Sacred Covenants, Sacred Gifts

It seems like everything has a contract these days. We sign agreements for rental housing and home mortgages, cell phone and internet service, employment or the sale of property, and even to buy a loaf of bread through member-only warehouses. These agreements allow us to secure pricing or payment and establish terms to ensure all sides will do what they say they will do or face the legal recourse provided in the agreement.

In a similar way, we sign an agreement with God when we are baptized. Like many other contracts we sign, the Lord has drawn up the terms and it is up to us to sign on or walk away. If we sign on, we covenant to dedicate our lives to following Christ, to prepare for a remission of our sins and to take the name of Christ upon ourselves and become one with him. In return, we are promised that our sins will be remitted when we repent and we will be prepared to inherit all the Father has and live as he does in a kingdom of great glory.

The Lord protects this sacred ordinance with a clause of caution: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain;" he states, "for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). In other words, if we do not perform our end of the agreement by repenting and striving to follow Christ, eternal law prevents him from taking our sins upon himself and it is as though we were baptized in vain. He commands us-- and pleads with us-- not to let this happen:

"For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink" (D&C 19:16-18).

There is a second agreement that occurs around the time of our baptism that we need to acknowledge for a complete understanding. Jesus taught Nicodemus: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven" (John 3:5). The Prophet Joseph Smith said it this way: "You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half-- that is, baptism of the Holy Ghost."

The scenario laid out in these quotes is similar to the situation college athletic programs face when signing young prospects. At some point in the recruitment process, the program and the athlete will agree to a letter of intent. These agreements state that the athlete intends to attend and play for a particular university and that the university intends to admit the athlete as a student and provide a scholarship for their education. Although they are not yet admitted, athletes agree to end their recruitment process and the university promises to save a scholarship for when they arrive.

Through baptism we express our intent to follow Christ and he expresses his intent to remit our sins, but it is through our confirmation and the reception of the gift of the Holy Ghost that we are sanctified and admitted into His Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We see this two-step process in the two-step renewal of these covenants through the bread and water of the sacrament. In partaking of the bread, we witness that we are "willing to take upon [ourselves] the name of [God's] Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us]; that [we] may always have his Spirit to be with [us]" (D&C 20:77, emphasis added). In partaking of the water, we witness that we "do always remember him... that [we] may have his Spirit to be with [us]" (D&C 20:79, emphasis added).

Each of us is familiar with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost testifies of truth and is the voice by which many of our prayers are answered. He is a voice of conscience to all who do not drown him out and he gives us the direction and comfort we need for our lives. Through our confirmation, we covenant to act on our intent and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The gift of the Holy Ghost is differentiated from our common experience with the Holy Ghost by at least three factors: cleanliness, companionship, and power.

First, though we can always repent of our sins, we are sanctified by the gift of the Holy Ghost. The prophet Nephi taught: "Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and Redeemer should do... For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost" (2 Nephi 31:17, emphasis added).

On a wilderness backpacking trip, a good pocket knife may be used for sharpening sticks, cleaning fish, preparing and eating food, first aid, and a dozen other things. If a hiker were to jump straight from cleaning a fish to removing a sliver from their finger, the bacteria and germs on the blade could cause a painful infection. Washing the knife in water alone may restore the blade's shine, but the flame of a campfire can sterilize the blade from bacteria and germs so it can be used to remove the sliver.

In a similar way, we are washed by baptism but it is the Holy Ghost that sanctifies us so we are perfectly clean from the sins that have tarnished our souls. We need this perfect cleansing to qualify for eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Because this sanctification comes by the Holy Ghost rather than by baptism, we can be cleansed again as often as we repent without being re-baptized.

Second, the gift of the Holy Ghost is a promise of constant companionship. Nephi taught: "For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do" (2 Nephi 32:5). Though we have all had the privilege of feeling the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, the gift of the Holy Ghost is a right to revelation that can result in much more frequent inspiration.

Elder Boyd K. Packer has explained, "You can receive this great blessing-- to become familiar with the still, small voice and learn that this voice will tell you all things that you must do. The word we use to describe this communication is promptings, the way we feel. These promptings can come many times, through many experiences. That is the voice of the Lord speaking" (2003, emphasis in original). Through our baptism, the Lord promises to prepare us for eternal life in His kingdom. The more we learn to recognize and follow the voice of the spirit, the more we will feel his presence in our lives guiding us in all things.

