“How does your Church differ from others?” My answer
to this important question has varied as I have matured and as the Church has grown. When I was born in Utah in 1932, our Church membership was
only about 700,000, clustered mostly in Utah
and nearby states. At that time we had only seven temples.
Today, the membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints numbers
more than 17 million in about 170 nations. As of this April 1, we have 189 dedicated temples in many nations and 146 more in planning and construction. I have felt to speak
about the purpose of these temples and the history and role of
covenants in our worship. This will supplement the inspired
teachings of earlier speakers. A covenant is a commitment to fulfill
certain responsibilities. Personal commitments are essential to
the regulation of our individual lives and to the functioning of society. This
idea is currently being challenged. A vocal minority oppose institutional
authority and insist that persons should be free
from any restrictions that limit their individual freedom. Yet we know from
millennia of experience that persons give up some individual
freedoms to gain the advantages of living in
organized communities. Such relinquishments of individual
freedoms are principally based on commitments or covenants
expressed or implied. Here are some examples of covenant
responsibilities in our society: Judges. Military. Medical personnel.
And firefighters. All of those involved in these familiar
occupations make a commitment, often formalized by oath or covenant,
to perform their assigned duties. The same is true of our full-
time missionaries. Distinctive clothing or name tags
are intended to signify that the wearer is under covenant, and therefore has a duty
to teach and serve, and should be supported in that service. A related purpose is to remind the wearers of their covenant
responsibilities. There's no magic in their distinctive
clothing or symbols, only a needed reminder of the
special responsibilities the wearers have assumed. This is also true of the symbols of
the engagement and wedding rings, and their role in giving
notice to observers or reminding wearers of covenant
responsibilities. What I’ve said about covenants being a foundation for the regulation
of individual lives applies particularly to religious covenants. The foundation and history of
many religious affiliations and requirements are based on covenants. For example, the Abrahamic Covenant is
fundamental to several great religious traditions. It introduces the holy idea of God’s covenant
promises with His children. The Old Testament frequently refers
to God's covenant with Abraham and his seed. The first part
of the Book of Mormon, which was written during the
Old Testament period, clearly demonstrates the role of
covenants in the Israelite history and worship. Nephi was told that the Israelite writings of that period
were, quote, “a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants
of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house
of Israel.” End of quote. The books of Nephi make frequent
reference to the Abrahamic Covenant, and to Israel as the covenant
people of the Lord. The practice of covenanting with God or religious leaders is also recorded
in the Book of Mormon writings about Nephi, Joseph in Egypt,
King Benjamin, Alma, and Captain Moroni. When the time came for the Restoration
of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, God called
a prophet, Joseph Smith. We do not know the full content of the angel Moroni's early instructions
to this maturing young prophet. We do know he told Joseph that
“God had a work for [him] to do,” and that “the fullness of the everlasting
gospel” must be brought forth, including “the promises
made to the fathers.” We also know that the scriptures young
Joseph read most intensively, even before he was directed
to organize a church, were the many teachings about covenants he
was translating in the Book of Mormon. That book is the Restoration’s major
source for the fulness of the gospel, including God’s plan for His children, and the Book of Mormon is filled
with references to covenants. Being well read in the Bible, Joseph must have known of the
book of Hebrews reference to the Savior’s intent to, quote, “make a new covenant with the house of
Israel and with the house of Judah.” End of quote. Hebrews also refers
to Jesus as “the mediator of the new covenant.” Significantly, the biblical account of the Savior's
mortal ministry is titled “The New Testament,” a virtual symbol
for “The New Covenant.” Covenants were foundational in the
Restoration of the gospel. This is evident in the earliest
steps the Lord directed the Prophet to take in organizing
His Church. As soon as the Book of
Mormon was published, the Lord directed the organization
of His restored Church, soon to be named The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Revelation given in April 1830 directs
that persons shall, quote, “be received by baptism into his Church,”
unquote, after they “witness” [which means solemnly testify], quote, “that they have truly repented
of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them
the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve
him to the end.” End of quote. The same revelation directs that the Church, quote, “meet together often to
partake of bread and wine [water] in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
End of quote. The importance of this ordinance
is evident in the words of covenants specified for
the elder or priest who officiates. He blesses the emblems of the bread for “the souls of all those who partake
of it” that they, quote, “witness unto thee, O God,
the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon
them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his
commandments which he has given them,” end of quote. The central role of covenants in the newly restored Church was reaffirmed
in the preface the Lord gave for the first publication
of His revelations. There the Lord declares that He has
called Joseph Smith because the inhabitants of the earth, quote,
“have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting
covenant.” End of quote. This revelation further explains that
His commandments are being given that “mine everlasting covenant
might be established.” Today, we understand the role of
covenants in the restored Church and the worship of its members. President Gordon B. Hinckley gave this
summary of the effect of our baptism and our weekly partaking
of the sacrament. He said, “Every member of this
Church who has entered the waters of baptism has become
a party to a sacred covenant. Each time we partake of the sacrament
of the Lord's Supper, we renew that covenant.” End of quote. We've been reminded by many speakers
at this conference that President Russell M. Nelson often refers
to the plan of salvation as the “covenant path” that, quote, “leads us back to [God], ... and is all
about our relationship with God.” End of quote. He teaches about the significance
of covenants in our temple ceremonies, and urges us to see the end from the
beginning and to “think celestial.” Now I speak more of temple covenants. In
fulfillment of his responsibility to restore the fulness of the
gospel of Jesus Christ, the Prophet Joseph Smith spent much
of his final years directing the construction of a temple
in Nauvoo, Illinois. Through him, the Lord revealed
the sacred teachings, doctrine, and covenants for his
successors to administer in temples. There, persons who were endowed were to
be taught God’s plan of salvation and invited to make sacred covenants. Those who live faithful to those
covenants were promised eternal life, wherein “all things are theirs,” and they “shall dwell in the presence
of God and His Christ forever.” The endowment ceremonies in the Nauvoo Temple were administered just
before our early pioneers were expelled to begin their historic trek
to the mountains in the West. We have the testimonies
of many pioneers that the power they received from being bound
to Christ in their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple gave them the strength
to make their epic journey and establish themselves in the West. Persons who have been endowed in a
temple are responsible to wear a temple garment, an article
of clothing not visible because it is worn beneath
outer clothing. It reminds endowed members of the
sacred covenants they have made and the blessings they have been
promised in the holy temple. To achieve those holy purposes, we are instructed to wear temple
garments continuously, with the only exceptions being
those obviously necessary. Because covenants do not take a day off, to remove one’s garments can
be understood as a disclaimer of the covenant responsibilities and
blessings to which they relate. In contrast, persons who wear
their garments faithfully and keep their temple covenants
continually affirm their role as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints is constructing temples all over the world. Their
purpose is to bless the covenant children of God
with temple worship, and with the sacred responsibilities
and powers and unique blessings of being bound to
Christ they receive by covenant. The Church of Jesus Christ is known as a church that emphasizes making
covenants with God. Covenants are inherent in each of
the ordinances of salvation and exaltation this restored Church
administers. The ordinance of baptism and its associated covenants are
requirements for entrance into the celestial kingdom. The ordinances
and associated covenants of the temple are requirements for exaltation
in the celestial kingdom, which is “eternal life, the greatest
of all the gifts of God.” That is the focus of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. I testify of Jesus Christ, who
is the head of that Church, and invoke His blessings on all who seek
to keep their sacred covenants. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.