The New and Everlasting Covenant

Transcription

1 The New and Everlasting Covenant See the study Summary of Personal Commandments and Requirements in the Doctrine and Covenants which lists the commandments and ordinances modern Israel need to live to keep their part of the New and Everlasting Covenant The New and Everlasting Covenant is the plan given by Heavenly Father in the pre-mortal existence for the return of His children back into His Presence in the Celestial Kingdom. The New and Everlasting Covenant is a contractual agreement in which God and man agree to abide by certain terms and conditions in return for certain benefits. See the study A Promised Land-Fulfilling the Covenant of Abraham for details of the Covenant given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or Israel, and their descendants the House of Israel. What is the covenant of modern Israel? The New and Everlasting Covenant of modern Israel comprises of all the Laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is as the scriptures testify the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: D&C 66:2: Verily I say unto you, blessed are you for receiving mine everlasting covenant, even the fulness of my gospel, sent forth unto the children of men, that they might have life and be made partakers of the glories which are to be revealed in the last days, as it was written by the prophets and apostles in days of old. D&C 35:17: And I have sent forth the fulness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph; and in weakness have I blessed him. D&C 39:11: Thou shalt preach the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth in these last days, the covenant which I have sent forth to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel. D&C 45:28: And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel. One of the purposes that Joseph Smith was called was so that the New and Everlasting Covenant would be established: D&C 1:17, 22-23: 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 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.. The Lord is bound to keep His part of the agreement: 1

2 D&C 82:10: I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise. D&C 84:40: Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved. The Old Covenant was given through Moses Deuteronomy 5:1-2 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Doctrine and Covenants contains the New and Everlasting Covenant to modern Israel. It is my testimony that the book of Doctrine and Covenants contains the foundation beliefs and principles upon which the church should operate today. It is not just a history book of past revelations that applied to the early Saints but should be the bedrock of the basic beliefs and commandments of the Latter-Day-Saints today and up to the Second Coming of the Saviour. Concerning baptism the Lord has said all old covenants are done away. Baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a New and Everlasting Covenant D&C 22:1-3: Behold, I say unto you that all old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing; and this is a New and an Everlasting Covenant, even that which was from the beginning. Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works. For it is because of your dead works that I have caused this last covenant and this church to be built up unto me, even as in days of old. The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood D&C 84:33-40: For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods, of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the Church and Kingdom, and the elect of God. And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; for he that receiveth my servants receiveth Me; And he that receiveth Me receiveth my Father; and He that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father s Kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given him. And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood. Therefore, all those who receive the Priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which He cannot break, neither can it be moved. Doctrine and Covenants Instructor s Guide: Religion , (1981), The New and Everlasting Covenant is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2

3 It is New because it has been revealed or restored in each dispensation of time. It is Everlasting because it never changes-the things that would save a man in Adam s day are the very things that will save a man today. The New and Everlasting Covenant is a contractual arrangement in which God and man agree to abide by certain terms and conditions in return for certain benefits. Man agrees to keep all of God s commandments and observe every ordinance of salvation. God, in return, agrees to share with man all the blessings and benefits of Eternal Life. Three special roles the Everlasting Covenant performs for man D&C 45:9 D&C 45:9: 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. Additional roles: See D&C 133:57-58 D&C 133: 57-58: And for this cause, that men might be made partakers of the glories which were to be revealed, the Lord sent forth the fulness of his gospel, his Everlasting Covenant, reasoning in plainness and simplicity To prepare the weak for those things which are coming on the earth, and for the Lord s errand in the day when the weak shall confound the wise, and the little one become a strong nation, and two shall put their tens of thousands to flight. It is also to receive a fulness of God s glory: D&C 132:6: And as pertaining to the New and Everlasting Covenant, it was instituted for (to receive) the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God. The nations of the earth will eventually bow down to the new and Everlasting Covenant D&C 49:9-10: Wherefore, I say unto you that I have sent unto you mine Everlasting Covenant, even that which was from the beginning. And that which I have promised I have so fulfilled, and the nations of the earth shall bow to it; and, if not of themselves, they shall come down, for that which is now exalted of itself shall be laid low of power. The results of rejection of the New and Everlasting Covenant Each individual Law and ordinance is a New and Everlasting Covenant in and of itself. When one law is broken it invalidates the whole. Each commandment and ordinance is a vital part of the covenant. To constantly break one of the commandments makes the covenant void and of none effect D&C 54:4 3