Finally, the gift of the Holy Ghost is the power to speak with the tongue of angels. Nephi taught, "Wherefore, my beloved bretheren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism-- yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel" (2 Nephi 31:13, emphasis added).

Nephi also taught that "angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, wherefore they speak the words of Christ" (2 Nephi 32). Therefore, to speak with the tongue of angels is to share inspired testimony, by the power of the Holy Ghost, to bring others to Christ. Those who are baptized and confirmed are promised that they will have power in their testimony if they will open their mouths and share that testimony with others. Just as receiving inspiration, our ability to testify with power improves as we practice doing it.

With our baptism we make a covenant with God. We affirm that we are willing to be a disciple of Christ and that we will strive to remember our Savior and repent often. Through confirmation, we enter an agreement that seals the deal we made at baptism. We become a member of His Church, with all of the blessings and responsibilities of that membership, and we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is a gift of sanctification, of guidance, and of power. In essence, we are given all we need to return to live with our Heavenly Father and commanded, with all the feeling of a loving parent, to do our part to make it home.

This is a contract that is easy to sign. It may not always be easy to fulfill, but the terms of the agreement specify that the rewards are in exchange for our genuine effort regardless of life circumstances or ability to complete your side of the deal. See if you can get that deal at a members-only warehouse.

Seven Critical Lessons of the Seventh Day

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. He created the light and divided it from the darkness. He created the atmosphere and the clouds, the dry land and plants to cover it, and the sun and the moon and the stars. He made every living creature. He made mankind in his image and gave them dominion over the whole earth. And God saw everything that he had made that it was very good (Genesis 1).

In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them. And he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it (Exodus 20:11, Genesis 2:2-3).

As with all the works of Christ, our Great Exemplar, the events of the creation provide patterns and doctrines intended to help guide our lives. Among these are what I call the Seven Critical Lessons of the Seventh Day.

The scriptures state that the Lord rested from all his work on the seventh day. This is the First Critical Lesson. President Spencer W. Kimball once observed that “sometimes Sabbath observance is characterized as a matter of sacrifice and self-denial, but it is not so. It is merely a matter of shifting times and choosing seasons. There is time enough, particularly in our era of the world’s history, during the six days of the week in which to do our work and play”.

Though we live in the world, it is critical for our spiritual health to rest each Sabbath from the profane, secular, temporal and worldly things that are in constant competition for our attention and priorities. President Kimball taught:

We have become largely a world of Sabbath breakers. On the Sabbath the lakes are full of boats, the beaches are crowded, the shows have their best attendance, the golf links are dotted with players. The Sabbath is the preferred day for rodeos, conventions, family picnics; even ball games are played on the sacred day… To many, Sabbath-breaking is a matter of little moment, but to our Heavenly Father it is disobedience to one of the principal commandments.

The Lord invites us to find a safe port from the storms of life by following his example and resting from our daily cares on the Sabbath day.

But we should know that the rest of the Lord is different from simply dropping anchor for a long nap. The scriptures say that the spirits of the righteous, after they die, are “received into a state of rest” (Alma 40:12). Yet, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that such are “exalted to a greater and more glorious work” and President Brigham Young taught that “there is an almighty work to perform in the spirit world” (Teachings, 326; JD, 4:285). Though we rest from the things of the world, when engaged in the work of the Lord the Sabbath day may sometimes be our busiest.

Again quoting President Kimball, “If one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it.” Rather, the Lord has said:

And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors and to pay thy devotions unto the most high. Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times; But remember that on this, the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord. And on this day thou shalt do none other thing...

The word "sacraments" originates from the Latin words for "solemn oath" and "sacred". Oblations are our gifts to God; he asks for a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and also that we devote our time and talents to building up his kingdom on the earth. We may not have a great deal of time to seek forgiveness of our sins, prepare to renew our covenants, build our faith through gospel study or serve others during the week, but these are all things we can do as we rest from worldly cares on the Sabbath. That we should be anxiously engaged in a good cause on the Sabbath is the Second Critical Lesson.

The Third Critical Lesson is to remember the Lord has blessed the Sabbath day and he blesses us for observing it. Christ taught his disciples that “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). In the same breath that the Lord admonishes us to attend church he promises that so doing will help us keep ourselves unspotted from the world. Later in that same chapter, he says:

And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances... Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours... But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come (D&C 59:5-23).

