Covenants with God

[Tuly]

Broad subject but very important to understand. We bring up covenants in this website a lot. Covenants with God are an important part of our lives and who we are.
This is from the manual True to the Faith - https://www.lds.org/manual/true-to-the- ... t?lang=eng

A covenant is a sacred agreement between God and a person or group of people. God sets specific conditions, and He promises to bless us as we obey those conditions. When we choose not to keep covenants, we cannot receive the blessings, and in some instances we suffer a penalty as a consequence of our disobedience.

All the saving ordinances of the priesthood are accompanied by covenants. For example, you made a covenant when you were baptized, and you renew that covenant each time you partake of the sacrament (see Mosiah 18:8–10; D&C 20:37, 77, 79). If you have received the Melchizedek Priesthood, you have entered into the oath and covenant of the priesthood (see D&C 84:33–44). The temple endowment and the sealing ordinance also include sacred covenants.

Always remember and honor the covenants you make with the Lord. Then you will not need to be commanded in everything you do (see D&C 58:26–28). You will be inspired by the Holy Ghost, and Christlike conduct will be part of your nature. As the Lord has promised, you will “receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal” (D&C 42:61). Your greatest hope should be to enjoy the sanctification that comes from this divine guidance; your greatest fear should be to forfeit these blessings.

This was a great article on Understanding Our Covenants with God - Ensign July 2012 - https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/07/unde ... d?lang=eng

As we enter into these important covenants, we become partakers of the new and everlasting covenant, “even the fulness of [the gospel of Jesus Christ]” (D&C 66:2). The new and everlasting covenant is “the sum total of all gospel covenants and obligations” we’ve made,10 and the resulting blessings include all that the Father has, including eternal life.

As we strive to understand and keep our covenants, we should remember that keeping our covenants is not merely a list of things to do but a commitment to become like the Savior.

Keeping our covenants is a commitment to become like the Savior.

“The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done,” taught Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “It is an acknowledgment 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.” - The Challenge to Become -
General conference October 2000 - https://www.lds.org/general-conference/ ... e?lang=eng

[Lily]

I just spent a while trying to figure out which thread to put this under. Soooo many threads! So many. I think the confusion is one of the more difficult aspects of hopping on the forum for me, it's kind of a disorganized mess (sorry I'm not trying to be offensive, just expressing how I feel about it). But here I am! Happy to participate, just figuring out how to do it best.

I watched this video recently about helping young women see their value in the church. It is with the current young women's presidency and it is excellent. Two points I particularly appreciated:
1) "We’ve heard it, but it’s hard to get it into our minds, to make that shift that the priesthood is not the men of the Church. Priesthood is the power of God, and we all work with that power—not necessarily with keys or even with duties described in the scriptures, but we all have this power as we fulfill our covenant responsibilities."
AND
2) "There is power in ordinances, but also responsibilities that come with being a disciple of Christ and a covenant daughter of God."

I am grateful for the individual covenants I have made through the priesthood and the things I can do to draw upon (priesthood) power, as I fulfill responsibilities I received when I made my covenants.

[Tuly]

I also saw that video and really appreciated the General YW's presidency answers to the questions given by the narrator. Point taken Lily, what would you suggest to "organize" the website?
I also am very grateful for the covenants I have made through priesthood ordinances.