Lecture on the Distinctive Nature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Introduction

• The Church's growth from 700,000 members in 1932 to over 17 million members today.
• Expansion from 7 temples to 189 dedicated temples and 146 more in planning and construction.

Purpose of Temples

• Temples are central to the Church's practice.
• Key to understanding the history and role of covenants in worship.

Understanding Covenants

• Definition: A covenant is a commitment to fulfill certain responsibilities.
• Importance:
  • Essential for individual lives and societal function.
  • Challenged by those opposing institutional authority.
  • Personal and societal commitments often based on covenants.
• Examples in Society:
  • Judges, military, medical personnel, and firefighters make formal covenants to perform duties.
  • Full-time missionaries wear distinctive clothing symbolizing their covenant duties.
  • Engagement and wedding rings as symbols of covenant responsibilities.

Religious Covenants

• Significance:
  • Foundation for the regulation of individual lives.
  • Abrahamic Covenant is central to several religious traditions.
• Scriptural References:
  • Old Testament and Book of Mormon emphasize God's covenant with Abraham and Israel.
  • Covenants play a role in Israelite history and worship.

Restoration of the Gospel

• Joseph Smith's Role:
  • Called as a prophet to restore the fullness of the gospel, including covenant promises.
  • The Book of Mormon is a major source for teachings about covenants.
  • Understanding of covenants informed by both the Book of Mormon and the Bible.

Covenants in the Latter-day Church

• Early Church Organization:
  • Baptism as an entry into the Church involves a covenant to repent and serve Christ.
  • Sacrament meetings reinforce covenant remembrance.

Temple Covenants

• Nauvoo Temple:
  • Joseph Smith focused on temple construction and teachings about covenants.
  • Temple endowment ceremonies teach God's salvation plan and involve making sacred covenants.
• Endowed Members' Responsibilities:
  • Wearing temple garments as a continual reminder of covenants.
  • Importance of keeping temple covenants for discipleship.

Global Expansion of Temples

• Temples are constructed worldwide to enable covenant worship and unique blessings.
• Emphasis on the covenant path as part of the plan of salvation.

Conclusion

• Covenants are central to the Church's ordinances of salvation and exaltation.
• Baptismal covenants are necessary for celestial kingdom entrance; temple covenants are needed for exaltation.
• Testimony of Jesus Christ as the head of the Church and His role in covenant blessings.