Observing the Sabbath is not a sacrifice but rather the path to individual and collective peace and prosperity. To the children of Israel, the Lord promised that if they would keep the Sabbath day holy:

Then will I give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit… and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 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 (Leviticus 26:2-6).

These blessings are readily available to us if we will honor the Sabbath day.

Fourth, the Lord hallowed the Sabbath day. In the same way church buildings and temples are dedicated spaces for the Lord’s work, the Sabbath day is time that has been sanctified and consecrated to the work and glory of God. Just as temples are holy places, the Lord has commanded the faithful in every dispensation to, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).

Our willingness to forego worldly things and focus only on holy activities is an indication to the Lord that we’re willing to keep the covenants we have made with him. President Russell M. Nelson has taught:

I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, ‘What sign do I want to give to God?’ That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear (“The Sabbath is a Delight”, April 2015).

The Fifth Critical Lesson is to notice the symbolism of the seventh day. In Hebrew, the number seven is symbolic of completion and perfection. The tabernacle was built in six days and dedicated on the seventh, likewise heaven and earth were made over six creative periods and sanctified on the seventh. The Sabbath day completed the Creation and made the work that had been done acceptable before a God that is and must be intolerable of the least degree of imperfection.

This pattern is repeated throughout the Lord’s plan of happiness. In the Book of Moses, the Lord reminds us that the creation story of Genesis refers to the spiritual creation of heaven and earth:

For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air; (Moses 3:5)

It was on the seventh day that the Lord finished his work, watering the face of the ground, providing physical bodies for Adam and Eve and placing them in the Garden of Eden. It was on the seventh day that the creation was made completely perfect and perfectly complete.

The conclusion of this first Sabbath day ushered in six thousand years of mortality. At the end of these six thousand years will come the Millennial day of rest. Joseph Smith, clarifying a scripture in Revelation chapter 8, taught:

As God made the world in six days, and on the seventh day he finished his work, and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth, even so, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man, and judge all things, and shall redeem all things (D&C 77:12).

This second great Sabbath day we will rest from the temptations of the evil one, complete the missionary and temple work to be done, and be resurrected from mortality to immortality. The next seventh day, the Millennial Sabbath, will complete and perfect the work of mortality.

With so much emphasis on the seventh day, which is actually Saturday, the Sixth Critical Lesson addresses briefly why most Christians now worship on Sunday, which is the first day of the week.

The short answer is that they don’t. Christians don’t worship on the first day of the week, but rather on the eighth day of the week. Let me explain:

Until the Atonement of Christ was complete, the faithful worshipped on the seventh day of the week. Then something happened. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, died for us on a Friday, the sixth day of the week symbolic of man and rebellion (i.e. Adam and Eve’s creation on the sixth day). On the seventh day, the Savior rested and visited the spirit world. On the next day, the eighth day, a Sunday, Christ was resurrected.

The number eight is symbolic of covenants and new beginnings. It’s symbolic of resurrection and salvation. Israelite males were circumcised at eight days old as a sign of God's covenant with them. We are eight years old when we may be baptized or “reborn”. And, through the ordinance of the sacrament administered on the eighth day of each week, we renew our covenants with God and his promise to forgive us our sins, allowing us to be reborn again on this eighth day of every week.

The pattern of going from seven to eight is also frequently repeated in scripture. The desert tabernacle had seven pieces of furniture while Solomon’s temple had eight. There are seven covenants in the Old Testament and an eighth in the New Testament.

Finally, the Seventh Critical Lesson is to recognize that all of this has been meticulously planned and perfectly executed as an example for you and I. The Savior wants us to come unto him and partake of his rest each week. He wants us to renew our covenants and begin each week without the weight of the last. He wants us to stay unspotted from the world and enjoy peace and prosperity. He offers to give us greater light and knowledge from heaven if we take the time to seek it.

If we are going to heed his command to, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48), we are going to need a day to complete our most important work, to dedicate ourselves and to be sanctified and made acceptable to God. This is why, after the Lord who labors for our immortality and eternal life created the light and the atmosphere and the plants and animals and Adam and Eve, as a capstone to his creation, on the seventh day the Lord made the Sabbath.