Time to dust off the family blog (again). Today I was given an assignment to speak in church next week on the topic of "The Purpose, Power, Strength and Blessings of Covenants." I was also given a conference talk, by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, to focus on - "The Power of Covenants" from April 2009. I've read it (it's a really good talk, I think) and I'd be interested to hear the family's thoughts and ideas. I will shamelessly steal them and use them in my own talk, hopefully remembering to attribute them to you.
Also, the talk assignment included the following question: "Consider/research that only two ordinances are the ordinances sealed in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. One is the ordinance of baptism. What is the other(s)?" I have no clue what the answer is to this question, so let me know if you know!
Some other questions that ocurred to me as I was reading scriptures related to covenants:
- How can a covenant be "new" and "everlasting"?
- How do we covenant with God? With one another? Are the ideas of covenanting with God inherently connected to covenants with others?
- By what means are covenants brought to pass? By our faith? By Christ's sacrifice? By our sacrifices? By a combination of forces?
- Why does God set the terms of the covenant with us? Are covenants one-size-fits-all or individualized according to our abilities?
1 comment:
I *love* that talk! It was the first one I reread in the new Ensign. I think my favorite part was about how covenants bring strength and faith. I usually think of covenants as things that require or "cost" faith to acquire or enter into, but rarely do I think about how they then increase your faith/strength. It's like the to those that have shall be given more philosophy.
The other ordinance sealed in the name of the Father, Son, & Holy Ghost... I dunno, maybe sealing? That's a tough one.
I like the question about whether covenants are one-size-fits-all. Obviously in some sense they are, since it's all the same words, yet I believe they are also adapted to our own capacities. We are all called to represent Christ in our own specific ways, and we are judged according to our own abilities (my attempts at keeping the commandments might pale in comparison to Pres. Monson's, but if I'm trying in good faith and getting better, I'll be ok). So... yes and no.
Good luck!
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