Covenant Not All Fulfilled

When the Savior visited the Nephites he explained that the Law of Moses would no longer be in effect.  He said, “Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.  Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end” (3 Nephi 15:4-5).  The rites, sacrifices, burnt offerings, food restrictions, etc. associated with the Law of Moses were no longer required of the people of God; rather, as Jesus explained, “Ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:20).  And yet, despite this fulfillment of the law and change in the requirements related to daily worship rituals, not all from Old Testament times was done away.  Note that in 3 Nephi 15:5 Jesus said that He did two things—He gave the law and He covenanted with Israel—but only one of those (the law) was being fulfilled.  He explained, “For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me” (3 Nephi 15:8).  The Institute Manual suggests that Jesus was referring to the covenant He gave to Abraham which continues to be fulfilled even today in us as is suggested in D&C 132:30-31: “Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins—from whose loins ye are, namely, my servant Joseph—which were to continue so long as they were in the world….  This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham; and by this law is the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he glorifieth himself.”  Ultimately I believe that this covenant of the Lord represents His promise to do everything to bring us salvation, and it existed before the Law of Moses and will continue until “the end of man” when the work of the Lord is finished (2 Nephi 29:9). 

                Perhaps there is some symbolism for our personal lives related to the idea of the law being fulfilled but the covenant continuing.  Throughout our lives in the gospel we have different stages or periods with various sets of necessary activities or requirements.  For example, we may serve in a particular calling for several years and be heavily involved in helping a youth group or serving children or teaching adults, etc.  But whatever our calling is will eventually come to an end—like the specific duties of the Law of Moses—and we may be asked to be involved in something else.  Similarly, we also have different requirements as it pertains to our current situation in our families, e.g. the important daily tasks as it relates to living the gospel in our families is very different for a teenager than for young parents or for grandparents, etc.  The Lord asks of the teenager to honor their parents whereas parents have to focus on teaching the gospel to their children.  But there is one thing that never changes for us in the gospel no matter what our age or calling or family responsibility: our covenants.  Our covenant we make at baptism to take upon us the name of Christ and serve Him never changes.  I love the way that it is phrased in the account of Alma and his people: “I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body” (Mosiah 18:13).  When we are baptized it is a covenant for life that we will follow Jesus Christ, no matter what our circumstances may be.  Like the Savior may we always say that our “covenant… is not all fulfilled”--we have yet more to do to honor our promises to God.