Covenants & Symbols 21: Why Make Higher Covenants?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Here is the first episode in the second part of this series: Covenants and Symbols. In the episode, I address the “Why?” of making higher covenants.
The goal of this series, as admonished by President Nelson, is “to seek-prayerfully and consistently-to understand temple covenants and ordinances.” He then gave the following promise to those who seek better understanding: “Spiritual doors will open. You will learn how to part the veil between heaven and earth, how to ask for God’s angels to attend you, and how better to receive direction from heaven. Your diligent efforts to do so will reinforce and strengthen your spiritual foundation” (The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation, Oct. 2021).
These videos are my attempt to follow apostolic direction to "to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth--messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy" (“To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood,” David A. Bednar, BYU Educational Week Devotional, 2014).
Disclaimer:
This video is NOT a production of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nor of the Church Educational System nor of the Seminaries and Institutes Department.
The opinions expressed in this video are Bryce Dunford’s only.
Please visit the official church website:
www.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
to clarify any doctrinal questions or to verify the Church’s stance on a symbol.
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I am diligently trying to follow Elder David A. Bendar’s counsel about speaking of the temple. He stated:
Many Church members are unsure about what appropriately can and cannot be said regarding the temple experience outside of the temple.
President Ezra Taft Benson described why this uncertainty exists:
“The temple is a sacred place, and the ordinances in the temple are of a sacred character. Because of its sacredness we are sometimes reluctant to say anything about the temple to our children and grandchildren.
“As a consequence, many do not develop a real desire to go to the temple, or when they go there, they do so without much background to prepare them for the obligations and covenants they enter into.
“I believe a proper understanding or background will immeasurably help prepare our youth for the temple … [and] will foster within them a desire to seek their priesthood blessings just as Abraham sought his.”
Two basic guidelines can help us achieve the proper understanding emphasized by President Benson.
Guideline #1. Because we love the Lord, we always should speak about His holy house with reverence. We should not disclose or describe the special symbols associated with the covenants we receive in sacred temple ceremonies. Neither should we discuss the holy information that we specifically promise in the temple not to reveal.
Guideline #2. The temple is the house of the Lord. Everything in the temple points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We may discuss the basic purposes of and the doctrine and principles associated with temple ordinances and covenants.
President Howard W. Hunter counseled: “Let us share with our children the spiritual feelings we have in the temple. And let us teach them more earnestly and more comfortably the things we can appropriately say about the purposes of the house of the Lord.”
Across the generations, from the Prophet Joseph Smith to President Russell M. Nelson, the doctrinal purposes of temple ordinances and covenants have been taught extensively by Church leaders. A rich reservoir of resources exists in print, audio, video, and other formats to help us learn about initiatory ordinances, endowments, marriages, and other sealing ordinances. Information also is available about following the Savior by receiving and honoring covenants to keep the law of obedience, the law of sacrifice, the law of the gospel, the law of chastity, and the law of consecration. All Church members should become familiar with the excellent materials available at temples.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
(Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing, April 2019).
If you feel that I have violated either of these guidelines, please let me know.
This is well presented,you have a gift for teaching, thank you for using it wisely. I listen to those videos and learn, it brings comfort to my soul.
Thank you for taking the time and effort to present these gospel principles. May you and your family be blessed by your effort to share His word.
Amazing message. Wish i could get everyone around me on board. They only seem to be falling away faster and faster. Having a hard time with it all!!!
Hang in there! I have family that is not active and it’s hard but great things are coming!
Thank you brother Dunford, such valuable and important counsel, love your temple messages!
Raw, inspiring, makes me want to work harder to return to Heavenly Father.
Have to listen to again, it is heavy.
I'll try, thank you
Amazing insights I just love the quotes by CS Lewis
I understand I do but I also know that many of us worked to grow a specific nature in the premortal world and I also know that Christ judge is this on our hearts and our desire of our hearts so I don't think just being good or kind is something that is natural in any way it's something that we worked for in the premortal and the Mortal life and it will be counted towards us I don't think anybody is or ever has just been nice
Yes amazing again
Amen. Phenomenal!
Thank you. I love the temple, and now I have a celestial challenge.
Wow think celestial then we can build a celestial city
Wow. This is profound!
Was it this difficult for the followers when Christ was on the Earth? So much to be worried about. Ugh.
His burden is easy, His yoke is light as we bind ourselves to Him thru the covenants He offers us. He gives us His strength to help us work alongside Him. We can bear with cheerfulness and patience whatever afflictions come out way. He causes that we cannot even feel our burdens upon our backs. Our afflictions are swallowed up by His joy. He will deliver is from our afflictions so we can stand as witnesses of Him keeping His covenants with us in all times, all things, and all places that we may be in. He is right there with us.
Initially, after climbing Mount Sinai, Moses received the Higher Law from the Burning Bush. But, upon witnessing the Israelites' idolotry, Moses smash the tablets containing the Higher Law (aka Temple Endowment), re-climbed Sinai, re-approached the Burning Bush, and received the Lower Law (aka 10 Commandments) to teach the Israelites how to be "nice" (aka the honorable people of the Earth who will inherited the Terrestrial Kingdom).
Later, the Burning Bush was born as Jesus, who re-introduced His Higher Law (as taught to His small group of deciples - not to the multitudes - in the Sermon on the Mount). But, the Higher Law was ultimately rejected (aka Great Apostasy) until Moroni appeared to 17 year-old Joseph Smith (on Rosh Hashana September 22, 1827), to begin the re-re-issue of the Higher Law / Temple Endowment. THIS is what Brother Dunford is talking about.
Living the Lower Law is good. Living the Higher Law is better.
Sometimes I wonder if we as members are still sticking the lower law.
This is more than being good or becoming a witness this is the son of God!!!!!!!