A Note on Ordination, Ordinances

All of us know ordinations and ordinances are vital to our salvation and exaltation. We have often defined ordinances in our various church meetings as sacred acts which, when performed properly, contribute to our salvation. Ordinations are necessary to pass along a priesthood office or calling.

This general understanding of ordinances and ordinations are correct. There are certain ordinances, such as baptism, which we must have for salvation; and there is a certain connection to the priesthood required for exaltation. Keeping this in mind, Elder Packer teaches: "Remember, the word order means to put in rows or in proper relationship. Ordaining is the process of doing it, and ordinance is the ceremony by which it is done" (The Holy Temple, 217).

Ordination, then, is the process of putting things into proper relationship and ordinances are the ceremony by which this relationship organization is performed. More specifically, through ordinations and ordinances each of us may be put into our proper relationship with God and with our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is done piece by piece, bit by bit, ordinance by ordinance until we become "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17).

If this is true, than ordinances such as sacraments, baptisms, endowments and marriage are more than symbolic expressions of faith and devotion; on the contrary, these are also the practical means by which we are justified, restored and sealed to our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, His Son, and our heavenly family. No wonder we are required to extend these blessings to both the living and the dead, for how could a person without these ordinances expect to return to their Heavenly Father?

It becomes us as Latter-day Saints to do all we can to help in this great work putting the family of God into their proper relationship with their Heavenly Father. We can do this through missionary work, temple attendance and teaching our families. The Lord has promised us that as we do all we can for the salvation of others we will also bring salvation to our own souls (Mark 8:35-37). Let us all do all we can for this great cause.

Three Quotes on Covenants

What is the new and everlasting covenant? I regret to say that there are some members of the Church who are misled and misinformed in regard to what the new and everlasting covenant really is. The new and everlasting covenant is the sum total of all gospel covenants and obligations... marriage is not the new and everlasting covenant. - President Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:156

Keeping covenants is a measure of those outside of the Church as well as those inside. Occasionally we find an individual who is seeking to hold high office in business, in education, or in government. Such a person may claim to be worthy of trust, may insist that he or she would not cheat the public, or misrepresent them, or mislead them, or break faith with them. In assessing the sincerity of these expressions, the integrity of the person concerned, we may ask ourselves, What does that individual do with a private trust? A good measure is to determine how he keeps covenants relating to his family. - Elder Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, 167

The ordinances of the endowment embody certain obligations on the part of the individual, such as covenant and promise to observe the law of strict virtue and chastity, to be charitable, benevolent, tolerant and pure; to devote both talent and material means to the spread of truth and the uplifting of the race; to maintain devotion to the cause of truth; and to seek in every way to contribute to the great preparation that the earth may be made ready to receive her King, -- the Lord Jesus Christ. With the taking of each covenant and the assuming of each obligation a promised blessing is pronounced, contingent upon the faithful observance of the conditions. - Elder James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, 100