Transformed by the Holy Spirit, King Benjamin's people declared:
5 ... we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days...
The King then declared:
6 ...the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.
7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.
Christ's disciples are a covenant people. We promise that we will be obedient to His commandments to the end of our lives. As we serve Him by keeping His commandments, we come to know Him. King Benjamin hoped that his people would
12 ...retain the name written always in your hearts....
13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?
As we fulfill our part of the covenant (faith and obedience), Christ offers the following:
15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all.
I love the idea that through His mercy He will "seal you his." This binding relationship between us and Christ is only possible if we retain his name in our hearts. One way that renew this covenant is to partake of the sacred emblems of the sacrament each week. During that sacred ordinance, we promise again that we will always remember His sacrifice for us and that we will keep His commandments (D&C 20:77, 79).
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3 comments:
This summer Abby decided she could swim. She would stand at the steps and just leap into the water. She knew she needed me to catch her but she would often just go without waiting for me to pay attention. She had so much trust in me that I would save her. She would do it over and over again. I think that is our part of the covenant. The leaping. We have to be willing to jump into the unknown (which is a commandment of faith) and trust that the Savior will catch us every time. That's His part.
i so look forward everyday to read your post. almost more than that, i love to see them through Mimi's eyes.
I agree with you, Stephanie. Mimi's thoughts are better than mine.
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