4 D&C 1:14-15: And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people; For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine Everlasting Covenant. D&C 40:1-3: Behold, verily I say unto you, that the heart of my servant James Covel was right before me, for he covenanted with me that he would obey my word. And he received the word with gladness, but straightway Satan tempted him; and the fear of persecution and the cares of the world caused him to reject the word. Wherefore he broke my covenant, and it remaineth with me to do with him as seemeth me good. D&C 76:101: But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the Everlasting Covenant. D&C 78:11-12: Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, to prepare and organize yourselves by a bond or everlasting covenant that cannot be broken. (United Order) And he who breaketh it shall lose his office and standing in the church, and shall be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan until the day of redemption. See D&C 82:21 D&C 84:41: But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come. D&C 101:39-40: When men are called unto mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an Everlasting Covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men; They are called to be the savor of men; therefore, if that salt of the earth lose its savor, behold, it is thenceforth good for nothing only to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. D&C 132:4, 6: For behold, I reveal unto you a New and an Everlasting Covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.and as pertaining to the New and Everlasting Covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God. D&C 132:11-12: And will I appoint unto you, saith the Lord, except it be by law, even as I and my Father ordained unto you, before the world was? I am the Lord thy God; and I give unto you this commandment that no man shall come unto the Father but by me or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord. D&C 132:24-25: This is Eternal Lives to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law. Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the deaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they receive me not, neither do they abide in my law. D&C 132:27: The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have received my New and Everlasting Covenant, saith the 4

5 Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord. D&C 54:4: And as the covenant which they made unto me has been broken, even so it has become void and of none effect. D&C 104:4-7: Therefore, inasmuch as some of my servants have not kept the commandment, but have broken the covenant through covetousness, and with feigned words, I have cursed them with a very sore and grievous curse. For I, the Lord, have decreed in my heart, that inasmuch as any man belonging to the order shall be found a transgressor, or, in other words, shall break the covenant with which ye are bound, he shall be cursed in his life, and shall be trodden down by whom I will; For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in these things And all this that the innocent among you may not be condemned with the unjust; and that the guilty among you may not escape; because I, the Lord, have promised unto you a crown of glory at my right hand. How the Covenants are broken D&C 104:52: The covenants being broken through transgression, by covetousness and feigned words Isaiah warned of going against the New and Everlasting Covenant Isaiah 28:15-18: Because ye have said, we have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge and under falsehood have we hid.therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation (the foundation is laid for Zion see D&C 58:6-7,13 ).judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it Isaiah 24:5-6: The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the Everlasting Covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. See Jeremiah 11:1-10 Fellowship should be with those who abide by the Everlasting Covenant: D&C 88: 133: Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the Everlasting Covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen. 5

6 D&C 90: 24: Search diligently, pray always, and be believing and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another. If certain laws such as the Law of equality which is accomplished through the United Order cannot be lived due to present circumstances, every effort should be made to change that situation to enable that Law to be lived. Otherwise there is no sincerity of purpose in the desire to obey the Law and abide by the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Priesthood and members are to be taught and keep the Covenants D&C 107:12: The high priest and elder are to administer in spiritual things, agreeable to the covenants and commandments of the church; and they have a right to officiate in all these offices of the church when there are no higher authorities present. D&C 107:89: Again, the duty of the president over the office of elders is to preside over ninety-six elders, and to sit in council with them, and to teach them according to the covenants. See v D&C 33:14: And ye shall remember the church articles and covenants to keep them. D&C 35:24: Keep all the commandments and covenants by which ye are bound; and I will cause the heavens to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble and Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish. D&C 42:13: And they shall observe the covenants and church articles to do them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed by the Spirit. D&C 42:78: And again, every person who belongeth to this church of Christ shall observe to keep all the commandments and covenants of the church. Latter day Saints will be proved to see if they are worthy of the covenant D&C 97:8: Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice-yea every sacrifice which I the Lord shall command-they are accepted of me D&C 98:11-15: And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God. For He will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith. And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name s sake, shall find it again, even Life Eternal. Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy. For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New and Everlasting Covenant 6

