Covenants and the Consequences of Good & Evil

In the first chapter of Mosiah, King Benjamen states that because Lehi could read Egyptian he could teach his children what was on the brass plates. He does the same for his children.We sometimes wonder why it was a big deal that a person who desired to learn was excluded from the "synagogues", but the likelihood that they could read is slim and access to anything to read is also unlikely. Our access to education and to having books to read, especially the scriptures, is something we take entirely too much for granted.

King Benjamin gave his sons an education primarily for the purpose of allowing them to read the scriptures. He then taught them to ponder and to "search them diligently" and then to keep the commandments.

Just reading, searching and keeping the commandments is apparently not enough. He then introduces the concept of covenants. He prepares them to take upon them a "name" in Mosiah 1:11. We don't discover what name that is until chapter 5, but it is obvious that the sons knew they were taking upon them the name of Jesus Christ.

Having erected a tower and providing scribes to write and distribute the words of his teaching, King Benjamin taught the people the blessings of giving service and of sacrifice and of being obedient to the commandments of God. He taught about the bondage of sin and the power of Satan. He then taught about the redemptive power of the atonement and invited them to humble themselves, pray and rely in faith on Christ. He instructed them to teach their children to love and give succor to the poor and sick.

He then invited them to take the next step and enter into a covenant of obedience to Christ. The covenant was administered with an oath and all those who accepted the covenant had their names recorded in writing. The recording of the names was a permanent record of the outward symbol (the oath) of the covenant. The covenant was a deep and public commitment of each person to be obedient and to live a Christ-like life. Such a commitment must be preceded by an inner conviction to live in accordance with the will of God. If the outward expression - the covenant and oath - is taken with out the inward conviction, it will not last. A person would feel justified in disobedience and/or half-hearted service. If the inner conviction is not followed by the covenant, a person may cave in a moment of weakness.

Thus, the pattern is clear and the purposes of God are made manifest in all sacraments and ordinances. It makes me grateful for the wisdom and grace of Christ in establishing this process. A process that is repeated in our day with such ordinances as baptism, confirmation and the ordinances of the temple. I am transcribing this on the day after our 39th wedding anniversary, so I am especially grateful for the new and everlasting covenant which includes the sealing ordinance of marriage.