He That Hateth His Life in This World
Today we remember the pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley 179 years ago. One of the things that made them unique compared to other travelers to the west at that time—such as those going to California or Oregon—can be summed up in one word: covenant . A revelation to Brigham Young at Winter Quarters says this, “The Word and Will of the Lord concerning the Camp of Israel in their journeyings to the West: Let all the people of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those who journey with them, be organized into companies, with a covenant and promise to keep all the commandments and statutes of the Lord our God….. And this shall be our covenant—that we will walk in all the ordinances of the Lord” (Doctrine and Covenants 136:1-4). They were not traveling to find gold or become rich or obtain the very best spot of land; they went in order to keep their covenants with the Lord and follow Him. Many of them had made covenants in the Nauvoo Temple to consecrate their lives to...