The Everlasting Covenant: A Light to the World

In the preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, the Savior said this: “Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets—The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world; That faith also might increase in the earth; That mine everlasting covenant might be established; That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:17-23). He called upon Joseph Smith and sent missionaries throughout the world for multiple reasons: 

·         That men might speak in the name of God

·         That faith will increase in the earth

·         That the everlasting covenants will be established

·         That the fulness of the gospel will be proclaimed to the world 

These are themes that we see throughout the Doctrine and Covenants, and in reality all four are describing the same thing: The gospel is to go to all the world so that people will develop faith in God and enter into the everlasting covenant with Him.

In another revelation the Lord expanded further on this everlasting covenant that was to go forth in the last days: “And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me. Wherefore, come ye unto it” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:9-10). I love the idea that His everlasting covenant is a light to the world, and I think there are multiple ways that we can interpret this. The Book of Mormon was sent by the Lord who described it as “the new covenant”—it is certainly a light unto the world (Doctrine and Covenants 84:57). It is what brings us to the covenant of baptism. After baptism we make further covenants with Him in the House of the Lord, and our temples can also be seen as a light to the world. Temples are literally lit up at night as a light to all those around them. Isaiah said that in the last days “the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains,” and that people would say to one another, “Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob.” He added, “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:2-5). We walk in the light of the Lord by going to His house. Joseph Smith prayed in the dedication of the first temple of this dispensation: “Put upon thy servants the testimony of the covenant, that when they go out and proclaim thy word they may seal up the law” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:38). The temple is a place of light where the covenant is literally put upon us, preparing us to proclaim His word and to then also be a light to others.  

Most importantly, I think we can understand the everlasting covenant as the Savior Himself. He of course is the light of the world just as He declared to the Nephites: “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world” (3 Nephi 11:10-11).  Elder Christofferson gave this explanation: “The scriptures speak of the new and everlasting covenant. The new and everlasting covenant is the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, the doctrines and commandments of the gospel constitute the substance of an everlasting covenant between God and man that is newly restored in each dispensation. If we were to state the new and everlasting covenant in one sentence, it would be this: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16).” Jesus, sent to us from the Father to bring us back to Him, is the essence of the everlasting covenant. He is a light to the world, a standard for His people, and He to whom the Gentiles must seek. And the essence of our covenants we make is to take upon us His name and always remember Him.