2 Nephi 9

Jacob taught one of the most humbling truths ssying -

"O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:28)

I believe that where the wise fail most is they are blinded to the necessary covenants and ordinances required for salvation. One of those Jacob taught is that -

"...he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.
24 And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned..." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:23 - 24)

Of course, at this time, Jacob did not cover all covenants and ordinances, but one of those that is required. I am speaking this weekend in stake conference. I have opted to provide my prepared remarks below that outlines the very nature and possibilities of sacred covenants:

Stake Conference - Adult Session - February 2012

After Nephi had expressed a desire -
"...to know the things that [his] father had seen..." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 11:1)

And believing that he could... -

“...as [he] sat pondering in [his] heart, [he was] was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain..." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 11:1)

…where upon such mountain, he received much of the same vision of his father. He saw the Tree of Life, the birth and ministry of the Savior, and even the Savior being –

“…lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.” (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 11:33)

But His vision did not end there. It continued on through many significant events that would yet transpire upon this the American continent…even to the "end of the world". While caught away in this great vision, an angel of the Lord asked Nephi -

"...What beholdest thou?" (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:2)

And Nephi answered -

"...I behold many nations and kingdoms." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:2)

And as he did, he -

"... saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:4)

"...and [he also] saw the devil that he was the founder of it." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:6)

The angel later explained to Nephi that -

"...there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations..." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 14:10)

I believe the word "church" as described by the angel is not in reference to the type of churches as we know today, but much more like individuals, organizations, or even influences that either follow the will of the Lamb of God or the will of the devil.

And as Nephi saw the formation of this abominable church, he also -

"...beheld a book..." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:20)

A book that

"...proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew..." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:23)

A book much -

"...like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many..." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:23)

As he saw the book, the angel said that it -

"...is a record of the Jews.. [of which book would be]...of great worth unto the Gentiles." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:23)

The angel then points out that -

"...when [this book] proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record..." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:24)

But then -

"...after [the writings did] go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which [did take] away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious..." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:26)

And then the angel follows with what I consider the most alarming revelation of all, that not only were plain and most precious parts taken away, but -

"...also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:26)

Why would many missing covenants be so disturbing? Because, as Nephi taught, that it is through covenants that we -

"come to the [know our] Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that [we] may know how to come unto him and be saved.” (1 Nephi 15:14)
Because many covenants were taken away, much of the world today is unaware or blinded to the potential blessings that we call salvation and exaltation. Because sacred covenants were taken away, much of the world believes that goodness, or living a good life, is all that is required to go to heaven. That may be true if terrestrial glory is considered heaven, or a place as Nephi suggested where good people could "dwell safely". For we know that ordinances and covenants are not required to enter terrestrial glory, only a confession that Jesus is the Christ. In other words, and I hope to express this in a positive sense – they shall receive their reward.
We find this doctrine revealed in what became known by the early saints as the "The Vision"…or what we now call the 76th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, where the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon testified –
"...we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial…" (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:71)

"These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
76 These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:75 - 76)

I believe that "blinded by the craftiness of men" is the very consequence of many covenants being taken away by that great abominable church.
For we believe that it is through making and keeping sacred covenants, that the faithful are allowed to receive much more than just a "heavenly" or terrestrial glory or reward, but all the blessings promised by the Father ...even salvation and exaltation. I use the definition of salvation this evening as overcoming the second death which is spiritual death or in other words, as stated in the handbook of instructions, salvation is "Returning to the Father" (HBI 1.2). The Savior told the people of the Americas -
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 14:21)

The will of the Father is that all His children receive the saving ordinances and covenants necessary for salvation and exaltation, that is -

"...baptism, confirmation, Melchizedek Priesthood ordination (for men), the temple endowment, and temple sealing. (HBI 2, 2.1.2)

It is important to understand that salvation and exaltation cannot come without making sacred covenants. We are taught in modern revelation -

