- Contains promises

- Blesses all nations- Unifies, protects

Rewards to the obedient "children of the covenant" are almost beyond mortal comprehension, said Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Council of the Twelve.

Addressing the Saturday afternoon session, Elder Nelson spoke poignantly of the death of his daughter, Emily, and 33 days later, the death of President Hunter. Each, he said, "lived nobly as children of the covenant."

Quoting Brigham Young, Elder Nelson said, " `All Latter-day Saints enter the new and everlasting covenant when they enter this Church.'

"At baptism," explained Elder Nelson, "we covenant to serve the Lord and keep His commandments. When we partake of the sacrament, we renew those covenants.

"The new and everlasting covenant of the gospel allows us to qualify for marriage in the temple and to be blessed to `come forth in the first resurrection,' and `inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions. . . to

ourT exaltation and glory in all things.' (D&C 132:19.)

"Here, children of the covenant become a strain of sin-resistant souls. Hereafter . . . children of the covenant and," said Elder Nelson quoting President Joseph Fielding Smith " `each generation would be linked to the one which went on before . . .

inT the divine family of God.' Great comfort comes from the knowledge that our loved ones are secured to us through the covenants."

In protecting the eternal spirits of children, the Savior chooses to teach about His identity, and then the identity of His followers as "children of the covenant," said Elder Nelson.

First, they are children of the Abrahamic covenant that contains several promises, including its numerous size and eternal increase, and that all nations of the earth would be blessed.

"We are also children of the covenant. We have received, as did they of old, the holy priesthood and everlasting gospel. . . . We have the right to receive the gospel, blessings of the priesthood, and eternal life. Nations of the earth will be blessed by our efforts and by the labors of our posterity."

Unity among the children of the covenant "is the hallmark of the true Church of Christ," Elder Nelson quoted President Gordon B. Hinckley.

However, "throughout the world, strident voices are engaged in divisive disputation and name-calling," he said. "Unfortunately, terms of derision obscure the true identity of children of the covenant."

In contrast, he said, God uses names that unify and sanctify. "When we embrace the gospel and are baptized, we are born again and take upon ourselves the sacred name of Jesus Christ. We are adopted as His sons and daughters and are known as brothers and sisters. He is the father of our new life."