15- (5-8-23) Baptismal Covenant - Promises made

 15- Baptismal Covenant - Promises made

Two weeks ago we had our ward conference. The second hour I was sitting in on the lesson for the youth ages 11-15. During the lesson a basic gospel question was asked by the teacher. What did we covenant to do at baptism? Answers were given from some of the adults and from the youth. Many of the answers surprised me on how little some know or understand about their baptismal covenant. Most answers focused only on the cleansing effect of baptism and the promise of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Elder Hales taught that “it is very important for us to understand the marvelous gift of the remission of sins, but there is much more. Do you understand and do your children understand that when they are baptized they are changed forever?” 

In this light I have made my baptismal covenant a focus of my study over the past couple of weeks. I know this email is a bit longer, but I hope is will lead you to ponder your baptismal covenants, and come to understand them more fully. I am confident that if we do, the Holy Ghost will inspire us in how to apply these promises in our daily lives. 

Invitation - Study and Ponder your Baptismal Covenant

5 Promises that We Covenanted To Do at Baptism

1. Come into the fold of God. To become a member of His Church and His Kingdom. We are no longer of this world and all of it’s cares.

• To be in the world, but not of the world 
• When we are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost we enter into His fold and His Kingdom. Listen to the words of the Savior in His Intercessory Prayer: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ” (John: 17:15-17) 
• “By choosing to be in His kingdom, we separate—not isolate—ourselves from the world. Our dress will be modest, our thoughts pure, our language clean. The movies and television we watch, the music we listen to, the books, magazines, and newspapers we read will be uplifting.” - Elder Hales 
• We choose to live in a higher and holier way than the world around us has to offer

1. Take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ - to really try and do what He would do in every situation (choice) we find ourselves in 

• We promise to learn of Him and of His attributes, and we strive to implement these attributes into our character. 
• Brigham Young taught that individuals enter the New and Everlasting Covenant when they enter the waters of baptism. President Nelson has recently taught us that our temple covenants are an extension of this baptismal covenant. So as we grow in the Gospel and move along the Covenant Path, we deepen this promise that originally started when we entered the gate by baptism. Think about your temple covenants. As we study and apply these laws, Obedience, Sacrifice (which is repentance), Living the Law of the Gospel, Chastity, and Consecration, we begin to see how we more completely enter this New and Everlasting Covenant that we entered at baptism. As we honor these covenants we slowly become more like our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, literally in our natures we are taking His name upon us.

• This part of the baptismal covenant, of taking His name upon us, is strengthened as we progress along the covenant path. In the temple we make the promise to wear the sacred temple garments. They are meant to remind us daily of these covenants. They symbolize us “putting on” the name of Jesus Christ. We become one with Him as we strive to take on His name, His attributes, and His work. The garments are a daily reminder for us of the things we have promised to do, and “with exactness and honor” in doing them. As we keep these promise we in turn are promised the power to be shielded from the worldly influences that can so quickly and easily pull us down and away from the Savior. 
• Once endowed in the temple let us whole heartedly honor and treasure the precious gift of wearing these sacred priesthood garments. 

• Elder Renlund recently taught us more clearly what “taking the name of God in vain” means. We know it to literally mean not using His name in jest or in a light or flippant way. Elder Renlund further taught that when we enter into our baptismal covenant we take upon ourselves the name of Christ. If we choose not to be obedient to God’s commandments we set a poor example for others, shedding a bad light on His church and and upon His name, thus we take His name in vain in our actions and behavior. We can not overlook the significance of what taking His name upon us really means.

1. Bear others burdens, that they may be light; mourn with those that mourn; and comfort those in need of comfort 

• All of you kids are really good at looking out for those who are in need. That is a wonderful gift you each have been given. As we honor our covenants, Heavenly Father will continue to bless each of you with opportunities to serve His children your whole lives. Some of our greatest joys come from this part of the covenant.

1. Stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places (testify of Christ and set a good example at all times).

• Mama and I love all of our missionaries, and future missionaries! What a blessing to have 7 children with a desire to serve Heavenly Father in the mission field. This most certainly is part of us honoring our baptismal covenant. That same missionary spirit must be kept in our hearts so that we live out our lives in such a way that others see us as true disciples of Jesus Christ. We covenant to take every opportunity to share His message with all that we come in contact with through example and word.

1. Serve God and keep his commandments - Obedience to God with a desire to aide in His work- A desire to be obedient simply our of Love for  our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.

What Our Heavenly Father Has Covenanted To Do

1. Forgive our sins through Repentance -

*  Doctrine and Covenants 19:13-20

13 Wherefore, I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., in my name;

14 And it is by my almighty power that you have received them;

15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

20 Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishment of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.

2. Pour his Spirit more abundantly upon us (give us the companionship of the Holy Ghost)

• “The Holy Ghost’s companionship and our covenant with God are what allow us live above this sin saturated world... Our Heavenly Father is the One who wants you to understand with great clarity exactly what you are making covenants to do. He is the One who wants you to experience fully His sacred ordinances. He wants you to comprehend your privileges, promises, and responsibilities. He wants you to have spiritual insights and awakenings you’ve never had before.” President Nelson

• “The gift of the Holy Ghost, given to us when we are confirmed, gives us the ability to discern the difference between the giving ways of the kingdom of God and the taking practices of the world. The Holy Ghost gives us the strength and courage to conduct our lives in the ways of the kingdom of God and is the source of our testimony of the Father and the Son. As we obey the will of our Father in Heaven, this priceless gift of the Holy Ghost will be with us continually.” Elder Hales

3. Redeem me that I might be numbered with those of the first resurrection and have eternal life 

* Our ultimate goal and purpose!