In today's lesson we learned about the importance of ordinances and covenants in our lives, with a focus on Saving Ordinances.
President
Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994): “When our Heavenly Father placed Adam and
Eve on this earth, He did so with the purpose in mind of teaching them how to
return to His presence. Our
Father promised a Savior to redeem them from their fallen condition. He gave to
them the plan of salvation and told them to teach their children faith in Jesus Christ and
repentance. Further, Adam and his posterity
were commanded by God to be baptized, to receive the Holy Ghost, and to enter into the order of the Son
of God - which
fullness is only received in the House of the Lord”
An ordinances is a sacred,
formal and spiritual act performed by the authority of the priesthood. They are important to help us remember who we are and remind us of our relationship with God. They help us come unto Christ and receive eternal life. Some ordinances are: baby blessings, administering to the sick, consecrating oil,
father’s blessings, patriarchal blessings, sacrament, baptism and confirmation, priesthood, endowments, and sealings.
Which are the saving ordinances?
Baptism and Confirmation, Priesthood,
Endowments, Sealing
The other
blessings are important in guidance, healing, comfort, encouragement.
A covenant is a sacred agreement between God and His
children. We make covenants when we receive certain ordinances.
Why
are these covenants important in our life?
God sets specific conditions, and He promises to bless us
as we obey these conditions. Making and
keeping covenants qualifies us to receive the blessings God has promised. When
we choose not to keep covenants, we cannot receive the blessings. Our covenants
guide the choices we make and help us resist temptation.
We move through life on a path trying to get to our Heavenly Father. On this path we come to
gates that we must to go through before we can move forward. Baptism/Confirmation is the
first gate to eternal life and leads us to making other saving ordinances.
The root word of ordinance is order. Pres
Packer says an ordinance is a "ceremony by which things are put in
proper order."
We know there are 3 kingdoms after this life. The Celestial Kingdom is the
highest. This is where we hope to live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
BAPTISM AND
CONFIRMATION are the 1st saving ordinances.
These two are inseparable. Christ teaches in
John 3:5, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter
into the kingdom of God.” Mosiah 18: 8-10 we learn of the covenants and promises of this ordinance.
We promise to...
1. Take
upon us the name of Christ, and 2. Always remember Him, 3. Keep His
Commandments, 4. Serve him to the end, 5. Bear others burdens.
God promises to...
Forgive us of sins and have His Spirit to be with us always.
How does the sacrament ordinance relate to
our baptismal covenant?
The sacrament is especially for those who have received
the saving ordinance of baptism and confirmation. It is to renew those covenants
while participating we remember the
sacrifice of Christ for our behalf. Also, we think of covenants we have made.
God extends the promise that His Spirit will be with us. Church
leaders have taught, “We renew all covenants entered in with the Lord.” during the sacrament.
PRIESTHOOD – The 2nd saving ordinance (for men)
Holding the
Melchizedek Priesthood is necessary for men to qualify to enter the temple.
When men live worthy to get and magnify their calling they become heirs of the
promise made to Moses, Aaron, and Abraham. It qualifies them to enter the
temple.
ENDOWMENT and Initiatory - 3rd gate for us and saving ordinance.
Endowment means gift. It provides perspective and power. We receive this ordinance in the
temple.
During the endowment we receive a series of
instructions and make covenants related to our exaltation. The endowment helps
us focus on the Savior, His role in our Heavenly Father’s plan, and our
commitment to follow Him. We make
covenants to live righteously and comply with the requirements of the gospel
related to our eternal exaltation. Along with the endowment ordinances performed
including clothed in temple garments as a reminder of sacred covenants. So
sacred we don’t discuss in detail outside of the temple. Pres Packer said, “It
is important to listen carefully so we can remember the blessings promised and
conditions.” Elder Holland said, “The key to having Divine Power to overcome
opposition and move forward, is the covenant we make in the temple. We PROMISE to obey and sacrifice, to
consecrate unto the Father, and His PROMISE is to empower us with a
great endowment.”
- Elder
Christofferson teaches that God is the source of Moral and Spiritual power. We
get that same power through making and keeping covenants. In these terms God
binds Himself to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us in return for our commitment
to serve and keep commandments
SEALING ordinance is the 4th and final saving ordinance.
When Individuals enter into the
Covenant of marriage in the temple, he and she make covenants with both God AND
with his or her spouse. Spouses PROMISE
faithfulness to each other and to God. BLESSING
is a promised exaltation and that their family relationships can continue
throughout eternity. Individual faithfulness to our covenant is required for
the earthly ordinance to be sealed in heaven by the Holy Spirit of Promise. * Individuals who keep their covenants - even when their spouse does not – do not
forfeit the promised blessings in the sealing.
Other reasons temple
ordinances are important:?
- They bless us with spiritual power and
direction during mortality.
- In the
temple, we can also receive essential ordinances in behalf of ancestors who
died without having the opportunity to receive these ordinances for themselves.
- We are given strength and an increased
faith – our faith expands when obedient.
- We feel secure
- We face life with hope
- The
Atonement of Jesus Christ becomes effective in our lives - Eternal
life. (D&C
14:7)
** Dallin H Oaks. "The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts - what we have done. It is an acknowledgement of the final effect of our acts and thoughts - what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become."
Elder Nelson said, "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. Scripture declares that “ye
should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the
commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, … and if they
hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven … [and] dwell with
God in a state of never-ending happiness."
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