhaps the greatest reward of all is the sense of integrity I feel as I begin to see my outer life match my inner desires. I want to be a person of integrity. I want others to know that when I make a promise or a commitment I will do it! My covenants define me. They guide my life and my choices. I find the process of making a covenant - committing to do something - helps me to work harder to be true to those covenants.

I wrote this poem long ago when I first had that realization.

Dear Lord, I have spent many a year

Learning to follow Thy ways.

And along the road I have covenants made

That have altered the course of my days.

I awakened each day and knew my path;

The commitments I had made with thee.

And I skipped along, thinking all would be well

It would be easy. You'd see.

I would follow my shepherd to pastures green

Where rest would be my reward.

For your promise is sure and blessings await

Those who follow you, Lord.

Then life became hard. This was not the plan.

Arrows of anger I shot.

You promised blessings. Where are they? I pled.

Thorns grow in my garden plot.

The answers came. Be patient. Endure.

Be still, my little friend.

If you are true to your covenants

I am with you till the end.

You renewed my strength. Understanding has come

And now I clearly see.

The covenants weren't designed to alter my world.

They were designed to alter me.

Another thing to consider as you think about covenants would be to ask yourself this question: What covenants do we make in the temple at the celestial level, at the terrestrial level, and at the celestial level? How did these covenants reflect a progress in our growth toward godhood?