"All the ordinances necessary for salvation and exaltation are accompanied by covenants with God. A covenant is a sacred and enduring promise between God and His children. God gives the conditions for the covenant, and His children agree to comply with those conditions. God promises blessings that are conditional on the person faithfully fulfilling the covenant.
As Church members honor and keep their covenants, they are greatly blessed in mortality and become eligible for exaltation." " (HBI 2, 2.1.3)
In fact, the very purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is "to assist in [God's] work to bring to pass the salvation and exaltation of His children." Instructions and themes for many Church auxiliaries, express much the same purpose, that is, of "making and keeping sacred covenants".
In order to receive salvation or in other words, "Return to the Father" -

"We must:

1. Exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God.

2. Turn to God through sincere repentance, having a change of heart and confessing and forsaking sins.

3. Receive the saving ordinance of baptism for the remission of sins.

4. Be confirmed a member of the Church and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.

5. Endure to the end by keeping sacred covenants." (HB2, 1.2.1)

This is the doctrine of Christ.

We see this same doctrine revealed again in that great vision where the Prophet Joseph Smith -

"...saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just— [or they that shall receive celestial bodies]
51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith..." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:50 - 53)

...or in other words, endure to the end. It is this covenant that we renew each week where we -

"...are willing to take upon [us] the name of [His] Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us]..." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 20:77)

There is no other way that salvation may come, or in other words, there is no other way that we may "return to the Father".

But in addition to ordinances and covenants for salvation, there are also additional ordinances and covenants, that if received and kept, the saints may receive even greater blessings. That is, we may even -

"...receive of his fulness." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 93:19)

...or in other words, receive exaltation where in the Prophets great “Vision” -

"… it is written, they are gods, even the sons [and daughters] of God—" (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:58)

Such essential saving ordinances for exaltation include receiving the oath and covenant of the priesthood whereby -

"...all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
39 And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:38 - 39)

I don't believe that this covenant is just limited to those that receive him by obtaining these two priesthoods (the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods), but -

"...also all they who receive this priesthood ...
36 For he that receiveth my servants, receiveth me...: (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:35 - 36)

I believe that also "they who receiveth my servants", suggests that even the sisters may also receive this same great oath and covenant of the priesthood.

And there are also the sacred ordinances and covenants of the endowment and temple sealing that provides such marvelous promises and blessings that they should only be iterated in His holy house.

In 1836, the Savior, "even the messenger of the covenant" as Malachi prophesied, did "suddenly come to his temple". Afterwards, He was followed by other heavenly messengers holding priesthood keys to administer the ordinances and covenants of gathering, eternal marriage, and the power to link an eternal family together, forever. Such linking or sealing power whereby -

"...Whatsoever [is bound] on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (New Testament | Matthew 18:18)

Those sacred covenants that were taken away by that great and abominable church are now restored in these, the latter days, even -

"...unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers..." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 3:21)

"For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant [a covenant which has been even from the beginning]; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 132:4)

"And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant [which by the way is combination of all revealed ordinances and covenants], it was instituted for the fulness of my glory [or exaltation]; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned...
7 And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, [first condition of this law] that -

1) "...are not made and entered into... "[that is the ordinances and covenants of baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, Melchizedek priesthood ordination (for men), the endowment and temple sealings, administered by proper priesthood authority must be made and entered into.]

2) [second condition of this law] "...and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise..." [or in other words, sealed by the Holy Ghost which confirms that act has been entered into properly and the covenants have been kept. Also with an understanding that this promise or seal can be broken through unfaithfulness or not keeping our covenants. (see Preach My Gospel )]

3) [and third condition of this law) "...of him who is anointed...for time and for all eternity..." [the very sealing power administered in the temple - the power to bind on earth and in heaven]

...[without satisfying these three conditions, all ordinances, covenants, and promises] -

... are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 132:6 - 7)

May we begin to understand the importance and blessings of saving ordinances. I testify with the prophet Jacob -

"...how great the covenants of the Lord..." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:53)

My hope is that we enter in and keep our sacred covenants.