7 D&C 76:69: These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. Jeremiah Prophesied of the New and Everlasting Covenant of this Dispensation Jeremiah 31:31-34: Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel, and with the House of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. The Covenant people of God are the Latter Day Saints 1 Nephi 14:14: And it came to pass that 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. The Book of Mormon prophesies of the restoration of the Everlasting Covenant 1 Nephi 15:18: Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 3 Nephi 5:25: And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them. 3 Nephi 20: 19-22, For I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many people And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the sword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles. And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O house of Israel. And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you. 7

8 And behold, ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. The Father having raised me up unto you first, and sent me to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities; and this because ye are the children of the covenant David delivers a psalm of thanksgiving for the Everlasting Covenant I Chronicles 16:1, 10-17, 40; 1: So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God. (Which contained the Law of Moses The covenant of ancient Israel)? 10-17: Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations; Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac; And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an Everlasting Covenant. 40: To do according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, which he commanded Israel. Psalms 25:10: All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. Doctrine and Covenants Scriptures used in this Study D&C 1:14-15; 17, 22-23; 22:1-3; 33:14; 35:17; 35:24; 39:11; 40:1-3; 42:13; 42:78; 45:9; 45:28; 49:9-10; 54:4; 66:2; 76:69; 76:101; 78:11-12; 82:21; 84:33-40; 84:41; 88:113; 90:24; 97:8; 98:11-15; 101:39-40; 104:4-7; 104:52; 107:12; 107:89; 132:4, 6; 11-12, 24-25, 27; 133:57-58; Old Testament I Chronicles 16:1, 10-17, 40; Isaiah 24:5-6; Isaiah 28:15-18; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 25:10 Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 14:14; 1 Nephi 15:18; 3 Nephi 5:25:; 3 Nephi 20: 19-22, Quotes 8

9 Covenants by Elder Russell M Nelson Oct 2010 Conference The covenant God made with Abraham and later reaffirmed with Isaac and Jacob is of transcendent significance. It contained several promises, including: Jesus the Christ would be born through Abraham s lineage. Abraham s posterity would be numerous, entitled to an eternal increase, and also entitled to bear the priesthood. Abraham would become a father of many nations. Certain lands would be inherited by his posterity. All nations of the earth would be blessed by his seed. And that covenant would be everlasting even through a thousand generations. Some of these promises have been fulfilled; others are still pending. I quote from an early Book of Mormon prophecy: Our father [Lehi] hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham. Isn t that amazing? Some 600 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, prophets knew that the Abrahamic covenant would be finally fulfilled only in the latter days. To facilitate that promise, the Lord appeared in these latter days to renew that Abrahamic covenant. To the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Master declared: Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins from whose loins ye are, my servant Joseph. This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham. D&C 132: With this renewal, we have received, as did they of old, the holy priesthood and the everlasting gospel. We have the right to receive the fulness of the gospel, enjoy the blessings of the priesthood, and qualify for God s greatest blessing that of Eternal Life. Some of us are the literal seed of Abraham; others are gathered into his family by adoption. The Lord makes no distinction. Together we receive these promised blessings if we seek the Lord and obey His commandments. But if we don t, we lose the blessings of the covenant. To assist us, His Church provides patriarchal blessings to give each recipient a vision for his or her future as well as a connection with the past, even a declaration of lineage back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob... Children of the covenant have the right to receive His doctrine and to know the plan of salvation. They claim it by making covenants of sacred significance. Brigham Young said: All Latter-day Saints enter the new and everlasting covenant when they enter this Church. 9

10 They enter the new and everlasting covenant to sustain the Kingdom of God. They keep the covenant by obedience to His commandments. When we realize that we are children of the covenant, we know who we are and what God expects of us. His law is written in our hearts. He is our God and we are His people. Committed children of the covenant remain steadfast, even in the midst of adversity. When that doctrine is deeply implanted in our hearts, even the sting of death is soothed and our spiritual stamina is strengthened. The greatest compliment that can be earned here in this life is to be known as a covenant keeper. The rewards for a covenant keeper will be realized both here and hereafter. 10