*Sunday afternoon session

Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Quorum of the Seventy stressed the importance of keeping covenants to gain the trust of the Lord and inherit eternal life.

“Covenants are promises we make to the Lord, they are extremely sacred in nature," Elder Maynes said. "The most important thing we can do in this life is to keep the promises or covenants we have made with the Lord.”

Using the example of Helaman’s army found in the Book of Mormon, Elder Maynes illustrated the sacredness of covenant keeping; he described the 2,000 stripling warriors as valiant and true men who were taught well by their mothers. They understood that the covenant their fathers made was so sacred that they were willing to take up arms to defend their families even if it meant losing their life Elder Maynes explained.

“Helaman and his young stripling soldiers understood the importance of making covenants with the lord, they were also recipients of the blessings that come to those who faithfully keep their covenants,” Elder Maynes said.

Elder Maynes pointed out that from ancient to modern times, true disciples of Christ have understood the importance of covenants.

“As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have also taken upon ourselves sacred obligations, we have done this in the waters of baptism and in the temples of the Lord, we call these obligations covenants,” Elder Maynes said.

Elder Maynes then continued to share a story of the Abasanta family that he met while speaking in the Phillipines. He said during the church meeting all of their seventeen children were gathered around them and displayed great reverence. As Elder Maynes came to know the Abasanta family he found that their great example was a result of dedicated teaching in the home as well as an adherence to covenant keeping.

Brother Abasanta explained to Elder Maynes that his family had a firm testimony of the importance of paying tithing. Brother Abasanta said they make sure to teach their children to pay a full and honest tithe and that as a result they have always been blessed with enough to meet their needs.

The Abasanta’s were not perfect, Elder Maynes explained, but they illustrated the ways that the Lord will bless those who keep his covenants.

“Faithful members of the church keep those promises,” Elder Maynes said.

Elder Maynes also challenged Latter-day Saints to keep their promises to the Lord. He said as church members keep those promises the Lord will allow Latter-day Saints to progress spiritually.

“We are all looking forward to the day when we can return home to our Heavenly Father," Elder Maynes said. "In order to qualify for exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom we must gain the trust of the Lord here on earth.”

Elder Maynes explained that some of the promises Latter-day Saints have made with the Lord are always remembering Him, take His name upon them and by keeping His commandments. Elder Maynes explained that keeping the commandments shows dedication to the Lord.

“We gain the trust of the Lord through earning it, and that is accomplished through our actual performance in living his gospel and keeping our covenants, in other words we earn the trust of the Lord by doing his will,” Elder Maynes said.

Elder Maynes closed by challenging those listening to become more firm in covenant keeping and letting their actions show their dedication to keeping those promises.



Copyright Brigham Young University 3 Oct 2004