Covenant Keeping

One of the warnings that we get from modern scriptures is that there are serious consequences to entering into covenants with the Lord and then breaking them.  It’s not just that we don’t get the blessings of the covenant, but the scriptures warn of very undesirable results that will come to us if we covenant but then break our promises to the Lord.  In fact, the Doctrine and Covenants even opens with this theme in the Lord’s preface to the book.  Because of those who have “strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant,” the Lord warned that “the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth” (D&C 1:13-15).  The message for us in this and many other passages of scripture is that we must enter into the ordinances and covenants of the gospel with full purpose of heart and a commitment to keep our promises forever.    

                In the Book of Mormon Nephi clearly understood the importance of keeping the covenants once entered into.  In his powerful discourse about baptisms and the reasons for it, he gave this warning: “After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me” (2 Nephi 31:14).  That gives cause for serious reflection if you are thinking of getting baptized just to try it out for a time or see how it goes.  The Lord wants no casual covenant makers.  As He said in John’s great revelation, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).  When we are committed, the Lord wants us really committed.  Nephi understood the importance of his people keeping their covenants with the Lord.  He said, “For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence” (2 Nephi 4:4).  It’s not just that we get blessings for keeping the commandments, but for those who have made covenants there is a serious consequence for breaking those commandments. 

                In the Doctrine and Covenants we see numerous places where the Lord warned against breaking our covenants.  When speaking about those in Zion during the difficult time of 1833, He said, “With promise immutable and unchangeable, that inasmuch as those whom I commanded were faithful they should be blessed with a multiplicity of blessings; But inasmuch as they were not faithful they were nigh unto cursing” (D&C 104:2-3).  I’m not sure what the “multiplicity of blessings” or the “cursing” entails, but I know that I would rather have the former.  For those who have made covenants, there is no middle ground.  In speaking of the oath and covenant of the Priesthood, the Lord said, “But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth there from, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come” (D&C 84:41).  If we enter into the Priesthood and then turn from it for good we are in a serious state before the Lord.  In another section in speaking to Martin Harris who had had trouble keeping covenants, the Lord said, “But if he deny this he will break the covenant which he has before covenanted with me, and behold, he is condemned” (D&C 5:27).  Condemnation from the Lord follow covenant breaking, and the Lord is in charge of what will happen to us.  As he said of James Covel, “Wherefore he broke my covenant, and it remaineth with me to do with him as seemeth me good” (D&C 40:3).  Perhaps the most ominous language regarding covenant breaking comes from a revelation relating to the consecration of properties: “And as the covenant which they made unto me has been broken, even so it has become void and of none effect.  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” (D&C 54:4-5). 

                Of course, despite these warnings, it should not deter the faithful from entering into covenants with the Lord.  In the difficulties of the last days ahead, great blessings of the Lord are promised to those who make and keep covenants.  My favorite such promise comes from Nephi’s vision: “I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14).  If we want heavenly protection for ourselves and our families, covenant making and keeping is the only way.