Elder Donald L. Hallstrom at Brigham Young University-Hawaii devotional: 'The Power of Covenant'
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Ordinances and covenants will help individuals know and remember what is most important in life, Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy said March 9 at a BYU-Hawaii devotional assembly.
"Today, I speak of [priesthood] ordinances, and especially of covenants and of their power to elevate our lives above a merely temporal existence," Elder Hallstrom said. "I speak of these covenants as foundational and essential. …
"Through sacred ordinances, and the keeping of everlasting covenants, a person can maintain a true perspective and ultimately can receive his 'Father's kingdom' and all that the Father 'hath shall be given unto him' " (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:38).
For both ordinances and covenants, Elder Hallstrom provided several succinct definitions or descriptions.
Ordinances
- "Ordinances are sacred ceremonies in which we make covenants."
- "In order to connect us with heaven, and help us overcome the confusion of the mortal world, ordinances raise our view, providing a vision of the things of eternity."
Covenants
- "Covenants are commitments, promises we make with God."
- "Covenants make the ordinances forever relevant in our lives."
- "Covenants are our guide, our 'iron rod,' our never-changing standard."
According to Elder Hallstrom, keeping covenants is of paramount importance to the Plan of Salvation — and significantly more critical to eternal welfare than strictly temporal things such as physical safety.
"It is common for us to pray for physical safety," he said. "In a dangerous world, that prayer makes sense and certainly is appropriate. However, I have come to even more fervently pray for something else — I pray continually for the strength to live true to my covenants. This provides spiritual protection.
"We should live wisely in protecting ourselves from physical harm; but, in reality, whether we live a long or short life upon this earth is of little consequence in the eternities. What really matters is how we live. Living the life of a covenant keeper is of highest value, as that is the only way for us to fulfill our eternal purpose."
For those who are not presently where they want to be spiritually, the Lord simply requires the heart and a willing mind in order for members of the Church to realize the power and potential of ordinances and covenants (see Doctrine and Covenants 64:34).
"The 'heart' is symbolic of love and commitment," Elder Hallstrom said. "A 'willing mind' suggests our best effort, our finest thinking, and seeking God's wisdom.
"I ask each of us to consider at least one thing we may have felt about our personal covenants in this meeting today and to act upon it. If every one of us improves in some (even modest) way, this meeting will have accomplished its sacred purpose."
