The Ordinances and the Covenant: Living the Fullness of the Plan

For those of us committed to the truth of the Restoration, the covenants we make are not merely suggestions; they are the very architecture of our eternal existence. We understand that the Plan of Happiness is not a concept to be debated in a seminar room, but a divine, meticulously constructed reality that demands action, obedience, and the unwavering adherence to divine law.

To speak of the ordinances—baptism, the laying on of hands, the endowments, and the sealing power—is to speak of the literal intersection of celestial law and mortal will. These ordinances, as taught by our prophets, are the conduits through which the atoning grace of Jesus Christ flows into our limited sphere of existence. They represent the divine blueprint for receiving a fullness of joy.

The Absolute Requirement of the Spirit

The testimony of Elder Scott, and indeed the testimony of every prophet since Joseph Smith, rests on a single, non-negotiable truth: man must be born of water and of the Spirit. This is not a cultural footnote; it is the absolute requirement for entering the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). It establishes the fundamental difference between merely acknowledging Christ and covenanting with Him. Baptism, therefore, is not simply a ritual; it is the first, sacred act of repentance and the initial acceptance of the covenant path.

Furthermore, the ordinances teach us that our obedience must be comprehensive. We cannot, by our own merit, secure the fullness of joy. Our devotion to the commandments and our receipt of all necessary ordinances—especially those performed within the holy temples—are what qualify us to live with our Heavenly Father and our Savior.

“I testify that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is a resurrected being of perfect love and compassion. I witness that He gave His life that we might live eternally with him and our Father in heaven and our loved ones who qualify through obedience to the Commandments and receipt of all of the ordinances of Salvation.”

This covenantal structure emphasizes that the Savior’s sacrifice is not merely a historical event, but an ongoing, accessible power. The Atonement makes possible the remission of sins through repentance, but the covenants provide the framework for applying that remission eternally. When we perform ordinances vicariously for our ancestors, we are not engaging in a mere act of sentiment; we are fulfilling a covenant responsibility, participating in the divine machinery of salvation that spans generations.

The Sacred Nature of Covenants

The life of a Latter-day Saint disciple is characterized by the constant deepening of these covenants. We are called to continually study the scriptures—from the Book of Mormon to the Doctrine and Covenants—not just for information, but for the spiritual endowment they provide. Our scholars know that the covenants tie us directly to the ongoing work of the Restoration and the continuing direction of the living prophets.

The ordinances of the temple, in particular, remind us that the Lord has provided a sacred place, a holy house, where the veil between worlds is thinnest, and where our divine lineage is reaffirmed. These sacred covenants are the very things that allow us to move from the Celestial Kingdom (the goal) to the temporary phase of the mortal life (the journey).

To understand the profound depth of these covenants, one must move beyond the intellectual understanding and into the heart of genuine commitment. The covenant path requires diligence, humility, and a constant willingness to be taught by the Spirit. It demands that we approach our lives with the understanding that we are stewards of divine ordinances, and that our actions have eternal weight.

The purpose of Operation Iron Rod is not merely to disseminate information; it is to deepen the doctrinal understanding of the priesthood, the ordinances, and the divine scope of the Plan. We must be equipped not only with knowledge but with profound conviction. If we take the time to study the covenants, comparing the historical record of the Restoration with the eternal principles laid out in the scriptures, we will find that the ordinances are the literal means by which we are continually saved.

Discipleship is a continuous, covenant-making process. It is a life lived in the shadow of the Savior's perfect example, continually striving to keep the commandments and receive the fullness of the blessings He has purposed for us. I challenge my fellow scholars to take the time this week to compare the covenant articles in the Book of Mormon with the covenants found in the Doctrine and Covenants. Let the Spirit guide your study, and let the divine weight of these ordinances become the foundation of your eternal conviction.